I just finished my Nothing Phone (4b) review, and while it's one decent affordable phone, it left me with a mostly sour taste in the mouth. The reason for that is the missed potential of what the Nothing Phone (4b) could have been.
That's because the design language of this new affordable trooper plays it all too safe and doesn't lean into the intriguing drama that Nothing phones usually draw me in with.
The Nothing Phone (4b) plays it too safe
From the get-go, Nothing leaned into that intriguing aesthetic that immediately drew many people in with its edgy and dramatic style.
The translucent backplates that showed some hardware elements of devices like the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (3), and the Glyph interfaces of old were all breaths of fresh air that stood out among the sea of same-ish Android devices that typically go out of their way to copy Apple's aesthetic.
For a Nothing device, that's too generic and overly safe. | Image by PhoneArena
And seeing that Nothing devices don't really have any other major strengths aside from the exterior and UX design, it was a smart way to stand out. That's not a terrible thing when you're trying to grasp a decent market share, that's for sure!
But Nothing's latest (4b) fails to capitalize on the sometimes wacky but always dramatic exterior that sucks you in when you see the phone on the shelves in the store.
It's too generic, boring even. I look at the rear of the device and I feel nothing at all (no pun intended). That's unlike previous Nothing phones, where the design drew me in from the very first minute.
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Design shouldn't be an afterthought on the affordable market
When it comes to affordable phones, there are many other aspects that are more important than design. Still, it's an influential factor that could often lead to impulse purchases.
That's a great thing to have in a market has been totally commoditized thanks to Android manufacturers constantly paying homage to Apple's design team and straight-up copying the latest iPhone design and calling it a day.
The rear of this device could have been so much more intriguing. | Image by PhoneArena
In such an environment, Nothing has a strong ace up the sleeve, and that should not only apply to the upper mid-range niche but to the affordable segment as well. I don't say that the Nothing Phone (4b) would have been a much better device if it had a more dramatic design, but it wouldn't have hurt to be a bit more inspiring and intriguing, for sure.
The Glyph interface is underused
Another issue I had with the Nothing Phone (4b) was the pretty limited functionality and utilization of the Glyph interface in the rear. Consisting of just four large LEDs, it's pretty basic in appearance and functionality unlike previous Nothing devices.
I get it––I can't demand too much out of a device that starts at €330. Then again, in the sea of Motorola and Xiaomi phones that suffocate the entry-level space, standing out in any way possible would have been a pretty decent selling point.
And leaning onto the unique Glyph interface at the back could have been the perfect selling point.
Nothing shouldn't miss the chance
It's not entirely related to the entry-level market, but OnePlus leaving most markets creates an opportunity for Nothing to step in and fill in that newly found void. It could quickly reposition itself as a brand for phone enthusiasts and geeks, much like OnePlus did more than a decade ago.
I'm convinced that aggressively priced flagships with top specs and that signature Nothing design aesthetic could make a difference in the wake of OnePlus abandoning its core markets.
But let's leave it to Carl Pei, the founder and CEO of Nothing, he knows the drill.
He's done it before.
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Peter is a skilled writer with over 13 years of experience at PhoneArena. He has published nearly 300 phone reviews and comparisons. This vast experience helps him navigate the mobile tech landscape with ease. He enjoys everything Android but relies on a MacBook Pro daily.
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