And that’s totally fine. Seriously. If what you’re after is the phone with the fastest processor, the most powerful cameras, the brightest screen, the highest refresh rate, or the biggest battery… then this isn’t the phone for you. Don’t force it—let it go. It’s like when the Wii launched: if you were expecting cutting-edge graphics, you were going to be disappointed. It had last-gen specs, but offered something different. A new way to play, to interact. And that’s exactly what Nothing is doing. It’s not trying to win the spec sheet battle—it’s doing things its own way.
The age of hate
I’ve been reading negative comments for days now—“the design is awful,” “the specs are laughable,” “the rear screen looks cheap.” People mocking it, dismissing it, calling it a joke. But that’s just the era we live in—an era of casual hate. Is it valid? Sure, everyone can speak their mind. But we’re more polarized than ever, and totally unwilling to accept that people like different things. We live in a generation full of internet loudmouths—basically man-children behind a screen (some of them well into their 40s)—acting like tech experts. And again, that’s fine. This phone isn’t for them. It doesn’t have to be. We’ve heard you. You had your moment. Congrats.
Nothing is still a niche brand
Right now, Nothing isn’t a mainstream brand. And with decisions like this one, it’s likely to stay that way. And personally, I love that. Nothing surely doesn’t. The longer it takes to grow, the harder they’ll need to work to stand out, to offer something different, with soul—and most importantly, to take care of the customers they already have so they’ll buy the next one. That’s what I want. I want to keep seeing phones with transparent designs, with personality, with a cyberpunk vibe. I don’t want another generic clone. I don’t want a bloated interface full of features I’ll never use. I prefer a clean, consistent, minimal system. One with flavor.
I don’t need the best—I just want something unique
I don’t need a processor that predicts the future. Or AI that creates fake selfies when I cover the camera. That’s great for going viral on TikTok, but not for real life. I want something that excites me. And this phone, with its rear display, makes me want to play, to tinker, to explore. I’m excited to see what I can “build” with it. I’m curious about its Essential Space—even if it’s basic. I like the monochrome look, the clean style. And yes, I’d rather pay more for a clean OS with no built-in ads and a smooth daily experience, than get the fastest processor out there that ends up being useless in practice.
I’m also curious to see how Nothing OS evolves. A system that gets updates every 2–3 months, with thoughtful design choices—that’s what I want. Not the best on paper, but the best for me.
I only have one small regret: the camera quality. Not because it’s bad, but because I know it could be much better. I really hope they improve post-processing and the image algorithms in future updates—because the hardware has potential, and it would be a shame not to make the most of it.
If you don’t get it, it’s not for you
This phone isn’t for people who judge by spec sheets alone. It’s not for those who won’t even try it before criticizing. It’s not for those who just want the same old thing. It’s for people who want something different. Flawed, maybe—but with soul. If that speaks to you, then great. This phone is for you too.
And if not, stop whining. Just go buy that OnePlus 13 you keep hyping up but never actually get—while still watching Nothing’s every move from the corner of your eye.
X/twitter: @ruudhesp
Blog: NothingTec.com
