Latest YouTube video/ Nothing, we need to talk

Jaheim2 · 2025-07-15T20:31:33+00:00

Nothing. Just so you know, I have autism and dyslexia, so it can be hard for me to get my thoughts out clearly without spending 3 hours checking grammar and structure. AI helps me express my thoughts more clearly, but these are still my thoughts. I’m making this post because I don’t think Nothing fully understands what its own community actually values with this latest phone. \--- When I think of Nothing, I think of trust: trust that you’ll give us the best experience possible for the price while delivering a design we can’t get anywhere else. I’m not here to argue whether the Phone (3) is better or worse than the 3a Pro or Phone (2). But as someone who came from OnePlus — my OnePlus 7T Pro is still my favourite phone after 6 years — I know what it feels like when a brand truly gets it. Back then, I was happy to give up wireless charging or a top camera system if everything else was best-in-class. With OnePlus, it often was. And Carl, you know this. You built OnePlus, and you know while most people in an Apple or Samsung store don’t care about specs, it’s different for Nothing and OnePlus buyers. We check chipsets, sensors, update policies, and real-life camera performance because that’s who we are. Specs might not matter to the “average consumer,” but your community isn’t average. We care. \--- I get what you’re trying to do with the Phone (3): refined design, Matrix LED, your vision of a “dream phone.” But let’s be real: the bar for value has changed. Prices have dropped while specs have gone up. A OnePlus 13 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage can be found for £750, and objectively, it outperforms the Phone (3) in power, cameras, and long-term support. That’s not a Nothing problem, that’s market reality. \--- The Phone (3) itself isn’t bad – it’s just bad for the price. Telling the community we’re “wrong” for saying this isn’t it. We don’t hate the design. It’s clean, unique, and the Matrix system is genuinely interesting. But here’s what I see: you’re acting like two different companies. On one side, there’s the Nothing that’s honest and transparent, telling us how much it costs to build a phone and launching Community Editions. On the other, there’s a Nothing that suddenly feels like Apple, acting like you’re always right and the community is wrong when we question a product or price. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t go from “we’re building a community phone” to “take it or leave it.” From the outside, it just looks like ego. \--- You’re not Apple, Samsung, or Google (yet), and you’re not in a place to demand premium pricing without flagship specs. You’re Nothing, and that’s why people want to support you. But we need a device that’s genuinely the best for its price. Your UI and cameras have improved, and credit where it’s due. But let’s also be real: there are still camera issues on the Phone (2) and 3a people keep reporting. If prices are going up, you need to fix these first so people trust they’re getting a reliable device, even if it doesn’t have top specs. \--- Design isn’t the problem. The price-to-spec ratio is. It’s like calling a sports car a supercar based only on looks while ignoring what’s under the hood. Your community notices what’s inside their phones, even if “most people” don’t. If the Phone (3) launched at £700, it would have been an easy recommendation. I truly believe that. Instead, it feels like you’re trying to justify a high price without flagship specs, hoping design alone will carry it. I also think if the Phone (3) had been released without the “flagship” label, it might have landed better with the community. Letting the phone speak for itself, without that extra expectation, could have made people see it for what it is rather than comparing it to flagship standards right away. \--- Design does matter. That’s one reason I love Nothing. But for a phone you’ll keep for 2–6 years, specs are even more important. Design can’t make up for weak specs over time, especially for your community. Accessories are different. Nothing’s Ear and Ear (a) are incredible for their price. They’re well-designed, sound great, and don’t change much year to year, so I’d happily pay more for them. That’s where the balance between design and performance feels right. \--- Honestly, with all these opinions flying around, this is exactly why I love Nothing. We might not all agree, but the fact that this community exists, where we can openly share and learn from each other, is rare and worth appreciating. \--- At the end of the day, I want Nothing to win. I want people to have real choices beyond Apple and Samsung. I want Nothing to grow into a big name while staying true to what makes it different. This post isn’t hate. I’m just a fan who genuinely wants to see Nothing succeed, and I believe conversations like this help make that happen. Thanks for reading. ❤️ Over time, my opinion has shifted, and I’ve realised there were a lot of questions I didn’t fully think through before. For example, I used to be really against the Phone (3)’s price, but I’ve been asking myself: if the Phone (3) had launched at £850 but with upgraded flagship specs, would that have been a good phone? In my opinion, yes—I think I would have seen that as a fair, exciting product, especially if the design, software, and long-term experience matched the price. The second question I keep coming back to is: how much does design actually matter when pricing a phone? We talk a lot about specs and software, but design is a big part of Nothing’s identity. I’m curious, how much extra are people truly willing to pay for a unique design that feels different from everything else? These are the questions I’m asking myself now. I don’t have all the answers, but I think it’s good for us as a community to think about them openly, rather than just saying “too expensive” or “specs matter more.” Because for some people, design is worth paying more for, and for others, it isn’t—and that’s okay.

adusadd

👏👏👏💪

CMF1_hacker

Ah, another “spec racer.”

Have you held a NP3?

I have 1+1 vibes here.

The Xiaomi 16 will have a rear screen again like the Xiaomi 11 Ultra did.

We’re already here with a capacitive button on the back.

Faster SoC, really? Who cares? Better USB, again, who cares? The cameras tech is great but my OP12 has better Hasselblad optimisation and editing feature, but it’s boring af.

Also, owned a first gen N-Gage!

pixcel25

CMF1_hacker man you are one of the coolest guys on this community but you slowly shifting. From I support Nothing category, to the I’m glazing Nothing category based on your recent post, specs dont matter when the specs are slightly shorter then that of market my phone 2a is the best for me my friend has a oneplus device same pricepoint but better specs when I used it I didn’t like it due to the boring software , but again that was because the specs were slightly weaker then the competion nothing is selling a clear device that shouldn’t be called flagship in terms of specs it doesn’t even comes close in terms of specs vs competitors like the previous generation device

If I’m a purchasing phone for design and specs had a minor downgrade no issue ltps soc don’t matter much but then you device heats camera downgrared its like

3a pro is way better in terms of balancing compared to 3 no way you can justify design covering up for specs downgrade at the current price

You will disagree i am ok with that because that’s a general user if the person wants a device for it software it shouldn’t come at the cost of major hardware downgrade ✌️

Bandano

Jesus lol, the dude talked about this very point in the video. How do you all expect the company to differentiate and grow without making a different product and leave some room to generate revenue so they could create more products?

Here’s a Business 101 lesson for you guys: Nothing can either compete on price (called a Cost Strategy) where they pack the most amount of features for the least amount of money, this also includes cutting overhead costs and optimizing supply chains and manufacturing costs. Impossible for Nothing at their size, where suppliers charge them way more than others still, so they can’t use economies of scale yet. Plus they don’t control their manufacturing fully and don’t have massive deals with manufacturers, so even manufacturing costs aren’t optimized.

The other way Nothing can compete is through differentiation (called Differentiation Strategy), where they add perks (it depends on their target audience whether these perks would be considered as perks or not), superior design, quality, branding, etc.

Nothing as a start-up can’t realistically compete on price. It’s simply not possible so please get it out of your head. They don’t have the funding, the human resources, the industry connections, or reputation for it. Brands like Poco, Iqoo, OnePlus, etc. can follow this strategy because they have conglomerates behind them, they have practically endless funding to get as much market share as possible and then potentially move up market (which is what happened with OnePlus and will happen with Poco). Plus, there’s no money to be made in creating these bang for your buck phones.

Why do you think Poco has a trillion devices now trying to cover every segment up to $750? Do you think it’s because they like you? Remember when the Poco F1 released, why do you think we never got another device quite like it?

So for the love of God, for you and every other person planning to make these sad posts in the future, please spare us. Read a book or something, learn how businesses work. It’s really not that hard to comprehend that if you don’t like the device, it’s not betrayal, it’s not an attack against your holy person, it’s a business decision, and you can just buy something else. It’s a free market. Vote with your wallet. Go buy another one of the hundreds of generic devices that have an 8 Elite. Maybe that will make you happy.

Jaheim2

Bandano

I get where you’re coming from, and I actually agree on the basics: Nothing isn’t Apple or Samsung, and competing solely on price with thin margins is impossible for them as a small player.

But you’re missing the point of my post.

I’m not asking Nothing to be the cheapest. I’m saying, if you’ve built your brand around community trust, transparency, and listening to your users—you need to align your product positioning with that, or at least communicate clearly when you’re shifting away from it.

Carl knows this audience. He knows that Nothing and OnePlus buyers aren’t the average “walk into an Apple store” customers who just care about cameras. We’re the type who care about what’s in the device, longevity, update cycles, and real-life camera performance for the price we pay. We’re the type who supported Nothing because it felt like a company that understood us.

I fully understand the differentiation strategy, and I respect it. But differentiation can’t replace value entirely. At £850, you’re not in a “value flagship killer” spot, and you’re not a luxury design piece like a Vertu. You’re sitting in a weird middle ground where your community is left confused about who this phone is for.

If Nothing had launched the Phone (3) at £650–700, I’d have no complaints, and it would still leave them room for margin. Instead, the price-to-spec positioning feels off, especially when they’ve been open in the past about BOM costs and championed transparency.

It’s not about betrayal, and it’s not about personal attacks on Carl or Nothing. I want Nothing to win. I want to recommend Nothing to people who value design and a clean UI without having to add disclaimers like, “It’s great, but maybe wait for a price drop.”

And sure, we can “vote with our wallets.” That’s exactly what posts like this are—a public, constructive way of saying: “I’m part of your core community, and I want to support you, but this approach makes it hard to justify.”

If Nothing’s strategy is to go upmarket, fine. Just be clear about it. Don’t frame it as if the community is wrong for noticing the gaps between your positioning and what’s being delivered.

You can differentiate and provide clear value. Otherwise, Nothing risks turning into the very thing it was

meant to disrupt.

Anonymous931

Jaheim2 When I think of Nothing, I think of trust. Trust that you’ll give us the best experience possible in the price range while delivering a design we can’t get anywhere else.

Jaheim2 But let’s be real: the bar for value has changed. Prices have dropped while specs have gone up.

Jaheim2 The Phone (3) itself isn’t bad – it’s just bad for the price.

Jaheim2 If prices are going up,

Jaheim2 The design isn’t the problem. The price-to-spec ratio is.

Now check this:

"In the UK, the phone retails for £579 to £629, depending on the variant you buy. European pricing starts from 679 EUR and goes up to 849 EUR.

Compared with the Phone 1, which was available for €470, the Phone 2 is more expensive. For the extra money, you get a better phone, packing a larger display, a more refined design, and delivering better performance. Despite the higher price, the Phone 2 is stiff competition for many of our favorite Android phones."

Source: https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phone-2/

Then, if you would be kind enough, compare that price and those specs with the Phone (3).

CMF1_hacker

Jaheim2 are you really haggling between £650-700 and £799?

This seems like a moot unorganised argument over a couple of quid.

I can understand the tiny 80k INR market but a £100 difference in the UK?

Anonymous931

Jaheim2 If Nothing had launched the Phone (3) at £650–700, I’d have no complaints,

You are literally getting a free pair of 320€ Headphone (1) if you get a phone though. So instead of buying a 650 phone + 320 headphones for 970 total you pay 750€ instead. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me 🤷‍♂️

Bandano

Jaheim2

If Nothing’s strategy is to go upmarket, fine. Just be clear about it.

I feel like they’ve been quite clear about it. Carl and Akis both posted about how it’s not the phone for everyone but it’s perfect for someone. He also reiterated this point in the video, and said that it’s not for everyone.

You can differentiate and provide clear value. Otherwise, Nothing risks turning into the very thing it was meant to disrupt.

How? They haven’t deviated from their strategy of differentiated design and optimized devices. So how are they turning to the generic ‘crabs’ of the market? In fact, they did quite the opposite with Phone 3. Instead of refining the design of Phone 2 like every single manufacturer does, they doubled down and created a whole new design, same with 3a Pro. And instead of the support, the “fans” just mercilessly attack them.

In fact, what you’re doing is attacking Nothing for being unique and itself, instead of doing what you claim to want to do.

At £850, you’re not in a “value flagship killer” spot, and you’re not a luxury design piece like a Vertu. You’re sitting in a weird middle ground where your community is left confused about who this phone is for.

At 800 they’re up against iPhone 16, a device with a 60Hz screen in 2025, Samsung Galaxy S25, the most boring device anyone could think of, and other offerings from Google and OnePlus, also terribly boring and mediocre. So again, I can see plenty of value and differentiation in the segment. Maybe the price is just too high for you?

Anonymous931

Jaheim2 It’s like calling a sports car a supercar based only on looks while ignoring what’s under the hood.

Ah, this is my field, cars, especially race cars. So let’s start… You do realise that your whole point is completely wrong here, right? A “supercar” or a “hypercar” with 1500+ horsepower is getting smoked around a lap by any decent 500-800 hp sports car, say a 911 GT3 RS. Why? Because of downforce and optimisation, comparable to the OS optimisation.

In numbers, take any track you want but let’s go with the Green Hell: https://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife

911 GT3 RS with it’s “pathetic” Snapdragon 8s Gen4-like 518 hp: 6:44.85
Rimac Nevera with 1914 hp, almost 4x more, a true Snapdragon 8 Elite car (also MUCH more expensive car, a true hypercar): 7:00.93

A miracle!! Or not? Or just pure optimisation where “what’s under the hood” actually doesn’t matter at all?

Or in the phone terms, as there is not enough (3) tests still as it’s brand new on the market, let’s take a look at the (3a) Pro vs the far more powerful iPhone 16 Pro Max: Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro Max Speed Test

Oh look, another miracle!! Or not? It’s barely slower at all, lol. But if you look at pure benchmark numbers, which so many of you around here fetishise so heavily… 🙄

Jaheim2

Anonymous931

Exactly, and I get your point about optimisation vs raw specs. But here’s the thing:

All I’m saying is you can get a OnePlus 13 with better overall specs for the same or even lower price, while keeping that same DNA of smoothness, clean UI, and design focus that Nothing has. And the reason I bring up OnePlus isn’t random — Carl was the CEO there. So it’s fair to compare because it’s the same DNA, the same design philosophy, the same “trust us” promise.

You’re right, specs aren’t everything, but they do matter for longevity. I kept my OnePlus for years because it was optimised and had flagship specs that aged well. Optimisation can’t fix everything if the base hardware isn’t there, especially when you’re paying £600+. And with Nothing, we’ve seen issues on previous phones that still haven’t been fixed fully, even with optimisation.

I like Nothing, and I want them to win. But if the community doesn’t say something, nothing changes. We aren’t hating for the sake of it; we’re pointing out that if you’re pricing your product near flagships, the device needs to back that up — or at least the company should be honest about shifting from “value flagship killer” to “design-first premium brand.”

That’s all I’m saying.

Jaheim2

CMF1_hacker

I’m saying in the US 799 and in the UK 799 the pound is stronger I like nothing but I want to know why

Anonymous996

CMF1_hacker He thinks in India the market for 80k is tiny 🤣🤣.

People are tech savy here mate they don’t pay 80k for mid range parts instead we get flagship things for 80k eg-S24 ultra s25 etc

And we can pay upto 1.5 lakh for the fold and flips or the apple pros .

Don’t repeat words from the video

CMF1_hacker

Jaheim2 sales tax isn’t included in the US prices. Have you live in the US and abroad?

Also, the US is a beta testing programme and not a retail option, so it’s not even legit.

Jaheim2

CMF1_hacker

Yeah, that’s true, US prices don’t include sales tax while UK/EU prices do. But even with that, the core point doesn’t really change.

Also, I’m aware the US is technically a beta testing programme for Nothing and not a full retail market, but let’s be honest, Nothing still advertises and sells there. So pricing and positioning still matter, even if it’s under a “beta” label.

At the end of the day, this discussion isn’t about minor price differences due to tax structures. It’s about the value alignment of the Phone (3) itself compared to what Nothing has offered before and what the competition offers now.

If Nothing wants to shift towards premium design-first pricing, that’s fine, but it should be communicated clearly to the community that’s supported them from the start.

Appreciate the clarification though.

Anonymous931

Jaheim2 All I’m saying is you can get a OnePlus 13 with better overall specs for the same or even lower price,

And I understand you, I don’t mean to be sarcastic or anything, I really get your point. But then, just get the mentioned OnePlus 13, it’s really as easy as that 🤷‍♂️ I’m not saying it’s not a better phone, but people who want to buy the Phone (3) will, well, buy the Phone (3). And those who don’t want to get it, they won’t get it.

Bandano Samsung Galaxy S25, the most boring device anyone could think of,

I agree with your whole comment, but about this here - the blue version is quite beautiful tbh.

CMF1_hacker

Jaheim2 nah. I have a OP12 and a NP3

NOTHING OS is what Cyanogen OS was with the 1+1. Minimal and non-distracting. The camera output is better on the OP12 but the OS is bloated compared to NOS, which is how Cyanogen OS was.

Specs are irrelevant when you’re putting a POCO OS (heaven forbid!) or less so an Oxygen OS.

CMF1_hacker

Jaheim2 show me a NOTHING advert targeting the US in mainstream media (Print/subway) and then I’ll complain I’m paying too much, i.e. marketing to a beta market.

Bandano

Anonymous931 It’s a striking color for sure, but the device design itself is quite boring. A rounded rectangle with 3 circles; no design muscles were strained there.

Jaheim2

Anonymous931 Appreciate you saying that, and I get it. Yeah, it really is that simple in the end: if you don’t vibe with the Phone (3), just get the OnePlus 13 or something else, and that’s fair.

My point isn’t that people can’t just buy something else — it’s more that Nothing built trust with this community on delivering value + design, and it’s fair for us to hold them to that when prices stay high while specs step down. It’s about ensuring they stay accountable to the community that’s been here since the start.

But yeah, if someone wants the Phone (3), they should buy it, and if not, there are plenty of options, 100%.

And haha, agreed, the blue Galaxy S25 does look clean 👌.

FfFf_O8didT8g3u

I’m not gonna say anything.

Who tf cares about that difference

Bandano

FfFf_O8didT8g3u but but but pubg loaded 0.1s faster on OP13 so it’s clearly better!!!!

Jaheim2

FfFf_O8didT8g3u

Bandano

I get what you’re saying, and if the Phone (3) fits your needs perfectly, that’s great.

I just think, as someone who supported Nothing from the beginning, that it’s fair to share honest thoughts about the phone—especially because Nothing built this community on trust and openness. They’ve created a space where people can share what they like and what they don’t, and that’s part of what makes this brand different.

It doesn’t mean we’re hating on the phone or the brand. It just means we care enough to have these conversations.

Yeah, exactly, I get your point that it might not matter right now, and for many people it won’t.

But for people like me, who keep their phones for a long time (I kept my OnePlus 7T Pro for 6 years), specs do matter for longevity. The chip, storage speeds, and hardware all add up over time, especially with heavy use or big software updates.

I picked up the Phone 3a while waiting for Nothing’s flagship because I plan to keep it for years, not just for a year or two. And with Nothing planning to release flagships every two years (which I think is smart), it makes sense for some of us to care about specs and long-term reliability.

Plus, people have reported issues on previous models that still haven’t been fully fixed, so if the price is going up, it’s fair to expect reliability too like it or not £800 it’s a lot to people.

At the end of the day, I agree it won’t matter for everyone, and if the Phone (3) fits your needs, that’s great. But in a community built on trust and openness, I don’t think we should push people back for caring about these things. This is exactly the kind of open conversation that makes Nothing’s community great.