I’ve been following Nothing since the beginning, and while I love the design direction and the “iPod of AI” vision for Phone (3), I’ve noticed a trend that’s becoming hard to ignore: the disappearing compact phone.
Looking at the current lineup, our options for one-handed use are shrinking while the screens are growing:
| Model | Screen Size | Weight |
|---|
| Phone (1) | 6.55″ | 193g |
| Phone (3) | 6.67″ | 218g |
| Phone (3a) / 3a Pro | 6.77″ | ~200g |
Looking at the technical trajectory:
Phone (1): 6.55” Display | 159.2mm Height | 193g (The “baseline” for Nothing ergonomics).
Phone (3): 6.67” Display | 160.6mm Height | 218g (Significant increase in mass and vertical footprint).
Industry Standards: Competitive flagships (iPhone 16/17 and Pixel 9/10) have stabilized around a 6.1” to 6.3” form factor for their “base” and “pro compact” models.
Even the original Phone (1), which felt “just right” for many, is now the smallest phone Nothing has ever made. The latest Phone (3) is significantly heavier, and the 3a/4a series seems to have standardized on the massive 6.7-inch+ footprint.
I know Carl Pei has mentioned that small phones are expensive to develop and harder to sell in volume, but with Nothing’s growing scale in 2026, could we finally see a “Phone (Small)” or a “Phone (3) Mini”?
What do you all think? Would you trade a bit of battery life for a phone that actually fits in your hand? Or is the 6.7-inch standard here to stay?
