DISCLAIMER: This is just my two cents on the latest Nothing release.
As someone who has followed Carl Pei since his OnePlus days and through Nothing’s first launch, my perspective comes from a place of genuine care—as an avid consumer of both OnePlus and now Nothing products. While many may celebrate this release, I find myself among those who see it as a nay rather than a yay.
Nothing undeniably excels in software—no one can argue that. However, when it comes to design, this release lacks true innovation. The rounded camera bump, which some hail as a groundbreaking design choice, has already been seen in Huawei, Xiaomi, and OnePlus devices. It’s not new, nor does it push any boundaries.
Despite my hopes for a fresh and exciting aesthetic, this design simply doesn’t resonate with me. I’ve gone through multiple reviews from content creators, and while I may be in the minority, my years of anticipation for this release leave me underwhelmed. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s camera encirclement isn’t groundbreaking—it’s been done before, and it doesn’t feel like a leap forward.
Of course, design is subjective, and this is just my opinion as a consumer. But at the end of the day, the users—the target market—are the ones who determine whether a design truly succeeds. The hype surrounding this release doesn’t sway me, and I can’t bring myself to be excited about it.
This is probably the toughest review I’ve ever given on a Nothing product, but I say it with the hope that Nothing takes this as constructive criticism. My savage take? This design feels like something a kid would put together with Legos. Sorry, but not sorry.
That said, I remain hopeful for Nothing Phone (3) to bring real innovation. More power to Nothing—I’ll be watching and waiting.
