The Phone 1 features a unique design full of LEDs and comes at a competitive price, but it hasn’t been released in the US yet.
After months of hints, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s new venture, Nothing, has unveiled its Phone 1 device.
The company first announced the Phone 1 in March, but there wasn’t much to see in terms of hardware or a prototype.
Since then, Nothing has been gradually sharing details about the device. Previously, OnePlus used a similar approach to generate buzz among consumers through viral marketing drip feed.
The Phone 1 is available at a starting price of €469, which is cheaper than the latest flagship smartphones from Apple and Samsung.
It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, a dual camera setup with two 50-megapixel sensors, and support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6. The smartphone runs Nothing OS, an Android-based mobile operating system.
The phone has a very impressive appearance at first glance, with rear LED lights that flash for certain notifications. The phone is also available in clear or black, both of which feature a unique light pattern on the back.
Nothing’s Phone 1 will be available in a London kiosk from July 16 before going on sale online and at select retailers on July 21. The phone will be available in more than 40 countries in Europe and Asia. However, the phone is not being released in the US.
US customers still have some hope, as CNBC reported that Nothing is looking for a carrier partner to start selling the Phone 1 in the country.
When the Phone 1 was first announced, Pei viewed the iPhone as his main competitor in the smartphone market.
“If you want products that connect and work seamlessly together, the only choice is Apple,” he said. “As soon as you leave that ecosystem for a Windows PC or an Android phone, it falls apart. There is no alternative to Apple.”
Pei made his name as the co-founder of Chinese electronics brand OnePlus, which he started with Pete Lau in 2013. The company’s first smartphone, the OnePlus One, was something of an underground sensation and hailed by Time as “the phone of dreams.”
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