Founded in 2020 by Carl Pei, the Nothing brand generated considerable excitement upon its entry into the tech world. Pei, a former co-founder of OnePlus, was expected to break the monotony in the industry and bring back the spirit of the old flagship killer. While everything initially seemed quite promising, after five years, some questions have begun to arise about the company’s trajectory.

The Nothing Brand and Exceeding Expectations

When examining the company’s performance to date, the Nothing brand hasn’t actually produced a consistently bad device. Unlike many new ventures, it has managed to create its own unique identity with its minimalist futuristic aesthetic and unique design features like the Glyph system. However, developments over the past year have sparked debate among users.

In particular, the marketing of the Phone 3 model as a “true flagship,” while its hardware choices didn’t fully support this claim, drew significant criticism. Although the device’s price is at flagship level, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor it houses doesn’t quite match the company’s aggressive marketing language. Users feel that the technical specifications offered are insufficient despite the high price tag.

Besides the hardware debates, the design changes also drew criticism. The switch from the original Glyph system in the Phone 1 to the Glyph Matrix display in the Phone 3 disappointed fans who appreciate simplicity. While Nothing claims the new system is more customizable, many users see this change as a “trick” that spoils the magic of the original design. This new structure, which replaces the simple and recognizable light strips, creates unnecessary complexity according to some.

The problems weren’t limited to hardware. The recently released Nothing OS 4.0 update and the Android 16 transition process were also problematic. Updates halted under the pretext of “urgent fixes” and users finding the improvements insufficient have shaken confidence in the software side. Users say that the updates were only done to change the name and didn’t offer any significant new features.

In light of all these developments, it’s a matter of curiosity whether the company has lost its initial excitement or has transformed into an ordinary manufacturer. According to community polls, a large majority of users are dissatisfied with the direction things are going.

So, what are your thoughts on the Nothing brand? Share your opinions with us in the comments!