Nothing Phone (2a) Will Be Made In India, Says CEO Carl Pei

Nothing’s next smartphone, Nothing Phone (2a), is all set to launch in India and other global markets on March 5, with CEO Carl Pei confirming on social media platform X that the smartphone will be manufactured in India.

The Phone (2a) is poised to become a notable addition to the Nothing smartphone series.

The upcoming smartphone, while not a flagship, is said to be an upgrade over the company’s first handset, the Nothing Phone 1, unveiled in July 2022.

Pei hinted in a new video that the new device might be more affordable than the original Phone 1. If this price difference holds, particularly in the Indian market, it could position the phone competitively in the mid-range segment. 

Priced at around INR 30,000 or slightly below, the Phone (2a) would compete with various mid-range phones from brands like Redmi and Samsung.

Early teaser of the Phone (2a)’s design reveal a continuation of Nothing’s distinctive aesthetic, with subtle changes to the camera setup and lighting elements. Leaked images showcase a dual-camera configuration with a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 32-megapixel front-facing camera. The device is expected to feature a 6.7-inch display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for excellent picture quality.

The upcoming phone is expected to launch with a redesigned rear panel, featuring new Glyph Lights. This too, is a first for the brand, as both the Phone (1) and the Phone (2) featured similar back panels.

Additional features include a dual rear camera setup, Nothing OS, and the brand’s distinctive transparent design.

Ahead of the announcement of the launch of Nothing Phone 2a, CEO Carl Pei initiated a ‘Bhai campaign, capturing the attention of Indian followers. Originating from a humorous exchange with an X user, Pei continued responding to various X posts with ‘Bhai,’ a Hindi term for ‘brother.’ 

On the social media platform X, Nothing’s CEO Carl Pei has updated his name to “Carl Bhai”.

The announcement comes at a time when Manu Sharma, who has been leading the India operations of smartphone startup Nothing since February 2021, stepped down from his position as general manager and vice president. 

Launched by former OnePlus cofounder Carl Pei, the London-based tech company Nothing competes with the likes of Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus. 

Nothing announced its foray into India in 2021, in partnership with the homegrown ecommerce marketplace Flipkart.