Translucent tech flagbearer Nothing just announced its latest devices: a new high-end flagship phone and its first-ever pair of over-ear headphones.
The Phone 3 - Nothing's new top-tier model - is the most expensive device the company has ever made, starting at $1,509 locally for a 256GB model. Upgrading to 512GB will set you back $1,689. For comparison, 2023's Phone 2 started at $1,049 in Australia.
On top of a rather interesting design on the back, the standout inclusion on the Phone 3 is a secondary display on the back. Dubbed the "Glyph Matrix", the tiny circular screen can be used to alert you to notifications when the phone is face down. You can assign different combinations of sound and light for different contacts, and there's also a caller ID feature where the name or number calling you will scroll across the screen.
The Glyph Matrix also has some funner features. It can be used as a timer, compass, digital clock, and even a Magic Eight Ball. There's a button embedded in the rear glass of the phone that can be tapped to navigate the Glyph Matrix.
Nothing says the Glyph Matrix API will be made available to developers, allowing third-party apps to take advantage of it.
Other key specifications for the Nothing Phone 3 include a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, a 6.67-inch 1260p+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, either 12GB or 16GB of RAM, eSIM support, IP68 water resistance, and a 5,150mAh battery. On the camera front, the Phone 3 has three 50MP cameras: a primary lens, an ultra-wide lens, and a 3x zoom lens.
The Phone 3 will get Nothing's best software support to date. It will receive five years of operating system upgrades, and seven years of security updates. The Phone 3 will ship with Android 15, but will get the newly released Android 16 this quarter.
Locally, the Phone 3 will be available to pre-order outright through JB Hi-Fi or through Optus on a mobile plan from today, ahead of a July 15 release date. You can get it in a choice of white or black.
Customers who pre-order through Optus will get a free Headphone 1. Here are Optus' 36-month plans for the Nothing Phone 3:
On the audio front, Nothing is getting into the over-ear headphone category with the Headphone 1. Like the Phone 3, the Headphone 1 has an unconventional design and a couple of transparent elements. Nothing hasn't lent as heavily into the transparent aesthetic as it has with its wireless earbuds, but the vibe is still there.
The Headphone 1 is pitched as a premium pair of cans, featuring most of what you'd expect from top-end devices. There's adaptive noise cancellation, head detection, Google Fast Pair with Android devices, spatial audio support, and lossless audio over USB-C. There's still a 3.5mm port too.
In terms of the sound itself, Nothing worked with UK brand KEF to tune the Headphone 1.
One of the more interesting design choices (other than the look) is a whole host of physical controls. There's a roller that you spin to adjust volume, a paddle that can be clicked left and right to navigate through tracks, a dedicated voice assistant button, a physical pairing button, and an on/off switch.
Nothing says the Headphone 1 will last up to 80 hours per charge with noise cancelling off, and 35 hours with it on. A five-minute charge is enough for over two hours of playback with noise cancelling.
Locally, the Headphone 1 will sell for $549. That's a little bit cheaper than competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Sonos Ace, both which retail for $699. Pre-orders start today through JB Hi-Fi, ahead of a July 15 release date. The device comes in a choice of black or white.
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Alex Choros
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