(Credit: Iyaz Akhtar)
Holding out for a new Nothing flagship phone? You'll be waiting a while, as the brand announces a shift away from annual premium smartphone drops. But that doesn't mean it won't have anything new for 2026.
In a new YouTube video, Nothing CEO Carl Pei talks through plans for the year and beyond. He confirms the company won’t be launching a new high-end device in 2026; the existing Phone (3) is its "flagship for this year."
“We’re not just going to churn out a new flagship every year for the sake of it; we want every upgrade to feel significant," Pei says. "Just because the rest of the industry does things a certain way, it doesn’t mean we will do the same.”
A new, cheaper handset from the manufacturer, the Phone (4a), has been confirmed; the series may include two variations, similar to the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro from 2025.
Nothing says it aims to bring its midrange handsets closer to a flagship experience, but it has yet to share details, except to promise a new, bold “experimentation” with color. "The (4a) will be a complete evolution over its predecessor across the board from display to camera to overall performance," Pei says. He didn't reveal specs or a launch date.
Nothing also plans to “double down” on over-ear headphones this year. The brand introduced its first over-ear Nothing Headphone (1) in 2025. In our review, we noted their distinctive design and good noise cancellation, but found it hard to tweak the settings to achieve the best sound quality.
Nothing is set to open its first-ever US store in New York City, and is "in search [of] our perfect place in Tokyo," according to Pei, who says the decision to open a store in NYC is a combination of the city's "vibes" and an analysis of where Nothing fans live and where it wants to expand in the future. The company already has a physical store in its home city of London, and it plans to open its next location in Bengaluru, India, in February.
Pei is one of the most vocal smartphone CEOs discussing the impact of the RAM price increase. Earlier this month, he said its phones will cost more in the future, including the Phone (4a) series, as it plans to switch to UFS 3.1 tech for the first time.