After months of dropped hints, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei’s new venture Nothing has revealed the Phone 1 device. The company first announced the Phone 1 in March, but there was nothing to see in terms of hardware or prototype. Since then, Nothing has been gradually sharing details about the device. OnePlus previously took a similar approach to create buzz among consumers through a viral marketing stream. 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 the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, a dual camera with two 50-megapixel sensors and support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6. The smartphone runs on Nothing OS, an Android-based mobile operating system. The phone has a very flashy look at first glance, with LED lights on the back that flash for certain notifications. The phone is also available in clear or black color options, both of which feature a unique lighting pattern on the back. Nothing’s Phone 1 will be available at a London kiosk from July 16, before going on sale online on July 21 and in select retail stores. The phone will be available in more than 40 countries in Europe and Asia. However, the phone is not available in the US. US customers still have some hope, as CNBC reported that Nothing is looking for a carrier partner so it can start selling the Phone 1 in the country. When the Phone 1 was first announced, Pei viewed the iPhone as its main competitor in the smartphone market. “If you want products that connect and work seamlessly with each other, the only choice is Apple,” he said. “Once you leave that ecosystem for a Windows PC or an Android phone, it breaks. 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 was hailed by Time as a “dream phone ». 10 things you need to know straight to your inbox every day. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of key tech science news.
