Nothing has announced a new budget smartphone under its main brand, introducing the Phone (4b) as the debut model in a fresh (b) series line. The launch arrives weeks after the company’s CMF sub-brand confirmed it had canceled its own planned phone release for the year. With this move, the company keeps an affordable option in its portfolio without leaning on its sub-brand.
A familiar design with new materials
The Phone (4b) blends elements from the recent Phone (4a) Pro and Phone (4a) into one device. It carries over the Glyph bar from the Phone (4a) on its rear panel, while adopting the unibody shape and large camera island of the Phone (4a) Pro, including the round recess at the bottom left corner. Unlike the Pro’s aluminum frame, the (4b) uses polycarbonate to help meet its lower price point.
Display and platform specifications
The handset features a 6.77-inch LTPS AMOLED screen with a 2344 × 1080 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 1000Hz touch sampling rate, and a 480Hz PWM frequency. Peak brightness reaches 2000 nits. Inside, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor runs the device alongside 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
Camera system and imaging tools
A Samsung 50MP primary rear camera with OIS and EIS is joined by an 8MP ultrawide camera offering a 119.5° field of view. On the front, a 16MP sensor handles selfies and video calls. The phone supports 4K video capture at 30fps and simultaneous recording from the front and rear cameras. Nothing has added an Ultra XDR mode, co-developed with Google, for capturing detailed images that can be shared directly to Google Photos and Instagram. It also includes two exclusive camera filters: Disco, which applies dynamic lighting effects, and DV, which gives photos an analogue character. A 360° light sensor on the back helps with ambient light detection and exposure control, while the Glyph bar features a red indicator light that blinks during video recording. The Glyph bar also retains Live update support for apps such as Uber, Zomato, and Google Maps. An extra hardware button on the left side, called the Essential Key, provides quick access to AI tools.
Connectivity, battery, and regional differences
The Phone (4b) supports dual nano SIM cards, with the Japanese model adding eSIM capability. Other features include NFC, an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, dual microphones, Bluetooth 6.0, and Wi-Fi 6. Battery capacity differs by market: most regions receive a 5,200mAh cell, but the Indian version packs a 6,000mAh battery, the largest ever fitted to a Nothing smartphone. Wired charging is rated at 33W, and reverse wired charging reaches 7.5W. A 4,400mm² vapor chamber is built in to manage heat during gaming sessions.
The device ships with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, backed by a promise of three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. Color options include Blue, Black, White, and an India-exclusive Red. Every variant features a UV top layer designed to reduce fingerprint smudges, along with an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. Nothing also states the phone can endure extreme temperatures and is 20% more resistant to bending than the Phone (3a) Lite.
Pricing and availability
In Germany and Austria, the Nothing Phone (4b) costs €329 for the 128GB storage configuration, while buyers in Switzerland can purchase it for CHF 299.