What if you could build your dream phone with no limitations? That’s the question Nothing posed to popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD), and the results are intriguing. While the phone only exists in theory, the exercise offers a glimpse into the potential of future devices, perhaps even hinting at what Nothing’s own Phone (3) might have in store.
Brownlee’s ideal smartphone is a powerhouse, featuring a hypothetical “Snapdragon 8 Elite” chip, a massive 6,000mAh battery with fast charging, and a 6.1-inch display borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. To top it off, he opted for the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera hardware combined with iPhone 16 Pro software and a 50MP selfie camera from the Pixel 9 Pro.
Nothing collaborated with a community member to create renders of this theoretical device, showcasing a sleek design. Interestingly, the renders lack Nothing’s signature Glyph lighting system.
But building a dream phone isn’t just about specs. Nothing also broke down the estimated cost of each component, revealing a surprisingly affordable bill of materials (BOM) of $500. However, this figure doesn’t account for additional expenses like research and development, marketing, and manufacturing.
Nothing founder Carl Pei emphasized that the true cost of developing a smartphone extends far beyond the BOM. Factors such as software development, system updates, and production premiums for smaller brands all contribute to the final price tag.
While this dream phone remains purely conceptual, it provides valuable insights into the complexities of smartphone development. Could some of these features make their way into the Nothing Phone (3)? Only time will tell, but this exercise certainly fuels anticipation for what Nothing might have in store for its next flagship device.