Nothing Cellphone 2 to launch in US later this yr
Nothing’s Carl Pei has confirmed the upcoming Cellphone 2 will launch within the US later this yr. The CEO and co-founder described the 2023 flagship as “extra premium” than the Nothing Cellphone 1, which Engadget noticed as “a formidable debut” in our review.
Pei dropped a number of tidbits in an interview with Inverse. First, he says the Ear 1 earbuds’ US launch was a barometer for US demand. “We’re actually excited in regards to the US market as a result of it’s an enormous nation,” mentioned Pei. “For those who have a look at our earbuds gross sales, about one-third comes from the US. And by not launching our cellphone within the US, we’re leaving doubtlessly a 3rd of the amount on the desk.” Pei describes the Cellphone 2’s US launch as Nothing’s prime precedence this yr.
Pei suggests declining smartphone sales point out the US market is ripe for innovation. “From a enterprise standpoint, [Apple and Samsung] shouldn’t go very area of interest and take a look at one thing utterly completely different as a result of they could alienate present customers. That’s the place smaller corporations like us can are available in and attempt to do one thing completely different. It’s not that we’re smarter or that they will’t, nevertheless it simply doesn’t make sense for them to do it.” Nonetheless, though stagnation might play an element, the most important causes for the nosedive have possible been supply-chain problems, inflation and an unpredictable financial system.
Pei says purple tape was the principle motive Nothing didn’t launch the Cellphone 1 within the US. American carriers demand Android producers adjust to varied diversifications and preinstalled apps, which takes important sources. However the firm’s fast progress and confirmed capability to maneuver quantity has given it leverage. “Once you make a smartphone for the US, it’s worthwhile to work with the carriers on certification and adapting a few of their options into your OS,” he mentioned. “We didn’t have the sources for that earlier than, and now we do,” Pei provides that Nothing has grown from 200 workers in 2021 to 400 at this time.
Though Pei doesn’t spill many secrets and techniques in regards to the Cellphone 2, he hints at a higher-end design than its predecessor. “We’re growing a smartphone that’s extra premium than the Nothing Cellphone 1, and software program will likely be an enormous focus space for us.” Nonetheless, he stresses that the Cellphone 1 was additionally a flagship handset. “Cell chipsets have actually improved over the past seven to 9 years. That’s why I need to keep away from calling the Cellphone 2 a flagship as a result of that will imply that the Cellphone 1 was not a flagship. Inside our personal portfolio of smartphones, the Cellphone 1 was very a lot a flagship when it comes to the quantity of care we put into the product. That’s why I used the phrase ‘premium’ [to describe the Phone 2] as a substitute, which signifies that it’s a extra premium step up, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a flagship similar to the Cellphone 1.”