British tech company Nothing is best known for its retro-inspired transparent technology design, but it's never been the most affordable option on the market. That looks set to change this week, with the company set to unveil the Nothing 3A Lite on Wednesday.
Nothing says that this will be its first entry-level smartphone, and it will incorporate the transparent design elements seen across the company's range of phones and headphones. We've been given our first glimpse of what looks like the back panel of the phone in a photo from Nothing, but we'll have to wait until Wednesday at 1 p.m. GMT for the full reveal.
The addition of the 3A Lite to Nothing's phone lineup follows on from the launch of the Nothing Phone 3 (the company's "first, true flagship") this summer, and the mid-range 3A and 3A Pro back in the spring. For the first time, the company will offer smartphones that range from budget to high-end in price, meaning that there should be something for everyone.
The Nothing Phone 3A Lite is an "interesting prospect," said CNET Editor at Large Andrew Lanxon, who reviewed the all three of the existing phones in the 3 series. "Nothing's phones are already budget-focused, with the existing Phone 3A coming with a low to midrange price tag," he said. "I'll be keen to see just how much cheaper Nothing can make its phones, while still offering a pleasant everyday user experience.
"Crucially, they should still offer long software support periods to increase the shelf life -- and thereby reduce the overall carbon footprint," he added. "Value should not come at the expense of longevity"
Nothing currently offers six years of Android support with the Nothing Phone 3, which falls short of the seven years Google offers with its latest Pixel phones. The company alsorecently killed off its flashy Glyph interface -- I personally think the replacement is better -- and has increasingly been emphasizing its original use of AI as a selling point for its phones.