British startup Nothing reveals its next Android phone ahead of schedule

British startup Nothing reveals its next Android phone ahead of schedule

British startup Nothing has given a first look at its newest handset — the Phone 4a — ahead of its release date March 5, 2026

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NOTHING PRESS OFFICE | UNSPLASH | GB NEWS

Taylor Bushey

By Taylor Bushey, 


Published: 27/02/2026

- 14:43
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Mark your calendars for the official announcement on March 5, 2026

  • British startup Nothing has treated us to a first look at its new handset
  • The all-new Phone 4a has been teased in a pink colourway
  • This comes a week before the official announcement on March 5, 2026
  • New software and AI features are expected to be unveiled

British startup Nothing has pulled back the curtains on its upcoming handset a little earlier than expected — the Phone 4a.

In a rather unconventional marketing move, the tech brand has shared an actual photograph of the handset more than a week before its official launch day on March 5, 2026. This also comes after founder Carl Pei recently confirmed a price hike in the smartphone industry earlier this year.

The image gives you a proper look at the rear of the device, and the company appears to be sticking with what works – that distinctive see-through design the company has become known for. However, this may not be the case for what's built under the hood of this handset.

"Built different," the company posted on social media, keeping things characteristically cryptic.

This approach effectively takes the wind out of any potential leakers' sails, giving fans something concrete to get excited about.

Here's everything you can expect from the new handset.

One of the standout features you'll notice from the unveiled photos is the revamped Glyph Bar – that's Nothing's clever light-based notification system that sits beside the camera bump.

Rather than the LED strips you might be used to, this version packs nine individual mini-LEDs that you can control separately. These lights are also meant to be 40% brighter than what you got on the Phone 3a.

Nothing says they're designed to produce a "more natural, neutral, bleed-free glow," which should make notifications easier to spot without being harsh on the eyes.

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How exactly you'll be able to customise these lights remains a mystery for now, but it's likely they'll tie into various software features for more creative notification options.

When it comes to what's powering the Phone 4a, you can expect some solid specs under that transparent shell. Recent whispers suggest the handset will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor – that's a capable mid-range chip that should handle everyday tasks with ease.

You're also looking at a triple camera setup on the back, a generous 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5,400mAh battery with 50W wired charging to keep you going.

There's also a button on the left side that's likely an Essential Key for AI-powered features.

And if you prefer a handset with a bit more punch, a Pro version is expected to launch alongside it with an upgraded camera system.

Nothing's CEO and founder Carl Pei has previously noted that the a-series phones are traditionally the company's biggest sellers, and he's been working to bring them closer to flagship quality.

You might also have more colour choices this time around. Nothing has been teasing blue and pink elements in its marketing, along with yellow dots in earlier reveals – suggesting you won't be limited to the usual black and white options.

The Phone 4a is expected to run Nothing OS, the company's custom Android interface designed to give you a slicker, more personalised experience than standard smartphones.



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