Smartphone startup Nothing will promote its subsequent flagship mannequin, the Nothing Cellphone (3), within the U.S. by means of its web site and Amazon, TechCrunch has solely discovered.
Nothing, which can unveil the brand new cellphone early subsequent month in London, has launched eight telephones since its inception in 2020, however just one, the Cellphone (2), has made it to common sale within the U.S. to date. Earlier than that, customers had to enroll to purchase a cellphone by way of a beta program, and there was no after-sales assist, although you possibly can return the system inside 14 days to get a full refund.
“Now we have all the time mentioned we’re constructing for the long run, and now we’re able to take that subsequent step within the U.S. Cellphone (3) is not only one other launch. It’s a sign of the place we’re as an organization. The smartphone market within the U.S. is dominated by two gamers, however lots of people are hungry for one thing totally different,” Carl Pei, Nothing’s CEO and the co-founder of OnePlus, informed TechCrunch.
“Now we have already seen robust conversion charges from customers switching to Nothing, and with Cellphone (3), we’re going after that chance in a way more centered manner. That is the appropriate product, and the appropriate second, to begin scaling in North America,” he added.
Pei is banking on the truth that Nothing’s concentrate on differentiating the design of its smartphones will appeal to people who find themselves on the lookout for alternate options to Apple, Samsung and Google.
Out of the field, Cellphone (3) will assist AT&T and T-Cell protection with multi-band assist for 4G and 5G — that’s a step up from the restricted service compatibility of its earlier fashions Cellphone (2a), Cellphone (2a) Plus, and CMF Cellphone 1.
And in Canada, Nothing is partnering with Finest Purchase to promote its new flagship, together with a brand new over-ear headphone mannequin, Headphone (1), on retail channels for the primary time.
In a video in March, Pei mentioned Nothing Cellphone 3 will characteristic premium supplies, main efficiency upgrades, and “software program that actually ranges issues up.” He additionally mentioned the system can be priced round £800, which could translate to round $1,000 within the U.S. That might put the Cellphone (3) in direct competitors with the iPhone 16 Professional and the Samsung Galaxy S25+.
Based on analysis agency Counterpoint Analysis, Nothing’s cargo numbers for 2024 have been within the “low-single-digit hundreds of thousands,” and India was its greatest market.
The agency’s senior analysis analyst, Maurice Klaehne, informed TechCrunch that Google and Motorola have made some inroads within the U.S. within the premium gadgets market, which is dominated by Samsung and Apple. He added that whereas Pei’s former firm, OnePlus, additionally sells unlocked gadgets within the U.S., its cargo volumes are low. This implies Nothing has an uphill climb forward within the North American market.
Nothing has to date raised greater than $250 million over a number of rounds.