Nothing is set to unveil its Phone (3a) series on March 4, with designers sharing insights into the development process. Key specifications, particularly the display and camera, significantly influence design. The Phone (3a) Pro will feature a 3x periscope camera, presenting challenges due to its size. The design process involves sketching, digital modeling, and component fitting, aiming for aesthetics, practicality, and compatibility. A new camera button will differ in finish for versatility across colors while the Glyph interface has been enhanced for better control. A standard Phone (3a) model will launch alongside the Pro, with a flagship Phone (3) also in the pipeline.
While Nothing won’t be launching the (3a) series on March 4, the company has begun to unveil details about the new models. In their latest video, designers discuss the extensive design process behind the phones.
Before the designers can start working, two crucial specification decisions must be made – the display and the camera, both of which greatly influence the final product. Speaking of which, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro will feature an exciting addition: a 3x periscope.
A closeup of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro camera island
The design journey begins with sketches on paper, moving on to digital designs, and even experimenting with components. There are three primary objectives: First, the design must be visually appealing. Second, it has to serve a practical purpose. Finally (and most importantly), all components must fit together. This emerged as a challenge with the new periscope module, which is larger than usual camera components.
The video showcases numerous iterations of various camera island designs. The finalized version is visible above, with explanations in the video on why this option was chosen.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
But that’s not everything – Nothing is also adding a dedicated camera button. The team contemplated incorporating a red dot, aligning with the Nothing design aesthetic, but ultimately opted against it due to its incompatibility with certain color schemes. Instead, they selected a glossy finish for the button to ensure it stands out while remaining coordinated with any colorway.
The Glyph interface has been revised. It maintains three main segments, but each now provides enhanced control compared to before.
Additionally, Nothing is set to release a standard Phone (3a) alongside the Pro. There’s also a flagship Nothing Phone (3) design in progress – it makes a brief appearance in the video, though it’s notably blurred out, keeping the surprises intact.
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