Sales of the new Nothing Phone 2a have already topped 100,000 just hours after it went on sale in signs the London-based smartphone designer has gained a major foothold in the market.
The device, which retails at £319, was launched yesterday as a cheaper alternative to the higher-spec Nothing Phone 2 and aims to lure customers away from mid-market rivals and dominant industry players like Samsung in search of lower prices.
Sales of the phone, the third released by the company since the launch of its first device in 2022, have significantly outpaced its predecessors in signs the company is continuing to build up market share when Big Tech devices like Apple’s iPhone show signs of sales slipping.
Carl Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Nothing, said: "Phone (2a) is redefining a category often overlooked, delivering Nothing's unique innovations to millions of new users around the world.
“Selling a record-breaking 100,000 units in just 24 hours is proof of that. A big thanks to our community, partners, and team for believing in us!"
The 2a boasts Nothing’s trademark see-through design with a 6.7 inch OLED screen and dual 50 megapixel rear cameras. Battery life is considerable, with as much as 52 hours’ life between charges, with Nothing claiming the battery maintains at least 90% of its original capacity for at least 1,000 full charge cycles.
Investors have poured over £100 million into Nothing since its launch in 2020, with the company making the first British-designed smartphone since 2016. High-profile backers include Google Ventures, iPod inventor Tony Fadell and Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.
The last British company to launch a smartphone was London-based Wileyfox, whose ‘Swift’ device, manufactured under license in China in 2015, was marketed as a high-quality phone that was substantially cheaper than Apple and Samsung.Wileyfox Europe went into administration in 2018, having never made a profit. In its last full year of trading, the company had sales of £14.5 million, equivalent to sales of 130,000 of its smartphones. The company’s failure was “in part attributed to the collapse of the company’s bankers in Russia,” according to a document filed with Companies House.Pei, who previously co-founded smartphone business OnePlus, said he wanted Nothing to “inspire people” and “bring optimism about the future and technology back.”
He criticised rivals for their “unimaginative bland design.”
