Carl Pei poaching teams from his former company OnePlus ahead of Nothing Phone (2) launch: Report

Highlights
  • Nothing has been actively recruiting several people from OnePlus across various domains.
  • The company is set to unveil the upcoming Nothing Phone (2) in the coming weeks.
  • Carl Pei took an exit from the Chinese smartphone brand in 2020 to build Nothing.

As the launch of the Nothing Phone (2) approaches this summer, the London-based consumer tech company is working hard to ensure its resounding success. In a recent report by Inverse, it has been unveiled that the Nothing CEO, Carl Pei, has strategically hired several key executives from his former company, OnePlus, which he founded, in preparation for the smartphone’s launch. Let us look at the matter.

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Key hirings from OnePlus ahead of Nothing Phone (2) launch

As per the report, the company has been actively recruiting several people from OnePlus across various domains, such as hardware and software engineering and marketing, for the upcoming Nothing Phone (2).

According to a source familiar with the company’s operations, the report mentioned that the software team at Nothing consists of 70 per cent of people who previously worked at OnePlus, while the hardware team comprises 30 per cent OnePlus alumni.

Former OnePlus Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Kyle Kiang, who reportedly took an exit from OnePlus back in 2021, according to Inverse’s exclusive report, is among the new hires for Nothing. Since the beginning of this year, Kiang has joined Nothing as the company’s Vice President of North America. The report also noted that Kiang is spearheading the global launch of the Nothing Phone (2).

Meanwhile, Shawn Liu, one of the less well-known co-founders of Nothing, is in charge of mobile product development and led the development of OxygenOS and cool OnePlus features like Zen Mode and the software for the always-on display.

Cookie Xu, who is in charge of software products and led the development of Reading Mode, Expanded Screenshot, and the Alert Slider software on OxygenOS, and Sam Lee, who is in charge of mobile software, are also in charge of software design.

It is worth mentioning that Pei, who co-founded OnePlus with Pete Lau in 2013, took an exit from the Chinese smartphone brand in 2020 to build Nothing. Hence, it is unsurprising that Nothing has allegedly recruited many individuals from OnePlus, given Pei’s background and connection to the company.

Nothing Phone (2) launch timeline (expected)

While the exact launch date for the much-awaited Nothing Phone (2) has not yet been revealed officially, it has been confirmed that the phone will be coming this summer. As far as India’s availability is concerned, the Nothing Phone (2) will likely be unveiled in India shortly after its global launch, as a recent report mentioned that the upcoming smartphone had appeared on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.

Nothing Phone (2) specifications (expected)

  • Display: 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a high 120Hz refresh rate
  • Rear cameras: 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS)
  • Selfie camera: (not known)
  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Storage: 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB
  • OS: Android 13
  • Battery: 5,000mAh battery with wired and wireless charging support
  • Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, in-display fingerprint sensor and more

It is important to note that the specifications mentioned are based on several certifications, leaks, and rumours that have emerged in the recent past. The company has not yet provided an official statement regarding the upcoming Nothing Phone (2).

Key Specs

Nothing Phone 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 | 8 GBProcessor
6.7 inches (17.02 cm) Display
50 MP + 50 MPRear camera
32 MPSelfie camera
4700 mAh Battery
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Review Summary

Expert Rating
8.0/10

Design
★  
8.0
/10
Display
★  
8.0
/10
Software
★  
8.0
/10
Camera
★  
7.0
/10
Performance
★  
8.0
/10
Battery
★  
8.0
/10

Pros

  • Standout looks
  • Good performance & battery life
  • Decent cameras
  • Glyph improvements

Cons

  • Dynamic range could be better
  • Similar design as predecessor
  • Charging speeds don`t match rivals
  • Priced on the higher side
Read Full Review