No CMF Phone 3 Pro but a new Nothing Phone (4b) is coming: latest teaser drops hints

Highlights
  • Nothing India has released a new  teaser, hinting at the arrival of a new smartphone.
  • The teaser reveals Nothing’s signature transparent rear design and a single rear camera.
  • Nothing cancelled the CMF Phone 3 Pro a few days ago.

The news of the CMF Phone 3 Pro being cancelled may have disappointed some Nothing/CMF fans, but as co-founder Akis Evangelidis pointed out in his post, a lot more seems to be coming from the brand. The company has started teasing an entirely new device that could kick off a fresh “b” series lineup. A new video teaser from Nothing India offers the clearest look yet at the upcoming phone, and all signs currently point towards a possible Nothing Phone (4b).

The teaser follows an earlier cryptic post by Nothing’s global page carrying just the letter “(b)”, which immediately sparked speculation about a new product category. The latest video by the Indian page, captioned “(b)usted”, goes a step further by briefly revealing parts of the phone’s design.

Nothing Phone (4b): What we know so far

Remember Nothing India teasing the Pokemon Blastoise a couple of days ago? All pieces of the puzzle seem to be coming together as Blastoise could actually be the internal codename for the Phone (4b). Note the ‘b’ reference. While Nothing has not confirmed the phone’s name or specifications, the teaser reveals a few familiar design traits. The teaser shows a sketch being made of a phone with the company’s signature transparent rear panel, with visible internal elements underneath. The video ends with a shot of pencils labelled “2b”, “3b”, “5b” and the one where “4b” is supposed to be, is highlighted.

The biggest clue is the camera setup. Unlike most recent Nothing phones, which offer two or more rear cameras, the teased device appears to feature a single rear camera. That decision could indicate a stronger focus on affordability. We remember Carl Pei talking about how it made more sense for smartphone brands to have one or two good cameras instead of more decorative lenses, prior to the launch of the Nothing Phone (1). The company seems to be returning to that strategy.

Expected pricing

Obviously we have no official word on how much the alleged Nothing Phone (4b) could cost, but the single rear camera makes us think it may be leaning towards affordability. Nothing’s (not CMF) most affordable phone currently is the Phone (3a) Lite, which launched at Rs 20,999. However, recent memory and component cost increases have pushed prices higher across the industry, with the device now selling for well above Rs 25,000.

Against that backdrop, the Phone (4b) could represent a return to basics. Instead of offering multiple cameras, Nothing may focus on delivering good everyday performance, good battery life and a clean software experience while keeping costs under control. A single good camera is often more useful than multiple low-quality sensors that add little real-world value.

If Nothing manages to price the Phone (4b) around the Rs 20,000 mark, it could appeal to buyers who want a unique-looking phone with reliable performance without stretching their budget too far. Considering the teasers have started, the launch may not be far off, so buyers shopping in the affordable segment should hold out their purchase.