Over the past few years, Nothing has steadily expanded its smartphone portfolio with flagship and upper mid-range devices. Now, the company is taking a different approach. The Phone (4b) introduces an entirely new 'b' series, a fresh lineup that Nothing is positioning squarely in the mid-range segment.
Importantly, the brand avoided stripping away the core features that put it on the map. This device holds onto a lot of flagship character, retaining the iconic see-through aesthetic, the functional Glyph Bar, Nothing OS 4.1, and their newest AI integrations.
Launching a competitive device around the ₹ 35,000 price point is an uphill battle especially in today’s climate. Spiking hardware costs and an incredibly tight global memory supply mean manufacturers everywhere are forced to compromise. It is a tough reality that both Nothing and its sub-brand CMF understand perfectly. So some compromises should be expected.
Our limited time with the Phone (4b) though, made us realise that Nothing made the right calls, though the complete review will tell the full story.
Nothing Phone (4b): Price and Launch Details
Nothing is dropping the Phone (4b) in Blue, Black, and White. You can pick between two configurations. The base 8GB+128GB version starts at ₹34,999, while doubling the storage to 8GB+256GB costs ₹38,999.
Thankfully, launch offers makes the pricing more palatable. An instant 7.5 per cent bank discount and exchange promotions temporarily lower those prices to an effective ₹29,999 and ₹33,699. Open sales begin on July 14. You can grab one via Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, or authorised physical retail shops.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Design
Nothing continues to reject the sea of generic smartphone designs, and the Phone (4b) confidently doubles down on that distinct identity. Heavily inspired by the Phone (4a) Pro, this model retains the signature transparent rear panel and a sleek unibody construction. The biggest visual shift centres around a subtly redesigned camera module, which now seamlessly integrates the updated Glyph Bar.
While plastic builds often suffer from a cheap reputation, the 4b’s full-polycarbonate body tells a different story. A clever matte finish prevents smudges and fingerprints from spoiling the aesthetic, complemented by a textured upper segment that adds a nice touch of contrast. Additionally, the rounded edges ensure comfortable handling during extended browsing sessions.
The structural rigidity here is particularly impressive. Subjecting the device to twists and pressure revealed zero flexing or cheap creaks, demonstrating a level of build quality rarely seen in this price bracket.
The Glyph Bar remains a standout, highly functional feature rather than a simple visual trick. It easily tracks active countdowns, charging progress, and app notifications, all while the display stays asleep. It is also great to see the brand retain the iconic red recording LED found on its premium models. It is a minor touch that successfully anchors the company's design language.
Durability takes a step forward as well. The device secures an IP64 dust and splash resistance rating, and the updated frame structure is designed to handle bending pressures far better than its predecessor. A definitive conclusion requires long-term testing, but these initial impressions point toward reliable everyday endurance.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Display
Testing the Phone (4b) reveals a highly capable 6.77-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures that navigating the user interface and scrolling through content feels incredibly fluid, all while managing power consumption intelligently. Everything from daily social feeds to streaming media appears perfectly crisp.
Some users might express disappointment over the lack of a sharper 1.5K panel at this price point. However, with component costs rising sharply, it is completely understandable why Nothing prioritised a balanced overall package over purely chasing extra pixels. It feels like a sensible trade-off.
Despite being an 8-bit panel, the colour accuracy is impressive. Nothing avoided the temptation to over-saturate tones, meaning you still get the rich, deep blacks and vibrant contrast that AMOLED panels are known for. While peak brightness held up well during early testing, a definitive judgement will have to wait until the screen is tested under punishing, direct sunlight. For the time being, it is simply a very satisfying display for daily use.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Camera
The imaging hardware setup is quite standard. Nothing relies on a 50MP Samsung primary sensor equipped with both OIS and EIS, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 16MP front-facing shooter. While these specifications do not necessarily sound revolutionary on paper, the real-world performance is surprisingly impressive.
Images captured by the primary camera deliver excellent results. Beyond the high level of detail, the natural colour calibration is a major highlight. Nothing avoids aggressive over-saturation, allowing photos to remain true to life while preserving plenty of rich contrast.
The HDR processing balances challenging exposures effectively, protecting details in bright skies and deep shadows without creating an artificial, over-processed appearance. As expected, the ultra-wide lens shows a slight drop in outright sharpness, but its colour profile remains highly consistent with the main sensor.
Daytime selfies offer accurate skin tones and crisp facial details. On the video front, options include 4K recording at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, along with Ultra XDR, slow-motion, and dual-capture capabilities. A definitive verdict requires pushing the image stabilisation and low-light capabilities further over the coming days, so keep an eye out for the full breakdown.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Performance & Gaming
Under the hood, the core specifications look solid. Nothing opted for a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset to power the Phone (4b), pairing the silicon with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a maximum of 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
The brand claims this package delivers a healthy step up in processing muscle and graphics capabilities compared to the older model. To keep temps in check when you are pushing the hardware, they have also buried a generous vapour chamber cooling system inside the frame.
On the gaming front, Nothing claims the phone can push BGMI up to 90fps, while less demanding games such as Wild Rift or Subway Surfers can max out at a fluid 120fps. Throw in a highly responsive 1,000Hz touch sampling rate alongside dual stereo speakers, and you have a hardware combination that ticks every major box for casual players.
All of this points to a snappy, hassle-free daily experience, and my brief time with the device confirms just that. Apps launch without hesitation, hopping between different tasks feels entirely seamless, and the camera shutter snaps instantly. For everyday chores, it just works beautifully.
That said, the most rigorous testing is still to come. I will need to put the phone through my usual benchmark stress tests, check closely for thermal throttling, and spend some serious hours gaming before delivering a final verdict.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Software
Clean software continues to be a major draw for Nothing devices, and the Phone (4b) carries that torch beautifully. It arrives running Nothing OS 4.1 on top of Android 16, serving up the same minimalist, bloat-free user interface found on its premium siblings. Refreshingly, the brand skipped the usual budget-phone cost-cutting, keeping the exact same flagship Essential AI features intact.
That means utilities like Essential Search, Essential Voice, and Essential Space are fully available. The handy Live Updates feature makes a return as well, working in tandem with the rear Glyph Bar to flash real-time alerts for delivery statuses, navigation cues, or upcoming calendar entries. The newly introduced Soundscape widget is another great addition, letting you quickly trigger relaxing ambient audio when you need to focus or wind down.
Future-proofing looks equally reassuring. Nothing commits to three years of major Android system upgrades and a full six years of security patches, giving long-term buyers plenty of confidence.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Battery & Charging
The power department is undeniably a headline feature for the Phone (4b). Indian retail units pack a colossal 6,000mAh battery, marking the highest capacity Nothing has ever crammed into a phone. During my initial days of testing, any form of battery anxiety completely vanished.
When it is time to top up, the device handles 33W fast charging. Nothing claims this allows the phone to zip from 1 to 50 per cent in roughly 27 minutes, with a full charge taking close to 80 minutes. There is also 7.5W reverse wired charging support on board, which is handy if you need to revive a dying accessory. I will run formal endurance benchmarks and log exact charging metrics for the full review, but these initial figures look stellar.
Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Final Thoughts
Testing the Phone (4b) shows that Nothing is off to a really solid start with this new 'b' series line. Instead of just loading up a spec sheet to look good on paper, they focused on everyday balance. It pays off, giving you a completely unique look, incredibly polished software, reliable cameras, and what looks like massive battery life.
Naturally, a price this aggressive means you have to accept some cut corners. A crisper 1.5K display and faster UFS 3.1 storage would have been excellent additions, but I get the realities of the market right now. Spiking component prices mean every phone maker has to make tough compromises.
An initial hands-on only gives you a partial picture, though. I still need to run my standard benchmark tests, track gaming frames, shoot in tricky lighting, and see how the battery handles real-world drain. For now, it is a really compelling package, and I can't wait to see how it holds up during my long-term testing for the full review.
