Carl Pei and Nothing have pretty much perfected the art of building anticipation for upcoming products and following through with just the right marketing. The Nothing Phone (2a) has been no exception, making it one of those devices that just can’t help but be leaked for us smartphone enthusiasts to oogle at and speculate about. But how does a smartphone get to the final design that we eventually get to enjoy?
In a recent interview with Wallpaper*, Nothing’s founder Carl Pei discussed the design and manufacturing process of the phone. He revealed that there were many prototypes of the phone that didn’t make the cut. These prototypes included phones with different materials and designs, such as phones with curved screens and phones with under-display cameras.
One of the rejected prototypes happens to be the one that leaked earlier this month as the “final design,” which it later turned out not to be. That prototype joins several others in a slew of backplates and cases that are now part of the “could’ve been” collection. These have now been revealed and shown in the gallery below:
All images credit: Wallpaper*
Pei said that the team at Nothing ultimately decided to go with a high-density polycarbonate rear, instead of glass, coated with what they call a “triple anti fingerprint coating.” The midframe, however, is made of recycled aluminum since it is the most sustainable option.
The Nothing Phone (2a) is expected to be fully revealed on March 5th and released soon after that. It is not yet known how much the phone will cost, but it is expected to be priced competitively.
