Nothing Phone (4b) in a nutshell: a budget phone with flagship intentions
The Nothing Phone (4b) is a mid-range Android smartphone that combines a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor, a 6.77-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a 50MP OIS main camera, a 5,200mAh battery, and Nothing’s distinctive Glyph Bar design at a starting price of £299 (~RM1,629), targeting buyers who want affordable flagship features without premium costs. Nothing has officially expanded its lineup with this first b-series device, unveiled globally on 7 July and going on sale from 17 July, positioned below the Phone (4a) but above the CMF phone in the company’s range. The key takeaway: Nothing is betting that design flair, a smooth 120Hz display and long software support matter more to budget users than chasing raw benchmark numbers.
Design and Glyph Bar: meaningful differentiation or just eye candy?
In a market full of generic glass slabs, the Nothing Phone (4b) tries to win hearts with personality. It keeps the brand’s transparent-inspired look but shifts to a refined plastic unibody paired with a simplified rear Glyph Bar. The multi-layer coated polycarbonate helps reduce fingerprints, and an IP64 rating promises protection against dust and water splashes—solid for a budget phone but not a rugged workhorse. The Glyph Bar now uses 45 individually controlled mini-LEDs that can pulse, flash, and glow for notifications and creative lighting, reaching up to 3,500 nits peak brightness. This is more than a gimmick: for users who care about visual identity, the Phone (4b) looks and feels distinct in a way most mid-range competitors do not. If you are tired of anonymous black rectangles, this is a clear plus.
Display, performance and battery: balanced hardware for everyday use
On paper, the Nothing Phone 4b specs are tuned for daily reliability rather than headline-grabbing speed. The 6.77-inch Super AMOLED display offers a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ support, up to 1,200 nits outdoors and 2,000 nits peak brightness, plus pixel-level micro-shifting to reduce burn-in. This puts it squarely among the better budget phone 120Hz display options, especially for scrolling and gaming. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 works with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, with a 256GB option in some markets, aiming at stable multitasking and casual gaming rather than pro-level performance. A 5,200mAh battery promises up to 18 hours mixed usage, 22 hours of YouTube or 26 hours of Instagram, backed by 33W wired charging and Safe Cell protections. According to one source, "Nothing says the device is capable of comfortably lasting through a full day of heavy use."
Cameras and AI features: capable, but not class-leading
Camera hardware on the Phone (4b) is sensible rather than extravagant. The rear setup pairs a 50MP main camera with optical and electronic image stabilisation and an 8MP 119-degree ultrawide lens, while the front uses a 16MP selfie camera. Nothing’s TrueLens Engine 4 and Ultra XDR imaging capture 13 RAW frames for more detailed processing, and you get 4K video at 30fps with AI anti-shake plus dual video recording for front and rear tracking. Creative flourishes like Disco and DV filters, Signature Presets and a Playground mode sit on top. On the software side, Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16 brings Essential AI tools accessed via a physical Essential Key—covering search, voice, apps, Playground—and integrates native ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Circle to Search. Importantly, Nothing promises three years of Android OS updates and six years of security patches, which is a big longevity win in this price band.
Price, positioning and verdict: a stylish contender for the budget flagship slot
The Nothing Phone (4b) starts at £299 (€329, ~RM1,629) for international markets, with pricing at ₹29,999 in India, and sales begin globally on 17 July. That places it neatly in the budget flagship space: clearly above entry-level devices like the CMF phone, yet below the more premium Phone (4a) series. You are paying for design, a quality 120Hz AMOLED panel, long software support and thoughtful features like the Essential Key and Glyph Bar, not for top-tier silicon or mega zoom cameras. For many mid-range buyers, that trade-off makes sense. However, performance-focused shoppers may find rivals with faster chipsets or more aggressive charging at similar prices. As one source asks, "Will the new b-series Nothing Phone be good enough for the midrange?" My view: if you value style, screen quality and long-term updates over raw speed, the Phone (4b) deserves a spot on your shortlist.
