Nothing launched the Phone 4b on July 7, marking the debut of its new “b” series of budget smartphones. The phone sits below the Nothing Phone 4a in the lineup and replaces the discontinued CMF Phone line. It ships with Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, 8GB RAM, and the company’s signature Glyph Bar LED lighting.
Nothing Phone 4b Positioning: Why the “b” Exists
Nothing killed off its CMF Phone line earlier this year, citing rising memory costs that made the sub-$200 price point unsustainable. The Phone 4b fills that gap, but under the main Nothing brand instead of the CMF sub-brand.
Co-founder Akis Evangelidis confirmed the Phone 4b sits below the 4a in the lineup. In India, it launches at approximately Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 ($31-$52) less than the Phone 4a. Global pricing has not been confirmed, but the device is expected to land in the lower three-digit euro range.
Nothing Phone 4b Specs
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 (4nm, confirmed by Nothing)
- RAM: 8GB (per Geekbench listing)
- Storage: 128GB / 256GB
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate
- Main Camera: 50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide (dual setup)
- Front Camera: 32MP (per official teasers)
- Battery: 5,400mAh (some sources say 6,000mAh)
- Charging: 50W fast charging
- Software: Nothing OS based on Android 16
- Special Feature: Compact Glyph Bar with five LED panels on rear
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is a 4nm octa-core chip with four Cortex-A720 performance cores and four Cortex-A520 efficiency cores. Geekbench scores show roughly 1,088 single-core and 3,155 multi-core, placing it a step below the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 in the Phone 4a (1,259 / 3,339).
Design: Transparent Back and Glyph Bar
The Phone 4b retains Nothing’s iconic transparent design language. The rear panel shows internal components through a semi-transparent shell, with the compact Glyph Bar LED system integrated into the camera module area. The Glyph Bar features five LED panels that light up for notifications, calls, and charging status.
Official teasers show a vertical rear camera strip and a separate housing for the flash. Nothing’s design sketches leaked before launch suggested a distinct camera plateau with additional design flourishes on the lower right side, possibly another light strip.
Nothing Phone 4b vs Phone 4a: Key Differences
| Feature | Phone 4b | Phone 4a |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 |
| Single-Core (Geekbench) | ~1,088 | ~1,259 |
| Multi-Core (Geekbench) | ~3,155 | ~3,339 |
| Series | b-series (entry-level) | a-series (mid-range) |
| Software | Nothing OS / Android 16 | Nothing OS / Android 15 |
One notable detail: the Phone 4b runs Android 16 out of the box, while the Phone 4a still ships with Android 15. Nothing has not confirmed whether the 4a will receive the Android 16 update.
Nothing Ear 3a Launches Alongside
Nothing also announced the Nothing Ear (3a) earbuds during the same livestream. A new pink color option debuted with this model, and the Ear 3a is expected to launch at a lower price point than the standard Ear 3.
Update Policy
Nothing is expected to offer 3 years of Android version updates and 6 years of security patches for the Phone 4b. This matches the update commitment for the Phone 4a and puts Nothing on par with Samsung’s mid-range update policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nothing Phone 4b price?
Nothing has not confirmed global pricing. In India, the Phone 4b is expected to cost Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 less than the Phone 4a. Leaks suggest a price between $265 and $320 USD for Indian markets.
What processor does the Nothing Phone 4b use?
The Phone 4b uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, confirmed by Nothing in teasers and verified through a Geekbench listing (model A009P) with 8GB of RAM.
Is the Nothing Phone 4b waterproof?
Nothing has not confirmed IP ratings for the Phone 4b. The Phone 4a carries an IP54 rating, so the 4b may offer similar or slightly lower water resistance.
How does the Phone 4b compare to the Phone 4a?
The Phone 4b uses a lower-tier Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor compared to the 4a’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. It runs Android 16 (newer than the 4a’s Android 15) and is priced below the 4a, targeting the budget segment that the discontinued CMF Phone previously served.
