Pros & Cons
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- Eye-catching retro-futuristic design
- Excellent value
- High-quality display
- Nearly 17 hours of battery life
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- Middling performance scores
- Sluggish wireless speeds on US networks
- Only three years of OS upgrades
Nothing Phone (4b) Specs
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours and 49 minutes |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 8MP; 16MP |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 |
| Dimensions | 6.47 by 3.08 by 0.34 inches |
| Operating System | Android 16 |
| Screen Resolution | 2,344 by 1080 pixels |
| Screen Size | 6.77 |
The $399 (about AED 1,450 / SAR 1,500) Nothing Phone (4b) is the first entry in the company’s new budget-friendly “b” series. Think of it as the quirky offspring of the midrange Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro; it inherits DNA from both. Things I like about the (4b) include its bright and crisp display, surprisingly good speakers, practical Nothing OS software, and nearly 17 hours of battery life. Eager fans can grab the Phone (4b) via Nothing’s official website, and I think you’ll like it if you want something offbeat and unique. Keep in mind, however, that it’s not optimized for US networks and therefore has slower wireless speeds. Ultimately, at this price, you should stick with the $449.99 (about AED 1,650 / SAR 1,700) Samsung Galaxy A37, which has a flagship-inspired design, impressive battery life, good performance, and a longer support commitment.
Design: Sci-Fi Looks on a Budget
If you told me that the Nothing Phone (4b) was salvaged from a graveyard of fallen Autobots, I would believe you. It has the cold, utilitarian aesthetic of robotic hardware from a sci-fi movie. My review unit has a soft, powder blue finish, so it doesn’t feel too sterile. The Phone (4b) also comes in black and white.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)The rear panel features an oversized, edge-to-edge rectangular camera island with exposed, screw-like accents. The sharp lines and geometric paneling give it a retro-futuristic look. On the far right of the module, you’ll find the Glyph Bar, borrowed from the Phone (4a).
It features a smooth unibody design, inherited from the Phone (4a) Pro, that does a decent job at keeping fingerprints and grease at bay. The edges are squared-off, boxy, and rigid, matching the phone’s aggressive industrial look.
Dimensions and Weight
The Phone (4b) measures 6.47 by 3.08 by 0.34 inches (HWD) and weighs 7.4 ounces. Compared with the Phone (4a) Pro (6.44 by 3.01 by 0.31 inches, 7.4 ounces), the Phone (4b) is slightly taller, wider, and thicker but weighs the same.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)Meanwhile, the Galaxy A37 (6.41 by 3.08 by 0.28 inches, 6.91 ounces) is taller and thicker, and the same width.
If a thin-and-light phone is a priority for you, the Galaxy A37 is the winner here.
Durability
The Phone (4b) has an IP64 rating, which means it’s dust-tight and splash-resistant. Nothing claims the phone can survive submersion in about 10 inches of water for up to 20 minutes, but that’s not part of the IP64 rating.
The Phone (4a) Pro bumps the rating up to IP65, offering better water resistance than the Phone (4b). The Galaxy A37 beats both with an IP67 rating and can withstand a plunge in water (up to about five feet for 30 minutes).
Nothing hasn’t specified what glass it uses on the front, so it’s difficult to gauge scratch and drop resistance. The Galaxy A37 has Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back.
Buttons and Ports
On the left side, you’ll find Nothing’s Essential Key, which lets you capture screenshots with an optional voice or text note. Double-click it, and you’ll land inside the Essential Space, an AI-hub that stores your screenshots, voice notes, and other content.
(Credit: Kimberly Gedeon)The right side houses a volume rocker and the power key. The bottom features a physical <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/explainers/using-two-sim…
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