Nothing Phone 4 Rumours: What to Expect
The most interesting Nothing Phone 4 news so far is that it isn't coming this year at all. Here's what CEO Carl Pei has actually said, and why the timeline changed.
What's confirmed
Confirmed
Nothing CEO Carl Pei has publicly confirmed there will be no new flagship phone in 2026. In his words, "There's no new flagship this year" and "Phone 3 is our flagship for 2026." This is a rare case where the delay itself is confirmed rather than rumoured, even though the eventual Phone 4 specs are not.
Confirmed
Pei explained the company's reasoning directly: Nothing doesn't want to "churn out a phone, a flagship phone every year just for the sake of it to be on that schedule or calendar," preferring upgrades that "feel significant" over a rigid annual cycle.
What's reported (analyst / supply-chain sourced)
Reported
Droid Life and Yanko Design both report the next true flagship, widely assumed to be called the Nothing Phone 4, is now expected sometime in 2027 rather than 2026, though Nothing has not committed to an exact date.
Reported
Yanko Design reports that rising RAM and memory component prices were a contributing factor in the delay, alongside Nothing's stated desire to make each generational jump feel more meaningful.
Reported
In the meantime, Nothing has shipped the Phone (4a) starting at £349 and the Phone (4a) Pro starting at £499, both launched in March 2026, plus a new budget "b-series" with the Phone (4b) launched July 7, 2026 starting around $298-$357 USD. None of these are the flagship Phone 4, but PhoneArena notes Pei has teased "premium materials" and bold new colourways for the 4a line as a preview of design language that could carry into the eventual flagship.
Reported
No specs, chipset, or pricing details for the actual flagship Phone 4 have leaked yet, since Nothing hasn't even begun the usual pre-launch teaser cycle for a device that's still over a year out.
Twisti's opinion
Opinion
If you've been holding out for a Nothing flagship, the honest answer is to stop waiting for now. With no expected launch until 2027 at the earliest, the current Phone 3 remains Nothing's actual flagship and is worth comparing on price today rather than anticipating a phone that's still just a strategic statement from Pei. The Phone 4a Pro is also worth a look if you want Nothing's design language at a much lower price point right now.
What we'll update
We'll turn this into a full spec rumour roundup once Nothing starts its pre-launch teaser campaign, which historically ramps up a few months before any announcement.
Nothing Phone 3 is the flagship for now
Compare current Nothing Phone 3 and Phone (4a) Pro prices across NZ retailers on Twisti.
Compare phone prices