Nothing Phone (4b) Review: Unique Style or Budget Compromise?
Honestly? I’m still not entirely sure what to make of the new Nothing Phone (4b). The device feels like a classic case of: “We had to put something on the market while memory prices were exploding in the background.” Carl Pei and his team undoubtedly know how to build stylish smartphones for a tighter budget—devices like the CMF Phone 1 or the Phone (3a) proved that long ago. But with the 4b, cost-cutting measures were applied in a few areas that might make tech fans wince just a little.
Design and Ergonomics: A Hands-On with Surprises
Let’s start with the best side: the design. Haptically, the back panel is an absolute delight. While the body is made of plastic with a special soft-touch coating, it feels surprisingly premium in the hand—somewhere between rough ceramic stone and fine stoneware. I constantly find myself spinning the phone in my hand just to feel the texture.
The downside? Fingerprints love this surface. If you don’t want to wipe it down with a microfiber cloth every five minutes, your best bet is to go straight for the white model. The black variant turns into a crime-scene evidence board after just two minutes of use. The Glyph Interface on the back has been trimmed down from seven LEDs to five. It still looks cool, but who really tracks their pasta timer using four illuminated dashes?
Looking for a more rugged companion built for extreme conditions instead? If you need true durability, check out our Lagenio Panther 2 Pro Review, where we took a closer look at a tough outdoor smartphone priced under €200.
Display and Audio: Hits and Misses in Daily Use
When it comes to the display, real compromise sets in. Yes, we get a 6.77-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED panel, but the bezels—especially the bottom “chin”—are surprisingly thick for a modern Nothing device. What bothers me more, however, is the viewing angle stability and the increased pulse-width modulation (PWM) flicker. If you have sensitive eyes, you will notice it.
The protective glass was also downgraded: Instead of hardened Gorilla Glass, you get DragonTrail Pro, which feels reanimated from the smartphone stone age. On the bright side, the Always-On display is present, and the body now sports an official IP64 rating for dust and splash protection.
If you are looking for top-tier flagship screen standards and love foldable displays, you will find a completely different side of the mobile spectrum in our detailed Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review.
Performance & Battery: Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Put to the Test
Under the hood, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 operates on a modern 4-nanometer process. Don’t expect miracles for high-end emulation here. But—and credit goes to the software team—Nothing OS 4.1 (based on Android 16) extracts every ounce of potential from the LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. In daily navigation, the system runs smoothly and completely free of bloatware.
Even during gaming, the chip stays remarkably stable and doesn’t throttle performance due to heat. Combined with the 5,200 mAh battery, getting through a full day is effortless. Charging at 33W wired takes its time, though.
Camera System: 50 MP Main Camera Success, Ultra-Wide Failure?
The camera setup is where things get truly quirky. Thanks to optical image stabilization (OIS), the 50-megapixel main camera takes crisp, usable photos in daylight. The second lens—a tiny 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor—feels like an afterthought. In low-light conditions, image details crumble faster than a dry cookie. Compared to the in-house CMF Phone 2 Pro, the 4b feels like a slight step backward in this department.
🛒 Buy the Nothing Phone (4b) – Where to Find the Best Deal?
If you are looking for a smartphone with an unmistakable design, clean Android 16 software, and dependable battery life, this device is worth a look despite its minor drawbacks.
👉 Check out the Nothing Phone (4b) directly on Amazon here
Verdict: Is the Nothing Phone (4b) Worth Buying?
My verdict is mixed. For around €330 / $350, you get a smartphone with fantastic software, three years of major Android updates (up to Android 19!), six years of security patches, and a unique look. If those features align with your needs and the cameras or screen chin don’t bother you, it is a solid pick. However, if you are simply looking for the absolute most hardware for your money, previous-generation models or the CMF lineup offer better overall value—or you can simply wait for upcoming price drops.
If you are also searching for a smart daily companion for fitness and notifications to match your phone, take a look at our Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro Review.
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