Less distraction. More soul. Just pure instinct, formed as a machine. Told through beautiful symbols. Deeper interactions. And brave simplicity.

For a long time we have been waiting for smartphone market disruptors. Few have succeeded. Nothing tried with their Phone (1), but it might not have had the desired impact. Sure, the hardware looked beautiful, but the OS was apparently lacking. Nothing, led by Carl Pei, is back with the unveiling of Phone (2) where greater focus has been paid to the software capabilities and simple UI, improved details with the LED lighting strips integration, and USB-C compatibility. There is an updated glyph interface, which includes a new ringtone pack and glyph composer based on synth-like sounds from Swedish House Mafia.

You can assign different light and sound sequences for each contact and notification type and be one step ahead of who's getting in touch. Taking inspiration from the phone's iconic hardware design, Nothing have given their software a new visual identity that feels distinctive. With an emphasis on functional customisation, Nothing OS 2.0 allows interactions with your smartphone to be more intentional and mindful.

Will Phone (2) make a bigger impression this time around especially given that it will be available in the US? It's tough to say, but the design language is saying the right things.