Nothing leaks from the Phone 3: Did they copy the iPhone 16 before it even existed?

It’s been almost a year since Nothing launched the Nothing Phone 2, so naturally, we expect news of the Nothing Phone 3 soon. Recently, Nothing CEO Carl Pei posted a series of photos showing updates to Nothing OS’s user interface. While the software changes were interesting in themselves, people did Beebom soon realized that the phone featured in Pei’s photos could very well be the Nothing Phone 3.

The Phone 1, Phone 2 and the newer Phone 2a have three buttons – two volume buttons on the left side and a power button on the right. However, the phone in Pei’s photos clearly has an extra button on the right side, positioned just below the power button.

The purpose of this new button remains a mystery, but its presence is especially intriguing given the rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 series. It is widely believed that Apple will also introduce a new button just below the power button on the next generation iPhones.

In Apple’s case, this new button will reportedly serve multiple functions, potentially acting as a dedicated camera shutter or camera launch button. There is also speculation that it could offer other customizable actions, possibly tied to Apple’s built-in AI features in the next iOS update.

Nothing’s recent announcement of ChatGPT integration into Nothing OS raises the possibility that this new button could serve a similar purpose, acting as a dedicated AI button for quick access to AI-powered features.

It’s a common feeling that Nothing’s offerings take some “inspiration” from Apple’s design aesthetic. But with the Nothing Phone 3 potentially hitting shelves before the iPhone 16, could this be the year when Nothing can finally say, “Who’s copying who now?”

Details about the Nothing Phone 3 are scarce so far, but it’s widely expected to feature a powerful Snapdragon 8-series chip, improvements to the unique Glyph LED lights, and an overall improved user experience. The timing of Pei’s tweets, which could be a deliberate move to create hype, further suggests that the launch of the Phone 3 could be just around the corner.