Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: A Breath of Fresh Air in the Mountains

Leh isn’t exactly where you’d expect to form your first impressions of a smartphone. But perhaps that’s what makes it the perfect place. Between mountain roads, blazing sunshine and delectably cold weather, the Nothing Phone (4b) got a rather unique baptism. I’ve been using the device for around a day and a half now, and while it’s far too early for a review, it’s certainly enough time to talk about what stands out,and what I’m looking forward to testing further.

Design that Makes You Stop and Stare

Let’s get the obvious bit out of the way first. Nothing simply doesn’t know how to make a boring-looking phone. My blue review unit was the object of wonder for random hotel staff and tourists, all wanting to know what phone it was. The trademark Nothing aesthetic continues to feel attractive, while the smooth polycarbonate unibody and clear camera housing give it a premium feel despite its positioning. I also love that Nothing has carried over the Glyph Bar from the Phone (4a). I genuinely enjoyed using it on the previous generation, and it’s one of those features that adds personality rather than simply existing as a gimmick. It’s brighter this time around, more informative, and still one of the coolest notification systems on any smartphone.

The RCB Edition? My Inner Kohli Fan is Screaming

Nothing also gave us a chance to experience the super-exclusive RCB Edition of the Phone (4b). Now, as a certified Virat Kohli-paglu, this immediately became my favourite version of the phone. That said, temper your expectations. Other than the custom outer shell and a handful of RCB-themed wallpapers, there isn’t much that’s different from the regular device. If you were expecting exclusive icon packs or interface changes, they aren’t here. Still… it looks fantastic. The catch? Sales will happen only through the Nothing Bengaluru Store on July 7, so good luck getting your hands on one.

Display Had One Job in Leh, and it Nailed it

Leh isn’t kind to smartphone displays. The sun here feels permanently switched to maximum brightness, and if your phone can’t keep up, you’ll know within minutes. Thankfully, the Phone (4b)’s 6.77-inch Super AMOLED panel held up remarkably well throughout the trip. Whether I was framing landscapes, navigating mountain roads or reviewing photos outdoors, visibility remained consistently good. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate also keeps everything feeling smooth, and after spending the last couple of days with it, I honestly have very few complaints about the display.

Battery? Too Early to Judge

Battery life is one area where I’ll reserve judgment for the full review. All of my usage has revolved around taking photos and shooting videos. That’s hardly representative of everyday use. What does inspire confidence, however, is the 6,000mAh battery, the largest ever fitted to a Nothing phone in India. On paper, that’s a reassuring number, especially for people who travel or spend long days outdoors.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Isn’t a Problem

One talking point around the Phone (4b) is its processor. Nothing has opted for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, which, yes, isn’t the latest chip available. But there’s context here. The ongoing global memory shortage has pushed component prices up significantly, forcing brands into difficult decisions. During the media briefing before launch, Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis explained that while some companies are making compromises like dropping stereo speakers or cutting other hardware features, Nothing didn’t want to go down that route. Honestly, I don’t think the chipset deserves the criticism. Benchmark numbers between Snapdragon 6’s Gen 4 and Gen 5 chips aren’t worlds apart, and during my brief usage, the phone has felt perfectly responsive. Of course, the real test comes later, but first impressions are reassuring.

Cameras Look Promising

The Phone (4b) packs a 50MP primary camera with OIS, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide camera, while Nothing’s TrueLens Engine 4 continues handling the image processing. So far, the cameras are looking good. What I continue to adore, though, are Nothing’s Presets. I was obsessed with them on previous-generation Nothing phones, and that obsession hasn’t changed here. In particular, I couldn’t stop shooting using the Black & White preset during my time in Leh. Somehow, the dramatic landscapes, monasteries and mountain roads look even more timeless in monochrome. We’ve already uploaded plenty of sample shots to Exhibit Magazine’s Instagram, so do check them out if you’re curious about the camera performance.

Nothing OS: One of Android’s Biggest Strengths

Software continues to be one of Nothing’s biggest wins. The interface is clean, fast and refreshingly free of unnecessary clutter. In fact, the only pre-installed third-party apps are the likes of Facebook and Instagram, which most users would probably download anyway. Everything else feels unmistakably Nothing. The interface remains fluid, the design language is cohesive, and the Essential Key and its AI-powered features are all present if you’re looking to experiment with Nothing’s growing AI ecosystem.

The Elephant in the Room: Pricing

It was Akis himself who referred to the pricing as the “elephant in the room.” And there’s a reason for that. Pricing smartphones in 2026 isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. The ongoing global memory shortage has pushed manufacturing costs significantly higher, and according to Nothing, the alternative would’ve been cutting corners elsewhere in the hardware, and Nothing isn’t willing to do that.

With launch offers, the 8GB + 128GB variant of the Nothing Phone (4b) will cost ₹29,999, while the 8GB + 256GB version will come in at ₹33,699. Without offers, the base variant starts at ₹34,999 and the other one goes up to ₹38,999. That’s undeniably steep for a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4-powered smartphone, but considering the fact that the entire smartphone industry is shifting to higher pricing, that seems about right, at least for now.

That’s because I’ve only spent a day and a half with the Phone (4b), and first impressions can only tell you so much. But if these initial experiences are anything to go by, Nothing has once again delivered a phone with bags of personality, a polished software experience and a design that continues to stand out in a sea of identical-looking smartphones.

Stay tuned for our full review.