A retail demo of the Nothing Phone 3 sparked controversy after shoppers noticed that photo samples displayed on the device weren’t actually captured using the phone itself. Initially, the demo appeared to claim that the images were taken by the Phone 3’s camera, misleading potential buyers
What Happened
During a retail demo in New Zealand, the Phone 3 displayed a selection of five images under a banner that read:
“Here’s what our community has captured with the Phone (3)”
This wording implied that the images were taken by Phone 3 users.
However, investigations revealed that all five images were actually stock photos available on the marketplace Stills. These included shots of a window, a glass, a car headlight, a staircase, and a woman. Two photographers confirmed that the photos were not taken with the Phone 3 and were available for licensing.
Nothing’s Response
Nothing initially did not deny the claims. Later, co-founder Akis Evangelidis clarified that the appearance of stock photos on the demo units was not malicious, but rather a mistake in setting up the retail demo.
Industry Context
Phone makers occasionally face scrutiny over camera marketing. Past examples include:
- Nokia Lumia 920: Accusations of faked video stabilization.
- Samsung Moon Pictures: Heavily “enhanced” marketing images.
Nothing joins this list, though the company insists it was an unintentional error rather than deliberate deception.
Takeaway
Consumers and tech enthusiasts are increasingly vigilant. Even minor marketing missteps, like using stock photos in demos, can quickly become public controversies. Nothing has acknowledged the error and clarified it wasn’t intended to mislead customers.
