BTTR Roundup #48: The one about Nothing (and other things)

Sometimes, annual product launches can feel really iterative and boring. It can get so that telling the difference between one year's product and the next is really difficult to tell.

But not so with Nothing. The UK brand leans into its unique design language in a way that I don't think any other tech manufacturer dares to.

Part of the reason for that is that the design is so polarising. I haven't looked at a Nothing device since the Nothing Phone (2) and Phone (2a) last year, but the design was one of my least favourite things about those phones.

And now, the company has brought its style to the noise-cancelling headphone market. I personally can't see them making a significant dent given the level of competition, but the specs of the Nothing Headphones (1) do look interesting.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts on Nothing's new products. The specs look good, but to the products themselves?

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This week's new tech news

• Samsung has launched its new smart monitor lineup, if you prefer your work displays to be more TV-like than just a dumb panel. The M90SF is the flagship ($2,499 RRP), with a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED panel and a glare-free coating, plus a 165Hz refresh rate, Vision AI for upscaling and image optimisation and the Tizen OS for access to streaming services and games streaming. The M80F ($999 RRP) and the M70F ($699 RRP) both have 32-inch 4K panels, and the Tizen OS, though the M80F has an adjustable and pivoting stand. There's also a 43-inch version of the M70F ($849 RRP). [Samsung]
• The era of telcos trying to be streaming services may be coming to an end, with Optus Sport selling its rights to the English Premiere League to Stan Sport this week. Optus offered Aussies exclusive access to the EPL for the past nine years, but from 1 August the competition joins the Rugby Union, the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League, Grand Slam Tennis and T20 cricket on Stan's additional sports package. Stan Sport is an additional $20/month over the regular Stan subscription, meaning you'll be paying a minimum of $32/month. Ouch. [Optus Sport]
• Dyson has upgraded its Airwrap this week with the Airwrap Co-anda 2x. It offers twice the air pressure in a smaller and lighter body, while including heat sensors to protect your hair from extreme heat damage. It comes with upgraded attachments, and will arrive on 30 July for $999 RRP. [Dyson]
• Lilo and Stitch is one of my least-favourite Disney movies, but the success of the live action remake means we're going to see lots of merch collaborations. Belkin has just launched a pair of SoundForm Mini On-Ear Wireless headphones featuring Stitch on the earcup, designed for your Disney-loving little one. With 30 hours of battery life, an 85 dB volume limiter and Belkin's Signature Sound, the headphones are available now for $59.95 RRP. [Belkin]
• British tech company Nothing this week unveiled its latest flagship smartphone and its first pair of over-ear headphones. Like previous Nothing devices, design is going to split opinion:
  • The Nothing Phone (3) looks similar to previous Nothing smartphones, with its transparent case and industrial style. But this version does away with the Glyph lighting of previous models like the Nothing Phone (2), instead adding a micro LED display on the phone's back. It looks to be a bit more practical, showing specific alerts and progress indicators without needing to unlock your phone. There are four 50MP cameras on the phone, including a periscope camera, a wide angle and an ultra-wide on the back. The lens layout is a bit uneven, but that's all part of the design. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display and a 5,150 mAh battery. Pricing starts at $1,509 for 256 GB and $1,689 for the 512 GB model, with the phone on sale from 15 July. [Nothing]
• Perhaps more interesting than the Phone (3) was the launch of the Headphone (1). Bringing the same design to over-ear headphones, the headphones have some impressive specs, with up to 80 hours of battery life, audio tuning by audio company KEF, active noise cancellation and transparency modes. There's also head tracking for surround sound modes, and a dedicated app so you can customise the sound with an 8-band EQ and dual device connectivity. But the style is certainly a choice – it looks like you have two old cassette players mounted to the side of your head. It will be interesting to see how these perform in a crowded market of noise-cancelling headphones given the $549 RRP. [Nothing]
• Motorola keeps adding to its 60 series of smartphones, with the new RAZR 60 and Edge 60 Pro
  • Motorola's RAZR 50 Ultra was one of my favourite phones of last year. With its exceptional external display, solid camera, and really sleek folding design, it was a nice change from the standard slabs of glass. Moto has just announced the RAZR 60, which appears to be quite similar in design to last year's RAZR 50 model, but with a newer titanium-reinforced hinge, and powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400X with 8GB RAM. There's a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide and a bunch of AI features you'll probably never use. It launches 10 July for $1,199. [Motorola]
  • Alongside the RAZR 60, Moto has launched the Edge 60 Pro. With a huge 6,000 mAh battery and support for 90W fast charging, the phone has a 6.7-inch pOLED HDR 10+ display, is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Extreme chipset and has a Sony LYTIA 700C sensor for capturing great photos. It will also launch July 10 for $1,199 RRP. [Motorola]
• DJI has just dropped its newest addition to its portable power station range. The DJI Power 2000 promises a bunch of improvements over the Power 500 and Power 1000, including more more ports, more power and more accessories. It can maintain a 3000W output until empty from its 2048W capacity. It has four AC ports, four USB-C ports and four USB-A ports, and is compact enough to easily pack away for camping trips or in an RV. It also charges quickly, taking just 45 minutes to charge from 0% to 80% from mains. RRP is $2,409, with orders open now. [DJI]
• OPPO has launched a couple of new products that are pretty wallet-friendly:
  • The OPPO Pad SE is an 11-inch tablet with a 9,340 mAh battery and a slim 7.39 mm body. It supports 33W fast charging, has front and rear 5MP cameras and a dedicated "Kids" mode, which allows parents to easily control screen time and app access. It's available now for $399 RRP [OPPO]
  • OPPO also dropped the OPPO Enco Buds 3. Priced at $99, just like the Enco Buds 2 Pro I reviewed last year, the Buds 3 offer a 12.4 mm titanium-plated large-diaphragm driver, which promises better bass performance, while the buds and case offer 48 hours of battery life. If you pair the Enco Buds 3 with an OPPO phone, you can also get real time AI translation, apparently. IP55 rated, and Bluetooth 5.4 round up a decent spec sheet, though any earbuds that cost $99 are going to have compromises. [OPPO]

This week's review

Sony WF-C710N review: Brilliant for the budget

Sony’s affordable WF-C710N noise-cancelling earbuds do a phenomenal job for their price tag.

BTTR ReviewsNick Broughall