"Better Specifications? Carl Pei Provokes a Fan Demanding More from the Nothing Phone (3a)"
The Nothing Phone (3a) has been launched with an initial price of 22,999 rupees.
Carl Pei, co-founder of Nothing, has stood out among tech executives for his closeness to users on X (formerly Twitter). His posts are often humorous and sometimes self-deprecating, always aiming to differentiate himself from others. In an unusual gesture, Pei conducted reviews of competing smartphones in a series of entertaining videos and even briefly became a YouTuber for the fun launch of the Nothing Ear (2).
With the arrival of the Nothing Phone (2a) in India, Pei decided to adopt the nickname "Carl Bhai," trying to connect in a fun way with Indian users. This unexpected and quirky move by a CEO caught public attention and was seen as a lighthearted and inoffensive gesture.
Nothing burst onto the market in 2021, and its popularity skyrocketed with the launch of the Phone (1) in 2022, surpassing Pei's previous success with OnePlus. His captivating style, both personally and through Nothing, contributed to a rapid growth of the brand's follower base. However, Pei's online presence has had mixed results. Following the release of the Nothing Phone (3a), his posts on X maintained his characteristic style, although their impact varied. A recent post, which seemed typical at first glance, generated confusion among some observers due to his response to a comment.
In a recent post, Pei celebrated the success of the Nothing Phone (3a) on its first day, dismissing critics as "coping." However, when a user suggested improvements to read/write speeds and RAM efficiency, Pei responded brusquely, telling the user to "stop crying." This attempt to be bold and witty did not go as he had hoped, as his response turned out to be insensitive. Telling potential customers to "stop crying" for wanting better hardware is not the kind of communication one would expect from a co-founder of a company selling devices to those very people.
The Phone (3a) series features UFS 2.2, which, while not the most advanced, is reasonable for a phone in its price range. The issue lies not with the hardware itself, but with how the response to customer feedback was handled, which could have been more considerate. I have been testing both the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro, and my review is on the way. While the hardware is adequate, customers have every right to expect more for their money, especially without being ridiculed for expressing their opinions.
