Nothing has revealed its much-teased Phone 2a Community Edition, and it’s a truly unique design in the phone world — though you’ll have to be quick if you want any chance of getting one.
The newly launched smartphone transforms the Phone 2a Plus (or the original Phone 2a in Japan) with a glow-in-the-dark “Phosphorescence” color scheme. The soft green light comes purely from the material, and should last for “hours” before you need to venture into the daylight to recharge it.
You can also expect custom wallpaper created through a combination of AI and hands-on design, along with glow-in-the-dark packaging.
Nothing is making the Phone 2a Community Edition available across all its markets starting on November 12th through both online and retail at the same £399 (about $518) price as the regular 2a Plus in the UK. It costs €449 in Europe and ₹29,999 in India. Just 1,000 units will be available, though, so you’ll likely have to queue up.
The Community Edition came to be after Nothing challenged fans to cooperate on a special-run phone, with five winners (out of 900 entries) going on to shape the final product. Astrid Vanhuyse and Kenta Akasaki designed the phone itself with help from Nothing and CMF leaders. Andrés Mateos collaborated with Nothing design and software leads. Ian Henry Simmonds reworked Nothing’s familiar box, while Sonya Palma partnered with Nothing’s creative team to market the concept.
It’s not clear how often Nothing will make devices like the Phone 2a Community Edition. However, it characterizes this as the “first” such product. Don’t be surprised if there are others for future hardware.
It may appear odd for Nothing to make yet another variant of the Phone 2a on top of the core model, the Plus, and the Special Edition. With that said, it’s in line with the strategy the company has used since its 2020 debut — it’s bringing the fashion industry’s seasonality and trendiness to mobile devices. You might not have a technical advantage with the Community Edition, but you will have a conversation piece.