Nothing's Design team takes a look at copycat products and reminisce on old transparent tech

Nothing’s Design team takes a look at copycat products and reminisce on old transparent tech،

Transparency has become a popular design choice in electronics. Manufacturers are emphasizing the benefits of providing insight into the inner workings of their devices, ranging from smartphones to speakers. However, one might wonder if this transparency is just a marketing ploy or if it actually has significant value. In a recent video, the Nothing Design team sat down to look at various products that have attempted transparent technology – either it's a newer technology that seems to have taken inspiration from Nothing's own designs, or an ancient technology which in turn inspired them. Analyzing each product, the team discussed the pros and cons of a transparent design.

First, the team looked at products that may or may not have been inspired by the Nothing Phone (1), such as the Unihertz Luna, Beats Studio Buds+, and JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition Buds.

Unihertz Luna, Beats Studio Buds+ and JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition Buds | Credit: Nothing

On the Luna, the entire team universally expressed strong criticism of the product's design, describing it as thick and bulky. They also mentioned that the light diffusion is not up to par and the internal layout seems messy. Additionally, they mention that the Nothing Phone's (1) glyphs were designed to be as less obtrusive as possible, serving only to notify its users of important notifications – or to serve a purpose such as a ringtone or music pattern. , none of which are present on the Unihertz Luna.

The design of the Beats Studio Buds+ has received some criticism for its lack of originality and lack of inspiration, not to mention a lack of transparency as it looks more like a frosty or “milky” exterior. According to the Nothing team, it appears to be a replica of the Nothing Ear headphones. Nonetheless, credit goes to the JBL Tune Flex Ghost Edition Buds for the impressive light diffusion and sleek appearance of the device.

But Nothing didn't just look at products that could be considered copycats. They also revisited some classics that served as inspiration when designing the Nothing line of devices, and those highlighted were none other than the Radio Shack Clear Landline Phone, the iMac G3 and the Nintendo Game Boy Color.

Radio Shack Clear Landline, iMac G3 and Nintendo Game Boy Color | Credit: Nothing

The team marveled at the old-school transparent landline, calling it inspiring and well-executed at the time. It was also amazing to see how this classic phone eventually became what we call a smartphone today, a mini-computer in your pocket.

The original iMac is widely recognized for its revolutionary transparent design, which seamlessly combines innovation and functionality. The Nothing Design team welcomed it and considered it to illustrate the successful integration of transparency into product design. Details such as the all-in-one form factor and integrated cable management were also highlighted.

But none were more nostalgic than the Game Boy Color, as it took the team back to their childhood when their parents ordered them to go to sleep and stop playing. This forced them to hide their Game Boy under their pillow so they could sneakily play with it in the middle of the night, even with the lower brightness the screen was limited to at the time.

The Nothing team believes that it is crucial to effectively present the inner workings of a product through transparency. Otherwise, it might seem gimmicky and uninspired. As Frank Lin, industrial designer for Nothing said:

The transparent design may be slowly coming back. For us, how can we ensure that we are always one step ahead of our competitors? We are still small, so we have to be quite creative and spend our time diligently. Transparency means so many different things. This doesn't just mean it's a transparent case. We need to start considering different transparency options and be able to show the internals and tell our customers a story within our design.

Is transparent technology the future? It's difficult to determine. It's clear that manufacturers need to prioritize thoughtful design if they want to create transparent devices that go beyond mere gimmicks. As enthusiasts, we are definitely having the best time enjoying all this new and exciting technology.