Previously leaked Nothing Phone 2a renders lacking glyph lights revealed to be fake

Previously leaked Nothing Phone 2a renders lacking glyph lights revealed to be fake،

Remember those minimalist, glyph-less renders of the Nothing Phone 2a that leaked earlier this week? Well, it turns out they weren't real and were instead elaborately doctored images. The images, courtesy of the usually reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka @OnLeaks), were actually based on rejected Nothing Phone designs, not the real 2a.

Here's where things went wrong: Hemmerstoffer, known for his accurate leaks, was misled by his source. Instead of legitimate information, he received manipulated files featuring a discarded phone model, not the upcoming 2a. Unfortunately, Hemmerstoffer and SmartPrix – the publication that collaborated on the leak – did not initially disclose the unofficial nature of the source, contrary to its usual transparent approach. This lack of transparency has fueled some doubt and confusion among fans and other reliable leakers, like Evan Blass (@evleaks) who questioned the validity of this leak when it first appeared.

I would be quite skeptical about this so-called last-minute overhaul, for two reasons. First, this is not standard CAD-based software from Foxconn. @onleaks leak, so its usual precision is not applicable.
Second, the slogan of (2a), “See the world with fresh eyes”, would be… https://t.co/QVvFTwdwcw

– Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 6, 2024

One of the main indications that the leak was fake was the fact that the render was very different from the teasers that Nothing had officially revealed in the past, along with other information such as the fact that the render was not ” Foxconn. -sourced” and the product tagline didn't quite match the design we were looking at. This caused SmartPrix to go back and double-check the source and since then, both them and Hemmerstoffer came forward to clarify things.

So what about real 2a? For now, it's a mystery wrapped in a (presumably transparent) affair. The design remains secret and any further leaks (real or not) should be treated with healthy skepticism until official confirmation arrives. For now, it appears that Blass' previously leaked design is the most accurate, but at this point we have no way of really knowing.

The design has already been leaked and best matches the slogan released by Nothing. Still should not be considered the final design.

This incident serves as a reminder that not all leaks are equal and that even reliable leakers with a proven track record can sometimes be misled. For the most accurate picture possible, design teasers officially released by the manufacturer should take priority and everything else should be taken with a huge grain of salt. This serves as a learning experience for leakers and tech publications alike (yours truly included).