Nothing’s new ‘Glyph Matrix’ is perhaps one of the best use for the again of your telephone but

Constructed by former expertise from OnePlus, Nothing has carved out a distinct segment for itself by constructing aesthetically attention-grabbing smartphones and headphones, most not too long ago the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and the Nothing Ear (Open). The visible trademark of the corporate’s telephones up till this level has been the “Glyph Interface,” a light-up LED sample on the again of almost all of Nothing’s telephones that may act as a flash, a timer, a progress bar, or a notification mild. The mix of performance and has labored effectively for the corporate up to now, so it is maybe stunning that Nothing seems to need to shake issues up with the soon-to-be-announced Nothing Phone (3). Not solely will the brand new telephone abandon the Glyph, however it should apparently get replaced with one thing Nothing is looking the “Glyph Matrix” — what seems to be to be a correct show.

Telephone makers are at all times on the lookout for a brand new option to differentiate their gadgets and make them really feel novel, and as smartwatches have solidified into yet one more display many individuals carry with them in every single place, that quest has gotten trickier. Moreover discovering new methods to make telephones skinny or fold in half, loads of smartphones now supply a number of methods to show passive info, whether or not with an always-on show or an exterior display. Nothing’s new telephone may symbolize one of the best model of that concept, supporting the corporate’s aesthetic targets whereas going past simply strapping one other display to your telephone.

Nothing’s Glyph Matrix is greater than some shiny lights

Extra expressive and extra informative

Nothing launched the Phone (1) in 2022, after a prolonged interval of teasing the totally different elements the corporate deliberate to make use of within the gadget and customarily constructing hype. The standout options of the corporate’s first telephone had been its translucent design, almost inventory Android software program (NothingOS) and the Glyph Interface. At launch, the mix of LED strains and half-circles was primarily used to warn you to notifications and act as a rudimentary caller ID (you possibly can give contacts a customized “glyph”). Pocket-lint wasn’t utterly bought on the concept in its review of the Nothing Phone (1), noting that rear LEDs are sometimes reserved for gaming telephones just like the Asus ROG Phone 9, and that “it lends a sense that Nothing Telephone (1) is a barely fringe possibility.” Utilizing the Glyph Interface additionally requires you to vary how you employ your telephone to be helpful. “We are likely to put down our telephone display as much as keep away from scratches, so it is typically hidden.”

The thought was iterated on with the Nothing Phone (2) and made extra useful. On the Telephone (2), the Glyph can present progress, too, like a timer ticking down or the length of an Uber trip. Nothing’s cheaper telephones include totally different cameras and shows, however even they embrace what’s shortly change into Nothing’s signature LEDs. That is why it was uncommon when the corporate instructed the Nothing Telephone (3) would not embrace the characteristic. Nothing revealed the Glyph’s substitute for the Glyph Matrix in June 2025, with a short video on X. Leaked pictures and video of the corporate’s telephone that got here out after the very fact seemingly affirm the Glyph Matrix is a round show that is perhaps much more customizable and capable of talk greater than the lights on the corporate’s earlier telephones.

We’ll have to attend for the complete announcement to know what Nothing has in thoughts, however the Glyph Matrix identify and the look of the easy animations the corporate shared appear to evoke the dot matrix show. Most individuals’s first interplay with dot matrix shows is on calculators, the place particular person lights in a grid might be turned on and off to kind easy graphics and textual content. It is simply sufficient added complexity to transcend what the unique Glyph may talk. You may be alerted not simply to the truth that you have got a brand new message, but additionally to the variety of messages or the app you are receiving the notification from. A timer may present the precise time, quite than simply an summary illustration of it. The Glyph Matrix might be much more helpful, with out drawing your consideration in the best way a traditional touchscreen would.

An growing variety of gadgets have a number of screens

However ought to they simply show info or really be used

Redesigns promote telephones as a result of nearly everybody is definitely motivated by novelty. That is led telephone makers down some attention-grabbing paths in the previous few years, whether or not it is foldable just like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, ultra-thin telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy 25 Edge, or throwback dual-screen gadgets just like the Microsoft Surface Duo.

How smartphones can show info with out really getting used has change into a giant focus for telephone makers. You may chalk it as much as the mainstream success of “second screens” like smartwatches or the rising curiosity in decreasing display time. Foldables characteristic exterior screens that show notifications and allow you to entry the performance of your telephone with out opening it. E book-style foldables are principally the scale of a smartphone, whereas flip-style foldables are extra widget-friendly. That hasn’t stopped telephone makers from working full apps on these compact screens, both. By way of performance, this works nice, nevertheless it does name into query the main target foldables are supposed to supply.

The benefit of displaying info in a extra passive method is that it would not have to tug you out of no matter you are doing. Why not spend much less time apps and extra time Nothing bizarre round show?

What if you did not have to unlock your telephone to make use of it?

There are many methods to entry what’s in your telephone with out selecting it up

Android Headlines / Pocket-lint

Nothing is launching their telephone on July 1st, so it is not lengthy earlier than the corporate absolutely shares what it has in thoughts. It is totally potential the corporate is extra keen on displaying customized animations than unlocking new makes use of for its telephone.

One other option to discover this concept with out shopping for one in every of Nothing’s telephones is to buy a smartwatch. You may learn Pocket-lint’s opinions of the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10 for details about two of the extra standard choices on the market. When you simply need to use your telephone with out selecting it up, macOS’ iPhone Mirroring feature is a extremely easy option to do it.