Nothing’s new ‘Glyph Matrix’ may be the most effective 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 fascinating smartphones and headphones, most lately 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 practically all of Nothing’s telephones that may act as a flash, a timer, a progress bar, or a notification gentle. The mixture of performance and has labored properly for the corporate to this point, so it is maybe shocking 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 would apparently get replaced with one thing Nothing is looking the “Glyph Matrix” — what appears to be like to be a correct show.

Cellphone makers are at all times on the lookout for a brand new solution 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 all over the place, that quest has gotten trickier. In addition to discovering new methods to make telephones skinny or fold in half, loads of smartphones now provide 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 the most effective model of that concept, supporting the corporate’s aesthetic objectives whereas going past simply strapping one other display to your telephone.

Nothing’s Glyph Matrix is greater than some vibrant lights

Extra expressive and extra informative

Nothing launched the Phone (1) in 2022, after a prolonged interval of teasing the totally different parts the corporate deliberate to make use of within the system and customarily constructing hype. The standout options of the corporate’s first telephone had been its translucent design, practically inventory Android software program (NothingOS) and the Glyph Interface. At launch, the mixture of LED traces and half-circles was primarily used to provide you with a warning to notifications and act as a rudimentary caller ID (you may give contacts a customized “glyph”). Pocket-lint wasn’t fully offered 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 Cellphone (1) is a barely fringe choice.” Utilizing the Glyph Interface additionally requires you to alter 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 usually hidden.”

The concept was iterated on with the Nothing Phone (2) and made extra useful. On the Cellphone (2), the Glyph can present progress, too, like a timer ticking down or the period of an Uber journey. Nothing’s cheaper telephones include totally different cameras and shows, however even they embrace what’s shortly turn into Nothing’s signature LEDs. That is why it was uncommon when the corporate advised the Nothing Cellphone (3) would not embrace the function. Nothing revealed the Glyph’s alternative for the Glyph Matrix in June 2025, with a short video on X. Leaked photographs and video of the corporate’s telephone that got here out after the actual fact seemingly affirm the Glyph Matrix is a round show that may be much more customizable and capable of talk greater than the lights on the corporate’s earlier telephones.

We’ll have to attend for the total announcement to know what Nothing has in thoughts, however the Glyph Matrix title 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 will be turned on and off to type easy graphics and textual content. It is simply sufficient added complexity to transcend what the unique Glyph might talk. You may be alerted not simply to the truth that you could have a brand new message, but additionally to the variety of messages or the app you are receiving the notification from. A timer might present the precise time, slightly than simply an summary illustration of it. The Glyph Matrix may very well be much more helpful, with out drawing your consideration in the best way a traditional touchscreen would.

An rising 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 well motivated by novelty. That is led telephone makers down some fascinating 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 turn into an enormous focus for telephone makers. You may chalk it as much as the mainstream success of “second screens” like smartwatches or the rising curiosity in reducing display time. Foldables function 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 dimensions of a smartphone, whereas flip-style foldables are extra widget-friendly. That hasn’t stopped telephone makers from operating 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 does not have to tug you out of no matter you are doing. Why not spend much less time taking a look at apps and extra time taking a look at 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 choosing 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 solely attainable the corporate is extra serious about displaying customized animations than unlocking new makes use of for its telephone.

One other solution to discover this concept with out shopping for one among Nothing’s telephones is to buy a smartwatch. You’ll be able to learn Pocket-lint’s evaluations of the Pixel Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 10 for details about two of the extra in style choices on the market. In case you simply need to use your telephone with out choosing it up, macOS’ iPhone Mirroring feature is a extremely easy solution to do it.