Nothing’s new ‘Glyph Matrix’ is likely to be the very 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 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 thus far, so it is maybe stunning that Nothing seems to wish 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 a correct show.

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

Nothing’s Glyph Matrix is greater than some brilliant 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 usually constructing hype. The standout options of the corporate’s first telephone have been its translucent design, practically inventory Android software program (NothingOS) and the Glyph Interface. At launch, the mixture of LED strains and half-circles was primarily used to provide you with a warning to notifications and act as a rudimentary caller ID (you would give contacts a customized “glyph”). Pocket-lint wasn’t utterly bought on the thought 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 vary how you employ your telephone to be helpful. “We are likely to put down our telephone display screen as much as keep away from scratches, so it is typically 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 experience. Nothing’s cheaper telephones include totally different cameras and shows, however even they embody what’s rapidly change into Nothing’s signature LEDs. That is why it was uncommon when the corporate steered the Nothing Cellphone (3) would not embody 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 very fact seemingly affirm the Glyph Matrix is a round show that is likely to 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 complete announcement to know what Nothing has in thoughts, however the Glyph Matrix identify and the look of the straightforward 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 may 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 in addition to the variety of messages or the app you are receiving the notification from. A timer may present the precise time, moderately 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 standard touchscreen would.

An rising variety of units have a number of screens

However ought to they simply show data or truly be used

Redesigns promote telephones as a result of virtually everybody is well 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 units just like the Microsoft Surface Duo.

How smartphones can show data with out truly getting used has change 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 screen 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 scale 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, but it surely does name into query the main target foldables are supposed to supply.

The benefit of displaying data in a extra passive manner is that it would not have to drag 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 totally shares what it has in thoughts. It is fully doable the corporate is extra enthusiastic about displaying customized animations than unlocking new makes use of for its telephone.

One other option to discover this concept with out shopping for certainly one of Nothing’s telephones is to buy a smartwatch. You possibly can learn Pocket-lint’s opinions 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 wish to use your telephone with out selecting it up, macOS’ iPhone Mirroring feature is a extremely easy option to do it.