Nothing's much-hyped Phone (3) is under scrutiny this week after demo units were found displaying stock photographs as camera samples shot on the phone itself. The issue has sparked questions about transparency in the company's marketing.
Reported by Android Authority, it all came to light when retail demo units in New Zealand showcased images under the tagline "Here's what our community has captured with Phone (3)."
However, sharp-eyed users discovered that the photos were not taken with the device at all. Instead, they turned out to be licensed stock images shot by professional photographers using high-end cameras. Moreover, some of the images had even been circulating online since 2023, way before the Nothing Phone (3)'s launch.
One of the photographers, Roman Fox, confirmed to Android Authority that his photo of a car's headlight, which was displayed on the Phone (3) demo unit, was captured with a Fujifilm XH2s. Nothing had obtained the image legally through a stock library, but its presentation as a community-shot Phone (3) sample is where the problem lies.
Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis has finally responded to the issue and clarified that the photos were intended only as "placeholders" for early demo units. He goes on to state that the company had planned to replace them with genuine Phone (3) camera samples before the product rollout. However, there was apparently an "unfortunate oversight" in that regard, which caused the entire mishap. Akis emphasises that it was not a deliberate attempt to mislead customers.
Re the Phone (3) live demo units (LDU) in some stores using stock imagery - let me explain. An initial version of the LDU needs to be submitted with placeholders around 4 months before launch, to be implemented and tested as we ramp up towards mass production. Once we enter mass…
— Akis Evangelidis 🦞 (@AkisEvangelidis) August 27, 2025
Nonetheless, the mix-up has raised concerns about how smartphone makers market their devices. Although Nothing maintains that there was no ill intent, it doesn't take much to shake up the community's trust.
For a brand that has built its reputation on design flair and transparency, this stumble is particularly awkward. Even the tiniest bit of slip-up in the industry can make consumers second-guess what's real and what's marketing gloss. One may give Nothing the benefit of the doubt on intent, but chances are that there will be some level of confidence loss from potential buyers of the Phone (3) after this.
