The global smartphone industry is clearly going through turbulence of sorts. After OnePlus’ exit in major markets like the US and Europe, reports are coming that Nothing will soon stop selling its phones in multiple global markets due to declining sales. The situation reportedly goes beyond market exits; it’s reported that the company is planning to lay off a large portion of its workforce.
Nothing phones reportedly set to exit 12 key markets amid shipment decline
Tech outlet Digit reports, citing multiple sources, that Nothing will exit from 12 or more global markets over the next few weeks. That includes regions like Japan, parts of Europe, and parts of the Middle East. In addition to that, the company will also cut down its global headcount by 40%. The company’s R&D unit, which is split 70:30 between China and London, will also apparently face layoffs of around 50% and 30-40%, respectively.Â
The report adds that Nothing’s recent launch, the Phone (4b), has shipped just ~20,000 units globally since its unveiling. For comparison, the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro have together sold around 150,000 units. Considering Nothing is just a young brand, a decline in sales is something that can be pretty rough to deal with.
That number is apparently way behind compared to where things were in 2025. Nothing sold approx. 2 million units globally last year, mainly driven by its budget-friendly phone launches. Maintaining that growth in 2026 is pretty difficult. Memory prices have increased about four times since September last year, which has pushed up costs and also weakened consumer demand. Much like any other brand, Nothing also seems to be facing pressure across markets.
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Nothing, at one point, openly said that Phone (4a) sales were outpacing targets initially. But it looks like things have slowed down after the initial debut, considering these new figures are accurate. Nothing’s sub-brand, CMF, which at one time was developing the CMF Phone 3 Pro, confirmed it has no plans to launch a new phone in 2026 owing to rising costs.
Nothing is in a better position in India, where its phones and audio products continue to do well. It was the fastest-growing brand in Q2 2026 in the region, posting 105% year-on-year growth, as per Counterpoint. However, Nothing’s overall sales volume remains small for a brand competing in India’s mid-range segment, especially as global shipments decline amid the broader market slowdown.
The company is now reportedly focusing on fewer markets, a smaller team, and a limited product lineup. But the real question is whether India’s growth can help sustain the brand amid a global slowdown.
The post After OnePlus, Nothing Reportedly Looks to Exit Several Key Markets appeared first on Android Headlines.
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