A few days ago, some images of the upcoming Nothing Phone 2a surfaced online, claiming to show the minimalist and glyph-free design of the new smartphone. However, it was later revealed that these images were not authentic, but rather fabricated by altering some old Nothing Phone prototypes. The source of these images was none other than Steve Hemmerstoffer, also known as @OnLeaks, a well-known leaker with a reputation for accuracy.
I’d be pretty skeptical of this alleged last minute redesign, for two reasons. Number one, it’s not a standard Foxconn-sourced, CAD-based @onleaks leak, so his usual accuracy is not applicable.
Secondly, the teaser tagline for the (2a), “See the world through fresh eyes,” would… https://t.co/QVvFTwdwcw— Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 6, 2024
Hemmerstoffer admitted that he was duped by his source, who provided him with tampered files that depicted a discarded phone design, not the actual 2a. He also apologized for not being upfront about the unofficial nature of the source, as he usually does. This lack of transparency caused some suspicion and confusion among the fans and other leakers, such as Evan Blass (@evleaks), who challenged the credibility of this leak when it first came out.
Sooo… Seems like my #Nothing Phone 2a leak was wrong because…
THIS actually ISN’T the #NothingPhone2a! (very fake look through non official press render) Sorry…😅
More details over @Smartprix 👉🏻 https://t.co/moba5O4jRz pic.twitter.com/proAdcMQed
— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) February 9, 2024
The fake renders were easily spotted by some keen observers, who noticed that they did not match the official teasers that Nothing had shared before, as well as some other details, such as the absence of the “Foxconn” logo and the mismatched product slogan. This prompted SmartPrix, the website that collaborated with Hemmerstoffer on the leak, to reverify the source and subsequently confirm the falsity of the images.
The real 2a, meanwhile, remains a mystery, hidden in a (possibly transparent) case. The actual design is still under wraps, and any further leaks (genuine or fake) should be taken with a pinch of salt until the official announcement. According to some reports, the design that Blass leaked earlier is the more likely one, but there is no way to be sure at this moment.
This episode serves as a reminder that not all leaks are trustworthy and even reliable leakers can sometimes fall victim to deception. For the most accurate information, the official teasers from the manufacturer should be given more weight and anything else should be treated with caution. This also serves as a lesson for both leakers and tech publications (including us) to be more careful and transparent.