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Nothing’s Carl Pei declares war on Apple, ‘one bored iPhone user’ at a time

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Why This Matters

Carl Pei's bold declaration to 'steal' Apple customers highlights Nothing's aggressive positioning as a disruptive alternative in the smartphone industry. This challenge underscores the ongoing competition for innovation and consumer engagement, especially among younger users seeking fresh, exciting devices. Such rivalry could accelerate innovation and diversify options for consumers tired of the status quo.

Key Takeaways

Oliver Cragg / Android Authority

TL;DR Nothing founder Carl Pei has posted a new video directly challenging Apple.

Pei says he’ll steal Apple’s customers “one bored iPhone user at a time.”

The video continues Pei’s long-running habit of positioning Nothing as the anti-Apple brand.

Nothing founder Carl Pei has posted yet another cheeky video taking aim at Apple, and this one might be his most self-affirming effort yet.

In a video posted to Instagram, Pei looks directly into the camera and declares, “This is a message to Apple. My name is Carl. I make phones in London. I’m gonna steal your customers. One bored iPhone user at a time.”

The message appears to be aimed at users who feel smartphones have become uninspiring and repetitive. Unfortunately, the video comes across as far more dramatic than the message probably needed to be.

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This isn’t a new strategy for Nothing and Pei. Ever since founding the company, Pei has positioned it as an alternative to what he sees as an increasingly boring smartphone industry. He has repeatedly argued that Apple has lost its creative edge and no longer delivers the kind of innovation that once inspired him. In previous interviews, he’s criticized Apple’s direction while pitching Nothing as the brand for users who want something different from the phones their parents own.

More recently, Pei has leaned heavily into the idea that Nothing can challenge Apple and Samsung by winning over younger users. He believes Gen Z is the key demographic that could help Nothing break into a market dominated by the two smartphone giants.

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