News

Nothing Phone (2a) To Launch In March: Here’s What We Know So Far

The company has confirmed that the budget-friendly handset is scheduled to be unveiled on March 5 at 11:30 GMT.

Published

3 years ago

February 14, 2024

The debut of the Nothing Phone (2a) — the third smartphone from the disruptive brand — is on the horizon and slated for release next month. The device is tipped to be positioned as a more budget-friendly option compared to its predecessor, the original Nothing Phone 2, which made its debut last year.

In a video shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier this week, Nothing officially confirmed the forthcoming launch of its next smartphone as March 5th at 11:30 GMT.

Fresh. Eyes.

The official Phone (2a) launch event is happening on 5 March 2024, 11:30 GMT. pic.twitter.com/eE6hPjXOeB

— Nothing (@nothing) February 13, 2024

Leaked images of a pre-production unit have already surfaced, showcasing a redesigned back panel. The forthcoming Nothing Phone (2a) is also set to feature a centrally positioned hole-punch for its front camera and a horizontally aligned 50-megapixel dual camera configuration on the rear panel, a departure from previous design iterations of Nothing smartphones.

nothing phone 2a leaked image

In addition, rumors are circulating regarding the inclusion of a revamped Glyph Interface, offering similar Glyph controls as the Nothing Phone 2. Another insider has hinted at the integration of a trio of Glyph components inside the device.

Also Read: Saudia Introduces Sanitizing Prayer Beads For Religious Pilgrimages

Based on the disclosed details and accompanying visuals, indications suggest that the Nothing Phone (2a) will debut with Nothing OS 2.5, which is based on Android 14.

In terms of hardware, rumors have been mixed: Many pundits suggested the phone would feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, while others said a 120Hz OLED display would be more likely. Reports also suggest the Nothing Phone (2a) will be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

News

Microsoft Plans $10 Billion-Plus Gulf Expansion Despite Iran Conflict

Security is shaping Microsoft’s approach, from resilience work with governments to what it will say about how the money splits by country.

Published

4 days ago

September 24, 2026

Nour Nasir

Microsoft

Microsoft is planning more than $10 billion of investment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait through 2030, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith told Reuters, calling the spending schedule aggressive. The Iranian conflict that began on February 28 has not persuaded the company to scale back.

“We’re sustaining all the investments we planned to make before this conflict started, and we are in fact adding to them,” Smith said. The $10 billion-plus total does not, however, show how large those additions are.

The investment, which Smith described as part of Microsoft’s continued infrastructure expansion, is aimed at cloud and AI infrastructure and at the company’s growing regional operations. Microsoft also intends to put more than $400 million into subsea and terrestrial connectivity across the Middle East by 2030.

The spending fits the region’s own ambitions too. Gulf governments have been investing heavily in AI infrastructure as part of a push to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas and turn themselves into global technology hubs. Major cloud and AI providers have been drawn in part by the land and relatively low-cost energy on offer.

Microsoft is widening its partnerships with regional AI companies, though not on identical terms. In 2024, it invested $1.5 billion in Abu Dhabi-based G42 for a minority stake, and Smith currently sits on G42’s board. Saudi Arabia’s Humain and Qatar’s Qai are working with Microsoft on selected priority areas, but Smith said the company does not plan to make capital investments in either.

Also Read: Egypt’s Mobile Wallets Are Booming, But Cash Still Has Power

The conflict has added another strand to Microsoft’s work in the region. Since it began, Smith said, the company has supported regional partners with digital resilience assessments, and it is now working with Gulf countries through a digital resilience initiative focused on preparedness and the protection of critical data.

So far, the company has given no country-by-country breakdown of the investment, citing security among other factors. So while the headline figure is public, how Microsoft divides the spending among the four countries is not.