TL; DR
- Carl Pei has confirmed upcoming Nothing phones will move to UFS 3.1 storage starting in Q1 2026.
- The switch follows criticism of UFS 2.2 storage used in the Nothing Phone (3a) series.
- The Nothing Phone (4a) series is expected to get UFS 3.1, while UFS 4.0 remains unlikely.
Upcoming smartphones from Nothing are said to receive a storage upgrade to UFS 3.1, according to a recent article shared by Carl Pei on X. The confirmation comes amid broader discussion around rising component costs and growing pressure on smartphone pricing in 2026.
In his post, Pei explained that memory pricing has increased sharply due to demand from AI data centers, which are consuming large amounts of NAND and high-bandwidth memory. This shift has forced smartphone manufacturers to reassess specifications and pricing, particularly in the mid-range segment. As part of this adjustment, Nothing plans to upgrade storage on some upcoming devices to UFS 3.1.
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The move is important given the reaction to the Nothing Phone (3a) series, which shipped with UFS 2.2 storage. That decision drew sustained criticism from users and reviewers, who pointed to slower file transfers, camera app, and long-term performance compared to competing phones using UFS 3.1 in similar price brackets.
While UFS 4.0 would have been the more future-facing upgrade, Pei’s comments make it clear that this will not be the case for Nothing’s next wave of phones. Instead, leaks and community expectations suggest the upcoming Nothing Phone (4a) series will move to UFS 3.1.
The Phone (4a) lineup is rumored to launch in early 2026 and is expected to sit in the mid-range category, likely paired with Snapdragon 7-series chipsets. Other Q1 2026 Nothing launches, including possible CMF-branded devices, may also adopt UFS 3.1 as part of the same shift.
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