2025-08-27T14:46:33Z

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Imagine buying a $799 smartphone, only to discover the stunning images used in the ads weren’t even taken with it! Well, that’s exactly what happened with Nothing’s Phone (3), and it’s raising some serious eyebrows.

The tech world is buzzing after a report from Android Authority revealed that Nothing, the innovative tech company founded by Carl Pei, has been caught using stock images instead of genuine photos taken with their latest flagship device. This isn’t just a minor oversight; it’s a massive blunder that has many questioning the integrity of marketing in the tech industry.

Initially, Nothing showcased a selection of images under the catchy tab, “Here’s what our community has captured with Phone (3).” However, photographers began reaching out to media outlets anonymously, claiming that these images were not captured by the Phone (3) at all. Among the five images displayed, one of a car’s headlight was taken over a year ago in Paris, as confirmed by photographer Roman Fox, who shared the same image on his Instagram.

As if that wasn’t enough, another photographer disclosed to The Verge that all five images were actually licensed from a stock photo repository called Stills. In fact, one of the images was even captured by the photographer themselves, and The Verge conducted an investigation, verifying this through the photo's EXIF data.

In light of this shocking revelation, Nothing’s co-founder, Akis Evangelidis, took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge the mishap. He explained that the demo units were released with placeholder images four months before the official launch, and unfortunately, some of these stock images slipped through the cracks and ended up in the live demo units. Evangelidis assured customers that the company is taking measures to rectify the situation and is collaborating with their promoters to ensure that all live demo units reflect the latest, genuine images.

In an effort to turn this fiasco around, he encouraged customers to share their actual Phone (3) photos to showcase the camera’s capabilities. While reviews have pointed out that the Phone (3) indeed produces excellent, vibrant images with impressive detail, it still trails behind competitors like the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25.

Interestingly, Nothing isn’t alone in this controversy; remember when Samsung faced backlash for their “Super Zoom” moon images in 2023? It seems the pressure for perfection in advertising is leading companies down a slippery slope of deception.