Measuring success often comes down to how many brands decide to copy you. Nothing has been pulling some impressive wins, with other companies embracing that transparent vibe—though the Glyph Interface was always Nothing’s signature, right? Well, maybe not anymore. A design that looks a lot like it just popped up in Doogee’s line-up, boasting some flashy LED strips at the back, which they’ve called the ‘Light Elf’. Introducing the Blade GT, a phone that hints Doogee is ready to shed its rugged exterior for something flashier. With a back panel that lights up and a see-through design, the Blade GT feels like a contender in the Nothing Phone family. Whether it’ll shine bright or be just a quirky addition remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Nothing is doing something right with their Glyph Interface.
The LEDs on the back are hard to miss. They light up and blink, making an obvious nod to the LED matrix that pretty much marks Nothing’s phones. For a brand like Doogee—usually known for its toughness over trends—this shift in design is a big surprise. Yes, the Blade GT still holds onto that rugged label (they’re not ditching that), yet the Light Elf gives it a touch of character beyond just being tough. If you look close enough, you can spot a winking elf on the phone’s back, complete with a smile, round nose, and a charming personality that springs to life when you use the device.
Designer: Doogee
On the front, the Blade GT packs a 6.72-inch IPS TFT display with Full HD+ resolution, which might feel a bit underwhelming for folks who are used to higher quality displays. With its 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling and gaming feels smooth, which is pretty much a standard now for phones in this pricing bracket. It isn’t an OLED screen, so you won’t be seeing the deepest blacks or the brightest colors, but it does its job for its category. After all, if someone is spending big bucks on a military-grade rugged phone, they probably won’t care too much about display contrast, right?
Inside, the Blade GT runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 7050 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This setup situates the phone nicely in the mid-range category, letting it handle most daily activities, streaming, and gaming without breaking a sweat. Plus, it has a microSD slot— a practical feature, even if it kinda feels like a throwback in today’s smartphone age. The chipset itself isn’t that groundbreaking, especially since the more budget-friendly Nothing Phone (2a) features a better Dimensity 7200 chipset built on a 4nm process.
Speaking of eye-catching features, the Light Elf at the back presents 6 light strips. These LED strips light up for notifications, calls, music syncing, and charging indicators, making it a fun touch for users who like a bit of flair. The glyphs even have personalities, showing happy, sad, or excited expressions, although I wonder why you’d want your phone to have feelings. Admittedly, while it definitely grabs attention, the Light Elf doesn’t give any groundbreaking features—it’s really just a remix of what Nothing made popular, missing the ecosystem vibes or polish. There are a few familiar elements, like displaying battery charging on the glyph, or different apps lighting up certain strips, but nothing as rich or customizable as what you’d find in Nothing’s offerings.
The camera setup includes a 100MP main sensor, along with an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro shooter. While that high megapixel count looks great on paper, how well it performs will likely depend on the phone’s image processing software. In good light, you can expect decent snaps, but low-light shots may fall a bit flat. Up front, the 32MP selfie camera does a decent job for casual photos and video chats. Plus, riding the GenAI wave, the phone comes with some AI editing features, including a Magic Eraser kind of tool, background removal options, and even a feature that can make your existing pics narrate in more than 50 languages.
Despite the bold design choices, the Blade GT doesn’t fully let go of Doogee’s rugged history. It boasts IP68 water and dust resistance and is MIL-STD 810G certified, which means it can take on a variety of weather conditions and impacts without showing too much wear. The 5000mAh battery is made to work in temperatures from -40°C to 70°C, offering battery life that last all day even in extreme conditions.
The Blade GT is a strange mix, caught between Doogee’s rugged background and its new interest in appealing to the design-savvy crowd. The LED-lit back and see-through panel aim to bring some personality to a phone that is primarily focused on ruggedness and endurance. With a price tag of $359, it still packs a good punch for a low-mid-range device, but it’s debatable if this will be the one to usher Doogee into the mainstream. Or who knows, it might if Nothing decides to go legal…
