Nothing Phone (1) review | Tech Advisor

Price When Reviewed

Unavailable in the United States

Updated August 2022: to mirror an build up within the Phone (1)’s worth in India.

It’s exhausting to believe that any corporate liberating its first smartphone may generate the hype that Nothing has for the Phone (1), however hype generally is a double-edged sword. 

The trickle of teasers indubitably constructed pleasure and anticipation, and the 100,000+ individuals who signed as much as the waitlist to shop for the phone end up it transformed into gross sales, however has it put unattainable drive on a tool this is, in the end, only a phone? 

Perhaps, nevertheless it is helping that Nothing has nailed the phone phase. The Phone (1) is probably not life-changing, or the novel smash from business norms that founder Carl Pei would really like you to suppose it’s, however it is a well-specified, inexpensive phone that provides very good worth for cash. 

But from an organization that promised to up-end the smartphone as we realize it, is being ‘excellent’ sufficient? 

Design & construct 

• Unique ‘Glyph Interface’ lighting fixtures 
• Semi-transparent design 
• IP53 score 

Let’s get started with what is particular in regards to the Nothing Phone (1). While this may appear to be a standard sufficient phone from the entrance – except a meticulously symmetrical bezel – whenever you turn it round you spot one thing somewhat other. 

For one, there’s the semi-transparent design. Whether you go for a white or black model, the phone is lined in glass (so is, regrettably, a magnet for smudges and fingerprints) however beneath that has a multi-layered and textured design meant to trace on the elements beneath. 

Despite the promise of transparency you’ll’t see any chips or circuitry right here, however as an alternative there’s a central circle marking the phone’s wi-fi charging coil, a winding strip for a connector, and visual screws that trace on the phone’s development. 

Once you recover from the transparency, the phone hits you all over the place once more with the Glyph Interface. That’s the (admittedly foolish) identify for Nothing’s distinctive development of white LED strips that shape a part of the rear design. 

These are extra than simply beauty. They can do easy stuff like flash in time with ringtones and notifications (that are themselves Nothing-ified, with digital tones that sound like R2-D2 colliding with a synthesizer) however too can light up to turn development whilst charging the phone, and there’s even a environment within the digital camera app to turn on each and every mild directly as a makeshift fill mild. 

Do you truly desire a phone that glows, despite the fact that? The RGB-laden gaming phone marketplace would recommend that masses available in the market do, however Nothing hasn’t ever pitched the Phone (1) at avid gamers (and its specifications indubitably aren’t a herbal have compatibility for it).  

I benefit from the novelty of the lighting fixtures, however that’s what they’re – novelty. Nothing’s pitch is in part that the lighting fixtures are a technique to clear out non-urgent notifications, as you’ll set patterns to express contacts or apps, however you’ll get the similar impact from an always-on show (which, moderately superfluously, the Phone (1) additionally helps). 

The attraction can even rely on how comfy you’re striking your phone show down, which is an effective way to scratch the display screen. Fortunately Nothing ships the Phone (1) with a pre-applied display screen protector to cut back the probabilities of harm to the glass panel itself, however when you’re going to stay it face-down you then’ll most likely need to put money into a couple of replacements or case with a distinguished lip.

The remainder of the Phone (1)’s design is much less outlandish, however no much less spectacular. It’s squared-off aspects owe so much to the most recent iPhones, despite the fact that the usage of aluminium (recycled, no much less) to construct the body assists in keeping the phone mild sufficient even though it’s somewhat chunky. 

There’s additionally respectable sturdiness. Both the back and front of the phone are made out of Gorilla Glass 5 – no longer the most powerful model to be had, however nonetheless scratch-resistant sufficient. There’s additionally an IP53 score, making certain some stage of mud and water-resistance. 

Display & audio 

• 6.55in 120Hz OLED show 
• Thick however symmetrical entrance bezel 
• Loud stereo audio system 

The Nothing Phone (1) is provided with a 6.55in display screen – necessarily bang on moderate for an Android phone on the subject of measurement.

With 120Hz OLED tech it’s somewhat above moderate on the subject of show high quality, despite the fact that you’ll indubitably to find in a similar fashion priced opponents with an identical monitors. It’s shiny and punchy, with horny colors and HDR10+ give a boost to.  

The 120Hz refresh price provides to the smoothness of animations around the revel in, despite the fact that best jumps to complete pace when wanted. You too can lock it to 60Hz when you’d choose to avoid wasting battery. 

Looking on the phone head-on, the black bezel across the edges is only a contact thicker than you may well be used to nowadays, however the flipside is that Nothing has labored to make it totally symmetrical, with the similar width on each and every facet. It’s a refined contact, however person who speaks to the obsessiveness of the phone’s design. 

To mood the passion, I’ve had one continual technical drawback with the display screen. At random durations the phone has been reducing out blue mild, leading to unexpected and jarring shifts within the white steadiness of the display screen, now and then switching between the 2 each and every short while. I’ve spoken to Nothing about the problem, and the corporate says it’s no longer acutely aware of the drawback in different places, so this can be a fault restricted to this actual unit. 

Still, you’ll see the affect in my footage, which have been taken whilst the phone insisted on an orange hue, which is why the show appears to be like so washed out and flat.

As for audio, there’s no headphone jack I’m afraid – it’s wi-fi or USB-C headphones best. The stereo audio system are respectable, despite the fact that. They’re loud and quite crisp. Phone audio system are phone audio system on the finish of the day, however those are indubitably higher than maximum different mid-range telephones. 

Specs & efficiency 

• Mid-range Snapdragon 778G+ chipset 
• Various RAM and garage choices 
• Limited connectivity in the United States 

The Nothing Phone (1) is powered by means of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G+ – a mid-market chipset introduced in October remaining yr.  

It’s this chip greater than the rest that provides away the Phone (1)’s mid-range worth, because it’s each a tier underneath the flagship Snapdragon 8-series and in addition getting somewhat previous. It’s since been supplanted by means of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. 

I don’t wish to overegg the downsides despite the fact that. Sure, when you’re anticipating to make use of your phone for aggressive on-line gaming then chances are you’ll to find the 778G+ holds you again, nevertheless it’s were given sufficient energy for nearly the rest you may throw at it. 

Benchmark efficiency effects are forged, and conventional for the cost – it’s in keeping with the OnePlus Nord 2T, and outpaces Samsung’s under-powered Galaxy A53. In the true global, I’ve discovered the phone rapid and responsive, with little lag to talk of. Basically, it’s rapid sufficient, however no longer impressive.

The 778G+ is paired together with your selection of 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of garage – despite the fact that observe that the most affordable 8+128GB model of the phone is best to be had in black, no longer white. 

Then there’s connectivity. The Phone (1) has the standard suite: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC for Google Pay. 

The best factor to flag is that the phone isn’t assured to paintings effectively in North America, the place sign bands are moderately other. Nothing warns customers can be expecting “unpredictable” provider on T-Mobile, no voice-over-4G on AT&T, and no provider on Verizon in any respect. 

In equity, the phone isn’t on sale there anyway, nevertheless it’s one thing you’ll want to know when you’re an American making an allowance for an import, or just any person who travels to the States regularly. 

Battery & charging 

• Disappointing battery lifestyles 
• No charger integrated 
• Wireless and opposite wi-fi charging 

The Phone (1) is provided with a 4500mAh battery, which is every other of the options that’s mainly moderate. I believe it’s been poorly optimised despite the fact that, as a result of battery lifestyles is indisputably underneath moderate. This is as regards to a complete day phone, however I wouldn’t wish to push it too some distance, and I’ve had it run out early on me as soon as. As continuously with telephones, that can best worsen over the years too.  

It’s conceivable the restricted battery is all the way down to the Glyph lighting fixtures, however I believe no longer – the phone itself chalks up maximum of its energy drain to the show, which is conventional. For its phase, Nothing says that even blasting each and every mild on complete for 10 mins – an attractive excessive use case – best consumes 0.5% of the battery capability, so the Glyph affect appears to be negligible. 

The just right information is if the additional lighting fixtures aren’t responsible, it’s conceivable that Nothing can superb track the phone to cut back battery intake with device tweaks and patches.

When it involves charging, the phone can rate at as much as 33W, which I discovered was once sufficient to revive 67% of battery in part an hour. That’s sooner than you’ll in most cases get from Samsung, Apple, or Google, however lags effectively in the back of speeds present in telephones from Xiaomi, OnePlus, and others, even at this inexpensive worth. 

It in all probability doesn’t lend a hand that Nothing has joined the hot pattern of delivery the phone and not using a charger. That’s indubitably extra environmentally pleasant, however can be a frustration when you don’t already personal a USB-C charger and want to select one up (Nothing will, after all, thankfully promote you one for £45). 

The trade-off for all of that is that the Phone (1) has wi-fi charging, supporting the average Qi same old at as much as 15W, along side opposite wi-fi charging to height up your headphones and the like. 

This is without doubt one of the phone’s standout options, with the iPhone SE the one comparably priced phone to incorporate it. That implies that when you’re an Android person who hates wires, the Phone (1) is the most affordable technique to scratch your itch. 

Camera & video 

• Two succesful rear cameras 
• Decent selfie shooter 
• Video recording LED 

The digital camera is arguably the core spec that Nothing has driven the furthest, and in some way that’s out of step with many opponents. 

It’s increasingly more not unusual for telephones at this worth to function 3 and even 4 cameras at the again, however most often best considered one of them is truly just right sufficient to make use of. 

By distinction, Nothing has limited itself to 2 rear digital camera lenses: one primary, and one ultrawide. Neither are flagship high quality, however they’re each succesful making an allowance for the cost, despite the fact that there’s indisputably a drop-off at evening. 

The primary lens makes use of the 50Mp Sony IMX766 sensor, which can also be present in telephones starting from mid-range opponents just like the OnePlus Nord 2T proper as much as top-tier flagships just like the Oppo Find X5 Pro.

It’s shiny, punchy, and succesful of a few truly horny photographs in maximum lights stipulations. There’s even sufficient element to carry up effectively whilst you punch into the 2x virtual zoom choice. (If you’re on desktop, you’ll have to tug to slip during the slideshow).

Support for optical symbol stabilisation (OIS) is helping the primary digital camera even care for low mild effectively sufficient, despite the fact that some distance underneath flagship requirements. This is the place device and digital camera algorithms paintings their magic, and as a fledgling corporate it’s no wonder Nothing isn’t competing with the massive canines right here.

Light assets will nonetheless develop into blown out, and there’s a softness to maximum evening mode photographs in spite of the OIS, however the phone does set up to pick main points that might another way be misplaced in darkness. There’s additionally the choice of the usage of the Glyph interface fill mild as a much less competitive tackle a flash for close-up night-time photographs. I discovered the consequences somewhat harsh, nevertheless it beats flash and is a neat additional approach to have for portraits or meals footage in dimly lit eating places. Here’s the similar shot fascinated by the common digital camera, with evening mode, after which with the Glyph fill mild within the common mode & evening mode:

Then there’s the ultrawide. Although this may be a 50Mp shooter it doesn’t use the similar Sony sensor. Instead it’s Samsung’s JN1 symbol sensor and, there’s a transparent lower in high quality in comparison to the primary digital camera.

Shots from this digital camera pop out washed out and light in comparison to the primary lens, despite the fact that chances are you’ll choose the extra subdued hues. Without OIS there’s additionally a extra noticeable drop at evening, with main points in most cases misplaced right into a blurry smudge. It’s no longer a horrible lens – and nonetheless higher than the ultrawides in maximum opponents, to be truthful – however don’t be expecting one thing to check the primary digital camera.

The greatest wonder for me was once the 16Mp selfie digital camera. On paper it’s not anything particular, however I discovered photographs got here out effectively uncovered and attractively lit, whilst the portrait mode did a tight task of topic detection. No proceedings right here. 

As for video, you’ll file at as much as 4K@30fps on each rear lenses, however the entrance digital camera is capped at 1080@30fps. Video settings are fundamental and lovely conventional, however there’s a welcome approach to activate a flashing crimson LED at the rear whilst recording – every other amusing flourish.

This may be the place the Glyph Interface fill mild choice comes into its personal, including additional lights that vloggers will recognize – despite the fact that be warned that the top impact is refined, and no longer at the stage of a correct ring mild.  

Software & updates 

• Nothing OS is an easy Android 12 pores and skin 
• Still some insects to iron out 
• Three Android OS updates promised 

The Phone (1) ships operating Android 12 with the merely named Nothing OS on height. 

If you attempted out the general public beta of the phone’s launcher a couple of months prior to unencumber, you then’ve already skilled maximum of what the corporate’s customized Android pores and skin has to provide.  

A couple of customized wallpapers, minimalist clock and climate widgets, and a retro-styled audio recording app make up maximum of what’s new. You too can make person app icons or folders higher if you wish to have, and there also are integrated controls for the corporate’s Ear (1) earbuds when you personal them too. 

The best different integrations are much less interesting. Tesla house owners can it sounds as if get admission to shortcuts to regulate their automotive, whilst NFT aficionados can show their monkey photos in a devoted NFT gallery. Those inclusions let you know one thing in regards to the marketplace that Nothing is attempting to attraction to, however could also be simply as prone to put the remainder of us off. Luckily, when you’re no longer then they’re simple to forget about (not like Tesla and NFT lovers themselves, sadly). 

The larger headache is that the device nonetheless wishes somewhat paintings. I had a nasty time with insects once I reviewed the Ear (1) at release, and whilst the Phone (1) device indubitably turns out extra solid, it’s no longer with out flaws. 

For one, there’s the truth that when you’re in a position to set explicit Glyph LED patterns to person app notifications, you’ll’t do that from throughout the Glyph controls, however as an alternative need to dive into every person app’s notification settings, which is fiddly and bulky. 

I’ve already discussed by means of issues of the show’s white steadiness, however I’ve additionally had occasional problems charging. Whether on stressed out or wi-fi connections the phone struggles to deal with a continuing rate, losing out and in of the charging state – and on a pair cases preventing totally. Not superb whilst you’re looking to rate up in a single day, and particularly when Nothing doesn’t send its personal charger, forcing you to determine compatibility on your own. 

The just right information is that the corporate is promising an attractive affordable 3 Android model updates for the phone – sufficient to take it thru Android 13, 14, and 15 – with a fourth yr of safety updates. That’s no longer moderately a fit for Samsung’s promise of 4 Android updates, which remains to be the most productive at the Android facet, however is best than maximum, and will have to prevent from a hurry to improve in two years’ time. 

Price & availability 

The Phone (1) is to be had to reserve now in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. As a reminder, it gained’t be launching formally in the United States or Canada, and importers will have to be wary, because the phone would possibly not paintings totally in North America. 

I’ll admit that I used to be somewhat shocked when I used to be instructed the Phone (1)’s worth. I knew it could be located competitively, however the ultimate worth nonetheless turns out bullish.

Note that the Indian costs underneath consider a post-launch price increase of ₹1,000, which the corporate blames on “fluctuating forex trade charges & emerging element prices.” For now, costs in different markets stay unchanged: 

• 8GB + 128GB: £399/€469/₹33,999 
• 8GB + 256GB: £449/€499/₹36,999 
• 12GB + 256GB: £499/€549/₹39,999

If you’re tempted, you’ll clutch the phone direct from Nothing, or from Amazon, Selfridges, or O2 in the United Kingdom. It’s additionally to be had from Amazon throughout Europe, and from Flipkart in India, and we now have a devoted information on the most productive Nothing Phone (1) offers we’ve discovered.

I’ve already discussed its primary competition. Carl Pei’s former corporate OnePlus gives the very good Nord 2T at virtually the similar worth, whilst the Samsung Galaxy A53 and iPhone SE also are shut. The Google Pixel 6a may be proper across the nook, making this spot out there much more aggressive than it most often is. 

Check out our score of the most productive mid-range telephones for extra choices, and to learn how we price the Nothing Phone (1) in opposition to the contest. 

Verdict 

As a phone, the Phone (1) is a virtually unqualified luck. The restricted battery lifestyles and minor insects and problems I’ve encountered are the one actual weaknesses, whilst the succesful cameras, IP53 score, and wi-fi charging all stand proud of pack. 

That’s prior to we even get to the design. Perhaps it’s going to end up divisive, however you indubitably couldn’t name the Phone (1) dull having a look, and in the end the semi-transparent rear and LED patterns will end up the primary reason why to imagine selecting the Phone (1) up. 

As step one in a smartphone revolution, I’m much less inspired. Beyond the entire glowy bits there isn’t truly the rest right here that we haven’t noticed prior to, and as soon as the newness wears off all that you just’re left with is a phone, the similar as the entire others.  

Foldables just like the (now quite inexpensive) Galaxy Z Flip 3 have accomplished extra to modify the way in which I exploit my phone than the rest in Nothing’s handset, so when you had been stuck up within the hype then you may wish to re-assess your expectancies. 

Making an excellent phone is tricky despite the fact that, and making an excellent phone as your 2nd ever product is de facto exceptional. So even supposing that is not anything particular, it’s nonetheless an excellent selection. 

Specs 

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 
• 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM 
• 128/256GB UFS 3.1 garage 
• 6.55in 120HZ OLED show 
• Rear digital camera: 
  • 50Mp, f/1.9 OIS primary digital camera 
  • 50Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide digital camera 
• 16Mp, f/2.5 selfie digital camera 
• 4500mAh battery 
• 33W stressed out charging 
• 15W wi-fi charging 
• 5W opposite wi-fi charging 
• 5G 
• Stereo audio system 
• Wi-Fi 6 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• NFC 
• Glyph Interface LED lighting fixtures 
• IP53 
• Gorilla Glass 5 
• Android 12 with Nothing OS 1 
• 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3mm 
• 194g