Nothing Phone (1) Review

Nothing Phone (1) Android review:

Features on which we will talk about today are given below:

1. Nothing Phone (1) key specs

2. Nothing Phone (1) Design

3. Nothing Phone (1) Camera

4. Nothing Phone (1) Battery life

5. Nothing Phone (1) Glyph Interface

6. Nothing Phone (1) Software

7. Nothing Phone (1) Display

8. Nothing Phone (1) Drawbacks

9. Nothing Phone (1) Verdict

1. Nothing Phone (1) key specs:

• Screen size: 6.55in
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+
• Resolution: 2400 x 1080
• RAM: 8GB or 12GB
• Storage space: 128 GB or 256 GB
• Cameras: 2 rear cameras (50MP main and 50MP ultra-wide angle) and 16MP front camera
• MicroSD card slot: No
• Weight: 193.5g

2. Nothing Phone (1) Design:

More than any of the specifications listed on its spec sheet, the Nothing phone (1)'s appearance is a selling point. The brand is marketing this phone, which is made to attract notice, as the opposite of all the other knockoff phones available. All of the internal components are visible if you look through the back (just make sure you have a clear case). The company's first pair of earbuds took a similar tack, and the Nothing Ear (1) models are among our top AirPods Pro substitutes.

There is a purpose behind the translucent design. It exists to display the "Glyph Interface," a collection of over 900 LEDs that can be used as a portable ring light or to alert you when certain contacts are calling. The interface's functions will be covered in more detail below, but overall, the package is highly futuristic and appears to have been lifted directly from 2001: A Space Odyssey or Tron: Legacy.

Additionally, we wouldn't want to minimize how amazing it is to design a phone's internal components to seem appealing. We assure you that if you were to rip off your existing phone, you would discover a jumble of unsightly parts and screws.

3. Nothing Phone (1) Camera:

The majority of consumers today, in our opinion, give consideration to camera quality while looking for a new phone. It's also true that most smartphone cameras perform admirably in well-lit situations, and that the best cameras from Apple and Google benefit from computational advances to outperform their competitors. Nothing has been re-invited here, but it has incorporated a collection of dependable cameras that, while not without drawbacks, will suffice for the majority of people.

The phone has two 50MP sensors on the back—a wide angle and an ultra-wide angle lens—and a respectable 16MP front camera. Although we've been taking pictures with them and have generally found them to be trustworthy (especially with Nothing's just-in-time OS upgrade prior to the phone's debut), we don't think anyone will be astounded by the results. You'll get pictures in decent lighting that are nice enough to share on your Instagram feed, though they might be a little too crisp for our tastes.

In low light, however, things start to change somewhat. We discovered that the Nothing phone (1) struggled to generate photos that were acceptable but too fuzzy for pixel-peepers. The camera also had some trouble focusing on the edges of our subjects when we used the portrait mode, and we saw that it had trouble bringing out all the detail in settings that had brilliant sunlight with both dark shadows and shadowy areas.

The performance of the camera will be more than adequate for the most of us when used generally. If photography is important to you, you should consider Google's Pixel 6 or Pixel 6a's computational improvements.

4. Nothing Phone (1) Battery life:

Since we started testing the Nothing phone (1), we haven't encountered any battery life problems at all. The phone has a 4500mAh capacity, which is about average for most models now on the market, and claims 18 hours of use. In our tests, this felt accurate, and we were able to use it normally for an entire day without it running out of battery. When charged by a USB-C charger or power bank, it recharges quickly as well, restoring half its battery in 30 minutes.

We appreciate that the phone supports both wireless charging and "reverse wireless charging," meaning you can place an earbud cover (like the AirPods or Nothing's buds) with compatible earbuds on the back of the phone when it is facing down and they will recharge as well. If your earphones break when you're away from home, that is ideal.

5. Nothing Phone (1) Glyph Interface:

You decide how useful the fancy "Glyph Interface" on the rear will actually be; we've already established that it's more than just a bunch of lovely lights. To be honest, you probably won't notice the light show if you don't frequently leave your phone face down on the table in front of you. However, if you do, you'll see how the feature tries to prevent you from turning it over.

The bottom light illuminates to show you how much battery life the phone has when it is linked to a charging wire. You can pair a light pattern with a certain ringtone and then link it with a contact. It can also light up when reverse wireless charging. So, you won't need to look at the phone to see who is calling.

It all sounds cool but in practice, this involves memorising light patterns, so most people will turn their phone over to see who's calling. And most of us get more messages than calls these days anyway, and the glyphs don't help that much with identifying which app or contact is which. This may be improved with a future update, but there's not much beyond the gimmick yet.

On the plus side, we do think the charging indicators look fun and futuristic, as you can see below, and it's helpful that you can light up all the glyphs for a fill light to brighten up the subject of your photo or video.

6. Nothing Phone (1) Software: 

Running Nothing OS, which the manufacturer refers to as its own operating system, is another selling factor for this device. Actually, it's Android 12 with the user interface from Nothing. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have advantages, and it's wonderful to see a phone outside the Pixel come without all the attendant garbage and apps you'll unavoidably trash. The phone will receive three years of software updates from Nothing, so the Nothing OS will be able to accommodate any Android updates that happen during that period.

It's also important to note that the Nothing phone has 5G capabilities, just like any smartphone that will be worth your money in 2022. Even when you're far from the router and unable to connect to a public wifi network, you may download shows, movies, and playlists to your smartphone in a couple of minutes or seconds if you have an unlimited data SIM.

7. Nothing Phone (1) Display:

Look, there's nothing wrong with Nothing's display (no pun intended), especially considering how little it costs. Large, clear, vibrant, and with plenty of brightness.

With a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 60 to 120Hz, this OLED display rivals flagship models like the Pixel 6 in terms of resolution and will make scrolling and animations look smoother and feel more responsive to your touch. It may be difficult to imagine if you haven't used a screen with a higher refresh rate, but when comparing this to our iPhone 13 mini, you can tell the difference when scrolling through your Twitter feed.

8. Nothing Phone (1) Drawbacks:

A respectable midrange Android phone with a luxury design that you won't find from any other brand is what you get here. In addition to the average camera performance, we also discovered that the screen scratches much more frequently than we anticipated (you'll want the £19 screen protector), the interface occasionally feels sluggish and buggy, the haptic vibrations are awkward, and this processor isn't competitive in terms of raw performance. Despite this, they aren't the major drawbacks, especially when considering how inexpensive it is.

9. Nothing Phone (1) Verdict:

Given that Nothing is a relatively new competitor in the smartphone industry, it did a lot of things right with its debut device. This model is stunning and strong, with a wonderful display, reliable operation, and a respectable camera that is adequate for most photographs.

We'd suggest it to anyone tired of 2022's typical smartphone designs who is interested by the "Glyph Interface" as well as any Android enthusiasts looking for a high-end phone under £400. However, if you're very concerned about the camera, we recommend either spending a little more on the Google Pixel 7, Pixel 6 (which costs $599), or Google's midrange Pixel 6a, which costs the same £399 as the Nothing (or much less when on sale!).