The Nothing Phone 1 is the latest release by Nothing Technology Ltd, which has made a big splash in the smartphone market with its unique design and advanced features.
The Nothing Phone 1 was made available for purchase on July 16, 2022.
In this review, we will be taking an in-depth look at this device to help you decide whether it is worth investing in.
From its distinctive transparent back, which showcases the Glyph Interface, to its high-performing chip set, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Nothing Phone 1.
Nothing Phone 1: Design
The design of Nothing Phone 1 is completely different from the other phones available in the market.
Basically, it is a type of phone that is created to grab the users’ attention. This brand is positioning it as the antithesis to all the copycat models out there.
Just look at its back you will see the game-changing design of this phone. You will see that all the innards are visible (just make sure you are using a transparent protective case to enjoy it more).
The use of a transparent back isn’t without any purpose. Its existence is for the showcase of Nothing Phone 1’s Glyph Interface.
What is Glyph Interface?
The Glyph Interface is an array of over 900 LED bulbs that light up to notify you when some of the specific contacts are calling.
It can also show the charging status of your phone and can also be used as a portable ring light.
It can also sync with the beats of music. You can use the glyph interface for so many purposes.
This interface looks like some science fiction movie tech gadget. Physically, if you are holding this device, it actually feels like a high-tech gadget.
If you open the back side of some phones, you will see the things stuffed there and only a professional can understand how that phones are actually assembled.
In the case of Phone 1, you will see the things assembled finely.
Nothing Phone 1: Specifications
Nothing Phone 1 has been launched with three different variants concerning storage.
There are two colors available on this phone. One is black and the other is white. Here are the detailed specifications.
| NETWORK | TECHNOLOGY | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| LAUNCH | ANNOUNCED AND STATUS | July 16, 2022 |
| BODY | DIMENSIONS WEIGHT BUILD SIM | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm (6.27 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) 193.5 g (6.84 oz) Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Multiple LED lights on the back (notifications, charging progress, camera fill light) Blinking red light on the back (video recording indicator) IP53 – splash, water, and dust resistant |
| DISPLAY | TYPE SIZE RESOLUTION PROTECTION | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 700 nits (peak) 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~85.8% screen-to-body ratio) 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 PPI density) Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| PLATFORM | OS CHIPSET CPU GPU | Android 12, Nothing OS 1.1.6 Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) Octa-core (1×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) Adreno 642L |
| MEMORY | CARD SLOT INTERNAL | NO 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM UFS 3.1 |
| MAIN CAMERA | DUAL FEATURES VIDEO | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, AF LED flash, panorama, HDR 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, live HDR |
| SELFIE CAMERA | SINGLE VIDEO | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1″, 1.0µm 1080p@30fps |
| SOUND | LOUDSPEAKER 3.5mm JACK | Yes, with stereo speakers NO |
| COMMS | WLAN BLUETOOTH POSITIONING NFC RADIO USB | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band 5.2, A2DP, LE GPS (L1), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) Yes NO USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go |
| FEATURES | SENSORS | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| BATTERY | TYPE CHARGING | Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable (17.42 Wh) 33W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 50% in 30 min, 100% in 70 min (advertised) 15W wireless5W reverse wireless |
Nothing Phone 1: Camera
Most users’ first priority before buying a phone is the camera. They will go with good camera phones.
Some famous companies like Samsung and Apple are performing well in the camera field. They have the great camera focus in favorable lighting conditions.
But Nothing Phone 1 can’t compete with those phones’ high-end variants.
Nothing Phone has included a set of reliable cameras that will be good enough for most people.
It includes a pair of 50MP sensors, a wide angle, and an ultra-wide-angle lens on the back side of the phone.
It has a decent 16MP selfie camera. After performing some camera tests, we can confidently say that this phone camera can prove reliable in suitable situations.
In good light, you can get snaps that are good enough to be posted on your Instagram feed.
It’s a different story when we got into low-light conditions. We found the Nothing phone (1) struggled with focus and detail, delivering results that were passable but too blurry for pixel-peepers.
We also had some struggles when shooting with the portrait mode where the camera couldn’t quite find the edge of a subject, and we saw it have issues when bringing out all of the detail in scenes with a mix of dark shadows and bright sunlight.
Although, overall camera results are enough best for most of us.
In the above images, you can see some of the snaps we captured from the Nothing Phone (1) and the result was not bad.
Nothing Phone 1: Battery Life
We tested Nothing Phone 1 battery for more than a week and haven’t noticed any battery problems in it.
However, the company itself promises 18 hours of battery life, and sometimes the battery longs more than 18 hours.
In our tests, this felt accurate and we always got through a full day of normal use without it draining.
It has fast charging, regaining half its battery in 30 minutes when powered up via a USB-C charger or power bank.
However, the phone supports both wireless charging and reverse wireless charging features. So, you will not face any issues regarding the battery life of the phone.
Nothing Phone 1: Software Information
The selling point of this phone is that it runs the Nothing OS in it. The company also claims that they have its own operating system that is actually running on the phone.
In reality, it’s Android 12 with Nothing’s user interface. Nothing also confirmed that it will support the phone for three years of software updates, so the Nothing OS will adapt to any Android updates within that time too.
The phone is also equipped with the 5G capabilities like any phone worth your cash in 2022.
Nothing Phone 1: Display
Here is nothing to complain about the display of the Nothing Phone 1. The display is large, crisp, colorful, and has more than enough brightness.
This OLED panel rivals flagship models like the Pixel 6 when it comes to resolution, and it delivers a dynamic refresh rate that can go from 60 to 120Hz.
This is a fancy way of saying that it’ll make scrolling and animations look smooth and feel more responsive to your touch.
With the in-display fingerprint, the display also looks very awesome and attractive.
Nothing Phone 1: Tests
We performed some performance tests on this phone and the results were outstanding. This phone performed very well in all aspects. Here is the list and results of the tests.
| PERFORMANCE | AnTuTu: 592789 (v9)GeekBench: 3024 (v5.1)GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| DISPLAY | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| LOUDSPEAKERS | -24.4 LUFS (Very good) |
| BATTERY LIFE | Endurance rating 108h |
Nothing Phone 1: Pricing
Concerning pricing, this phone is a mid-range killer and a great competitor. Its price in the online market is about 500$.
You can buy it from Amazon and eBay.
Conclusion
The Nothing Phone 1 offers a unique and attention-grabbing design with its transparent back, which allows users to showcase the phone’s Glyph Interface.
This interface is a game-changer and offers a variety of functions such as showing the charging status and lighting up when specific contacts call.
The phone has a solid build and is water, dust and splash resistant.
Additionally, it has a high-performing chip set, and ample internal storage, it also have a powerful camera that can shot 4K videos and High Dynamic Range.
It also have a decent battery life and fast charging as well.
Overall, the Nothing Phone 1 is a high-tech, powerful device that offers a unique experience and is a worth consideration for those looking for something different in a smartphone.
