The Nothing Phone (1) was launched last year and due to its unique back panel lighting system was named the best premium mid-range smartphone by us . In a market filled with similar dual-purpose devices, Nothing's courage to offer a unique device should be commended. Nothing Phone (2) was launched today and brings the question of what's new? Is last year's Glyph light series still just a gimmick?
SPECIFICATIONS
Nothing Phone (2)
6.7″ OLED LTPO screen,
FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.0 GHz Cortex X2 chip
3 X 2.5 GHz Cortex A710
4 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Adreno 730 Graphics Chip
RAM 8/12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage 128/256/512 GB UFS 3.1
Primary Camera 50MP f/1.88, OIS (Wide Angle)
50MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
4K 60p
Selfie Camera 32 Megapixel f/2.45
4700 mAh battery
45W wired charging
15W wireless charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP54
Scanning System Optical under-screen fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM 2789* (8/128GB)
RM 3255* (12/256GB)
RM 3721* (12/512GB)
*= Converted from foreign currency
SCREEN
The 6.7″ OLED screen supports a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. This is an improvement over the Phone screen (1) which only supports a dynamic refresh rate of 60-120Hz. This year's panel still has even bezels on all four corners but is quite thick compared to the Nord 3 5G bezel we just reviewed.
It retains the flat panel design only this year the selfie camera hole is moved to the center instead of the top left corner which makes the screen look more symmetrical. The screen works quite smoothly and looks fast with animations not even looking stuck.
The panel supports HDR10+ display but when the device was received by our labs (around a week ago) there was still no HDR support on Netflix but we understand it will be provided later. At the time of writing, HDR support can only be seen on the YouTube and Prime Video apps.
There is a fingerprint scanner of the optical type built under the screen. It would be great if faster and more consistent ultrasonic scanners were used. The location of the scanner is too far down in our opinion when compared to the ones used on Samsung, Vivo and Xiaomi devices. Therefore the fingers need to be a little acrobatic when wanting to scan one hand.
This fingerprint scanner is fast and consistently detects fingers as long as they are not wet or dirty. There is face scan support if that's what you want to use but it doesn't operate very consistently in dark rooms.
DESIGN
The body design is the same as the Phone (1) which is a sturdy boxy side, not so thick and feels good in the hand. The big change made is that the transparent glass panel on the back is now curved. This makes the device more comfortable in the hand when compared to the OnePus Nord 3. We know there are a lot of users who still don't like the boxy design so with this more rounded panel the device doesn't feel too big or not as sharp.
There is a power button on the right side and two audio adjustment buttons on the left side. Underneath there is a tray for dual-SIM nano, a USB-C charging port and one of the two stereo speakers. Unlike previous versions, Phone (2) does not have a drop-down button to mute notifications like on OnePlus and iPhone devices. Also missing is an infrared emitter and a 3.5mm audio jack.
The glass back panel protects the Glyph lighting system which now has 33 different lighting zones. The design of this lamp is also changed compared to Phone (1). This is to allow for more light flashing customization, additional features for notifications, and viewing audio levels when the device is in a covered position.
There are still only two cameras on the back with 50MP for wide angle and another 50MP for ultra wide angle. The sensor on the wide angle lens is the Sony IMX890 used on the OnePlus 11 while the sensor for the wide angle is the Samsung JN1. Only the wide-angle lens is equipped with an OIS system. The size of the bump is not large allowing the device to be placed relatively flat on the table surface.
We have to touch on the design of the back panel of the Phone (2) which looks like a futuristic device. The coil side of the wireless charging can be clearly seen. Make it easy for users to charge the Phone (2) and also use the reverse charging system on TWS or smart watches.
It cannot be denied that the back design of Phone (2) although it shares a lot with the design of Phone (1) still looks innovative. Only the RedMagic 8 Pro Titanium we think has a similar design. We quite like this design because it is not boring. At first glance the phone looks like military equipment from a science fiction movie.
The battery is only 4700 mAh which is quite small if you look at competitors in this class equipped with at least a 5000 mAh battery. Charging is also not very fast at just 45W wired and 15W wireless. The charger is also not included with the purchase.
This beautiful body has IP54 waterproof and dustproof capabilities. Too bad it's not higher but better than nothing at all. With this Phone (2) is comparable to Poco F5 Pro and OnePlus Nord 3 5G which also has almost the same level of waterproofing.
USE AND SOFTWARE
Nothing OS 2 is based on Android 12 but with its own design. There is uniqueness in the font design and the design of various widgets offered. The first thing to notice is that it is different from the Native Android interface. By default it uses monochrome mode which is nice but I have to admit it makes the device a little difficult to use.
The logos of various applications look the same without color. Just check out the screenshots below. It's a little hard to differentiate Chrome from YouTube Music. After more than a decade of looking for the green Spotify logo, when it's monochrome it's hard to find it on a device's screen.
The good news is that there is a mode to use the original color or use the adaptive color of Android 13. This solves the above issue to some extent. Another issue is that various settings are placed under the “Customisation” menu which is done on other Android devices. As a die-hard Android user, Nothing's action of placing the device's various personalization settings under this menu instead of “Display” like on other Android devices is a bit confusing.
Nothing OS we see is designed for iOS users moving to Android rather than for other Android users. After two new days we can get used to the various changes on the settings screen of this operating system. There is also an option to download icon packs from the Play Store to further personalize the device's “look”.
This deficiency is cured because Nothing OS 2 is a fast, smooth and beautiful operating system. The design of the Nothing Widget for example is so retro-futuristic that we hope a developer can port it to other Android devices.
The application generates its own ringtone, the left machine, the voice recorder and plugging in the earphones Nothing looks very handsome. As fans of the cyberpunk aesthetic we quite like what is done compared to the original stock Android design.
CAMERA
Here are some sample photos taken with the camera in our short time using it so far.
IN THE BOX
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Nothing Phone (2)
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Based on just a week's use we can say the Nothing Phone (2) has good potential to be the best affordable flagship device of 2023. The shortcomings of the Phone (1) have been resolved and this year's specs do not disappoint. If last year the transparent design with the Glyph lamp was the focus, this year the performance of the processor, camera capabilities and Nothing OS 2 are betting to attract people's attention to buy it.
We'll publish a full review in just a few days. In Europe Nothing Phone (2) is sold at a starting price of $599 (~RM2789) which we feel is reasonable for what is offered. Do not change directly to Ringgit Malaysia because last year the selling price was cheaper for the local market. It will only be revealed on its official launch day on July 14.
Pro
The device with the most eye-catching design on the market.
Satisfying benchmark specifications.
Camera specs with a good sensor.
IP54 waterproof
Support for three Android versions and four years of security patches.
Cons
Charging is only 45W.
No optical zoom lens.
The Nothing OS 2 interface may not be for everyone.