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 in Malaysia and brings the question of what's new? Is last year's Glyph light series still just a gimmick? The short answer is it's not just a gimmick. The longer answer is you'll have to read this full review to get it.
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 2999 (12/256GB)
RM 3499 (12/512GB)
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. Some say the "face" of the Phone (2) is the same as the iPhone 14 Pro and I admit there is truth behind this statement. For those who like the Apple aesthetic this is a bonus but the bezels on the Phone (2) are thick when compared to other Android devices in the same class.
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. Under bright sunlight, the content is still easy to read.
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. Among the interesting widgets is the Quick Setting shortcut directly on the screen. We use this feature to put WiFi hotspot Quick Setting directly on the front screen and also the lock screen. Without needing to be unlocked we can activate the WiFi hotspot quickly.
Applications generate their own ringtones, calculators, voice recorders and plug in earphones Nothing looks very handsome. As fans of the cyberpunk aesthetic we quite like what is done compared to the original stock Android design.
BENCHMARK – Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip is used and it is matched with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It was last year's flagship chip but still has higher power than existing mid-range chips. Here are the scores recorded using Geekbench 6, Antutu 3D and 3D Mark benchmark tests.
Scores are compared to OnePlus Nord 3 5G (Dimensity 9000), Poco F5 Pro (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) and Oppo Reno10 Pro+ (Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) as these three devices battle in the same category.
Geekbench 6
Nothing Phone (2) – 1734/4576
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 1092/3337
Poco F5 Pro – 1868/5272
Oppo Reno10 Pro+ – 1408/3786
Antutu 3D
Nothing Phone (2) -1,142,277
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 914,552
Poco F5 Pro – 1,049,997
Oppo Reno10 Pro+ – 1,137,709
Wild Life Extreme
Nothing Phone (2) – 2584
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 2296
Poco F5 Pro – None
Oppo Reno10 Pro+ – 2754
The score recorded is comparable to other devices using Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This chip is almost a year old but the performance is still very satisfactory. Running normal applications is no problem with absolutely no issues we can detect. For gamers, all games that require high graphics such as COD Mobile, Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile can be run at the most extreme settings.
There is no extreme heating issue just the back panel feels lukewarm The use of a transparent panel with an additional layer for the Glyph lamp makes the heat from the processor not spread directly to the hand holding the Phone (2). If you are looking for a smartphone with good performance, the Phone (2) can be relied on in various daily situations.
TELEPHONY And GPS
5G, VoLTE and VoWiFi networks can be used if your telecommunications company supports them. Throughout the review we have tested Phone (2) with telco CelcomDigi and Yes 5G. Voice calls are crystal clear and the internet speed is also very fast. With WiFi 6 support, fast internet speed can also be enjoyed if you subscribe to it at home.
GPS performance is also equivalent because the location can be tracked in less than two seconds using the Waze and Google Maps applications. As a phone, Phone (2) works quite brilliantly.
CAMERA
Here are some sample photos taken with the camera in our short time using it so far. Due to the use of a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor on a wide-angle lens, we are not surprised that the photos taken are very satisfying. The performance is similar to what we saw on the OnePlus 11 and Nord 3 which also use the same sensor.
Colors look vivid, areas with bright light don't glare and at night the image still looks bright with minimal noise. The ultra-wide angle lens is also great because it produces the same color as the main lens. Due to the use of the 50MP ISOCEL JN1 sensor, images appear sharp, bright and display satisfactory colors.
BATTERY
Battery performance is just satisfactory. Not disappointing because on average 7-8 hours if using 5G network and 8-9 hours if using full WiFi. The device can last up to 24 hours with moderate use. This year we can see better performance on devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 so we actually want longer life. But with a 4700 mAh battery, better battery life is unattainable.
Charging is only 45W wired and 15W wirelessly. It's quite slow compared to competitors and charging only takes around an hour. It would be great if a bigger battery and faster charging were provided. Maybe this will only arrive with Phone (3) next year.
AUDIO
Stereo speakers are included but without any audio system support. No Dolby Atmos or DTS X. Maybe Nothing wants to be independent without paying for a tuned audio system. As a result, the speaker system feels a bit empty, especially at louder audio settings. Not satisfactory and "nothing" special is offered. Speaker capabilities are perhaps one of the most significant shortcomings we have noticed on the Phone (2).
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
Nothing Phone (2) is still based on the gimmick of the lip lamp on the back with a unique interface operating system. It is aided by benchmark class specifications as well as a very smooth user experience and more importantly a very satisfying camera capability. With a selling price starting at RM2999, it is more expensive than the OnePlus Nord 3 5G but cheaper than the Oppo Reno10 Pro+.
We recommend it to those looking for the most unique device on the market right now that will make you stand out. It is also recommended because the price is not excessive for the package offered. Just have to be aware that the battery life and charging system are not great when compared to the two competitors.
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 isn't for everyone.