Have you seen how children pick candies from store windows? By the wrapper. If the picture is colorful, they buy candies, believing in the miracle that there is the tastiest chocolate or caramel inside. And to help kids choose, there is advertising that makes them believe in this very miracle. The Nothing Phone smartphone is a perfect example of all this. For a whole year, we were fed illusions that it is the best, most unique, and wonderful gadget. And as a wrapper, they offered an exclusive back cover that no one else among competitors has. But the result, in fact, turned out to be disappointing. Expensive and completely uninteresting.
Nothing Phone – Technical Specifications
| Chipset | Snapdragon 778G+, 6 nm |
| Processor | 1x 2.5 GHz – Kryo 670 Prime (Cortex-A78)
3x 2.2 GHz – Kryo 670 Gold (Cortex-A78) 4x 1.9 GHz – Kryo 670 Silver (Cortex-A55) |
| Video | Adreno 642L, 500 MHz |
| RAM | 8 or 12 GB LPDDR5, 3200 MHz |
| Storage | 128 or 256 GB, UFS 2.2 |
| Expandable Storage | No |
| Display | OLED, 6.55 inches, 2400×1080, 120 Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits |
| Operating System | Android 12, Nothing OS |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, 33 W charging, 15 W wireless |
| Wireless Technologies | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS |
| Cameras | Main 50+50 MP, Selfie – 16 MP |
| Protection | Under-display fingerprint scanner |
| Wired Interfaces | USB-C |
| Sensors | Proximity, light, compass, accelerometer |
| Price | € 470-550 (depends on RAM and storage capacity) |
It is difficult to call the hardware modern. Even at the presentation moment (October 2021), the technical specifications clearly did not match flagship standards. Therefore, high performance should not be expected. Especially in games, where the Adreno 642L graphics accelerator will not be able to demonstrate anything even at medium quality settings. Considering the minimized battery capacity and the large power-hungry screen, many questions arise, but there are no answers.
Nothing Phone is Designed for Creative People
Undoubtedly, for those who buy candies by the wrapper. The exclusive back cover has many bright LEDs. And for New Year holidays, such a smartphone will definitely be a favorite on the table. But only if the owner places the Nothing Phone face down on the table.
If we talk strictly about the body design, there are no questions. The smartphone strangely resembles an iPhone, only slightly larger in size. But this does not prevent the phone from fitting comfortably in the hand. Smooth edges, rounded corners – everything is done thoughtfully. An advantage is the presence of wireless charging. It works, judging by user reviews, perfectly. Not only with Anker chargers, but also with Chinese no-name devices.
Display in Nothing Phone Like iPhone
Yes, in Nothing, they copied Apple by bending the screen inside the case at the bottom. The result is symmetrical bezels on all sides. And it looks really beautiful. The 6.55-inch OLED matrix with a 120 Hz refresh rate is also good. And there is an option to adjust the color temperature. However, owners leave negative feedback regarding:
- Uneven backlight of the screen. Bright spots and a greenish tint are observed.
- Ambient light sensor often misses. Especially in sunlight, when opening different apps.
- The declared brightness of 1200 nits does not match reality. It’s good if it’s half (600 nits).
- Screen lag occurs when working quickly with applications – 120 Hz turns into 10 Hz.
But the back panel works exceptionally well. All 900 LEDs glow brightly. They can be configured for notifications, charging indicator, or to add light during night shooting with the rear camera.
Powerful Camera Module in Nothing Phone for Professionals
Two 50 MP modules – the manufacturer emphasizes this in commercials and posts. They did so until owners disassembled the Nothing Phone. The surprise was – sensors Sony IMX 766 and Samsung GN1 are installed. These are budget chips, and expecting something cool from them makes no sense.
Yes, in good weather, in daylight, the cameras shoot photos and record videos of decent quality. But when the lighting is removed, we get Xiaomi Poco or Redmi quality. Smartphones costing $150-200 shoot the same. It’s unclear what the point of overpaying is.
The same story applies to the selfie camera. Daytime shooting is normal, but in twilight, it’s very bad. Even 900 LEDs embedded in the designer back cover do not help.
Conclusion on the Nothing Phone
The manufacturer also claimed stereo sound. And this is in one speaker. It’s interesting whether the company’s engineers even know what stereo sound is. How to implement it on a single driver is unclear. Interestingly, OnePlus One produces excellent smartphones. But their offspring, the Nothing Phone, is a failure. A complete failure. The smartphone is not worth even half of its price. It’s better to buy a used iPhone 12 or 13. There will be more positive moments.
And for enthusiasts who want to stand out with an amazing back cover design, we recommend visiting AliExpress. There are enough exotic bumpers and cases. You can always find an interesting solution. And it will be quite budget-friendly. By the way, the kit does not include a case, and the screen has no protection from scratches.
