Nothing Phone 1 looks like a device from a cyberfuture movie. Photo: techradar.com[ad_1]
While global brands were churning out smartphones similar to each other, Nothing Technology introduced Nothing Phone 1, a device with a unique skeleton-style design. The smartphone brings back the fashion for everything shimmering and luminous, combining several design concepts at once. We found out why Nothing Phone 1 deserved so much attention, what it is capable of and what kind of hardware is hidden inside.
Nothing Phone 1 looks like a device from a cyberfuture movie. Photo: techradar.comSpecifications Nothing Phone 1
| Model | Nothing Phone 1 |
| The size | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3mm |
| The weight | 194 g |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ |
| Memory | 8/12 GB |
| Storage capacity | 28/256 GB |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Navigation and modules | WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, 5G |
| Display | 6.55 inches, 120Hz, OLED |
| Camera | 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS – primary |
| 50 MP, f/2.2 – ultra wide | |
| 16 MP, f/2.5 – selfie camera | |
| Video recording | 1080p 30 FPS, 1080p 60 FPS, 4K 30 FPS |
| Moisture and dust protection | IP53 |
| SIM cards | 2 x nano SIM |
Design and construction
The key design element of Nothing Phone 1 is the transparent glass back. Under it, the contours of the entrails are recreated in the skeleton style, the idea of which is not to hide the iron, but to demonstrate it. Decorate the amazing back plane of the smartphone with LED strips. They are combined into a single Glyph Interface – a lighting system from elements of different shapes.
The backlight in Nothing Phone not only attracts attention, but also takes on the functions of notifications. Photo: techadvisor.comGlyph Interface works as a comprehensive lighting and alert system. LED strips are easily configured in a standard application. There are 20 possible glow combinations in total: ten presets for notifications, ten for calls. You don’t have to stick to the classics. You can activate different glyphs (stripes) for different events independently of each other. It’s easy to assign a large glyph to a friend’s contact, a diagonal glyph to update mail, pin a couple of stripes to notifications about charging status, etc.
The advantages of the Glyph Interface system are obvious:
- Instead of an old-fashioned blinking diode on the front panel, there is a whole collection of bright and stylish stripes. They are more noticeable, their individual binding to events helps to quickly navigate.
- Luminous stripes are spectacular and attractive no less than the famous apple. The back cover of Nothing Phone 1 is an art that stands out in the city traffic.
- You can set up notifications for minor events. This saves time. The user sees a strip tied (conditionally) to the mail, and ignores this event.
- Important notifications will never be lost in a stream of similar signals.
In the Glyph Interface application, everything is configured: from the degree of brightness of the bars to the night mode and notification sounds. Photo: digitaltrends.comThe body of Nothing Phone 1 is made of aluminum, which reduces the weight of a large device (only 194 g). The metal is strong and durable. The grip is comfortable thanks to the square edges of the case, which are reminiscent of solutions from Apple.
The front and back of the smartphone are made of Gorilla Glass 5. The material protects against chipping when dropped (stability depends on height and surface), scratches. An added bonus is the IP53 rating: Nothing Phone 1 is protected from the negative effects of dust and splashes.
The smartphone does not have a classic 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. But there was a place for stereo speakers with good sound, which, in terms of purity and volume level, are head and shoulders above analogues in middle-class devices. The device has a significant set of modules: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC. Communication and communications are not satisfactory.
Display Nothing Phone 1
The smartphone screen with a diagonal of 6.53 inches, a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and an OLED matrix perfectly conveys all shades. The picture with support for 10-bit colors is bright and juicy in any conditions. Multimedia and games thanks to HDR10 + look realistic and rich.
The screen refresh rate goes up to 120Hz, making scrolling and animation enjoyable. The interface, games, browser and applications run very smoothly and are comfortable on the eyes. The adaptive frequency selection system automatically raises the hertz depending on the scenario. You can manually set 60 Hz to save battery power.
120Hz takes Nothing Phone 1 a notch above the popular OnePlus Nord 2T 5G with its 90Hz display and Google Pixel 6A (60Hz).
In terms of image quality, the display is close to premium status. Photo: zdnet.comThe bezels around the edges of the display seem unreasonably wide, but that’s part of the concept design. The developers have made the entire “edging” of the screen the same size in width in order to achieve perfect symmetry. After a couple of days of using Nothing Phone 1, the idea is revealed – and the frames look organic.
Maximum brightness – 700 nits, peak (short-term on a separate section of the screen) – 1200 nits. The indicators are sufficient to work with a smartphone even in direct sunlight. The fingerprint sensor built into the display works clearly and accurately (wet fingers are not a hindrance).
Performance
The iron heart of Nothing Phone 1 is the Snapdragon 778G+ chipset. Technically a mid-range processor, but in practice it covers most needs. Only the most resource-intensive applications and games with huge system requirements will be left behind.
Games like Asphalt 9 and PUBG on a smartphone run at medium-high settings. Photo: computerhoy.comIn Geekbench’s synthetic tests, Nothing Phone 1 scores 2722 and is on par with the OnePlus Nord 2T, outperforming the mid-budget hit Poco X4 Pro 5G. The processor, combined with 8 or 12 GB of RAM, effortlessly copes with the shell and applications. There is no flagship performance, but there is a comfortable cost and confident work with everyday tasks. The Snapdragon 778G + processor will not become obsolete for at least another two years, if there is no technological revolution.
When experts write that the device has an average processor, they are right. But this negatively affects the work of Nothing Phone 1 nominally. The emotional, psychological effect is much stronger. People think: why is a smartphone sold with a non-top processor? The answer is simple: it is not for gamers and those who buy all the most powerful out of principle.
autonomy
The battery of the device with a capacity of 4500 mAh does not break autonomy records. Resources are enough on average for one day of work. The manufacturer compensates for this with wireless and fast charging options.
The equipment of the device is modest. The charger must be purchased separately. Photo: www.gsmarena.comThe smartphone supports 33W wired charging. With a good third-party adapter, the device will rise from 0 to 67% in 30 minutes, and up to 100% in 65–67 minutes. Convenient QI format allows you to charge wirelessly. Maximum power – 15 watts. Charging speed will drop, but in the office or at home, QI will save you from unnecessary wires.
The Glyph Interface system does not seriously affect the battery. The manufacturer assures: the constant operation of the bands for 10 minutes discharges the battery by 0.5%. Under normal conditions, notifications go out in a couple of seconds – the load on the battery is microscopic.
Operating system
The smartphone runs on Android 12 with a proprietary Nothing shell. The manufacturer promises three updates and support up to Android 15. The feature of the smartphone is almost pure Android, which is not spoiled by outlandish design and is not clogged with unnecessary applications.
Nothing Phone 1 does not seek to create its own OS. At 99%, this is familiar to every Android. Photo: mashable.comThe Nothing shell is more correctly called an android skin. The developers took a clean version of the system and added:
- Wallpaper collection.
- An application for recording sound in retro style.
- The function to increase the size of individual icons.
- Built-in headphone control system – Ear.
- Minimalistic stylized weather and time widgets.
- Gallery of NFTs (cryptographic tokens).
- Matrix font in retro style.
- Synchronization with Tesla: functions for driving a car.
Malicious programs, viruses, a crooked menu in Nothing Phone 1 can not be found. Turned on – configured – use. Android 12 brings beautiful animations, a Google Sans font, a built-in Conversations widget, and quick settings shortcuts right on your home screen.
Camera Nothing Phone 1
Nothing Phone 1 captures detailed, rich footage day and night. The device does not fall into the category of camera phones, but the photos are beautiful without additional processing.
The main camera of Nothing Phone 1 reveals the beauty of the sunflower naturally. Photo: androidauthority.com There are three modules in total:
- Primary 50 MP, f/1.9, OIS (optical stabilization).
- Ultra wide angle 50 MP, f/2.2.
- Selfie camera 16 MP, f/2.5
The main camera uses a Sony IMX766 sensor, which is found on powerful mid-range smartphones and the flagship Oppo Find X5 Pro. The result of the module’s work is bright pictures with good sharpness and excellent detail. OIS helps when shooting in low light conditions, allowing you to take pictures in any environment.
Night mode and OIS work wonders at dusk. Photo: androidauthority.comGlyph Interface works as a backlight when shooting dishes in a dark restaurant, small objects in a park, etc. Its aperture is enough to replace the flash and make night shots softer.
The ultra wide-angle lens is working, but without competitive advantages. Pictures lose in sharpness and detail, richness of shades. The photos are not for the exhibition, but the competitors are no better. Saves autofocus. With it in the “Macro” mode, the frames are detailed, with realistic colors.
As a backup option and for macro photography, the ultra-wide-angle camera is suitable. Photo: www.gsmarena.comThe selfie camera is close to the top level. The pictures are well exposed, with sufficient lighting. In portrait mode, the lens confidently detects subjects and creates the desired bokeh effect.
Selfies on Nothing Phone 1 deserve high marks. Photo: www.gsmarena.comIn video mode, you can shoot 4K 30 FPS, 1080p 30 or 60 FPS videos on the main camera. The front camera is limited to 1080p and 30 FPS settings. Electronic stabilization smooths out shaky effects and in 4K mode helps you record beautiful videos – detailed, realistic, with excellent dynamic range.
In night mode, the smartphone activates shooting from the main camera in 1080p 30 FPS. Algorithms improve exposure, colors become distinct and natural.
Competitors and analogues
Nothing Phone 1 has direct competitors. The smartphone is too extraordinary and unique in design – the selection of an opponent leads to a dead end. In terms of general characteristics and approximate price range, the device is opposed by the “popular” Xiaomi 12 Lite. A smartphone with an AMOLED display and 67W charging costs less, runs on the same processor, but is inferior in autonomy and does not support QI charging.
The Poco F4 GT is a worthy alternative. Its hardware is suitable for games, there are special game buttons on the case, and the camera is capable of shooting in 4K 60 FPS. The mid-budget OnePlus Nord 2T is a variant with a good Dimensity 1300 processor, but a discreet design and a screen refresh rate of 90Hz.
Results
Since the announcement, the epithets “premium”, “top”, “advanced” have stuck to Nothing Phone 1. Its unique, author’s design is a godsend in the world of monotonous solutions and boring minimalism. The smartphone has already become a new style icon, a breakthrough in the iron design industry.
The display and build quality are second to none. Protection from dust and splashes will save the device more than once. In some scenarios, autonomy and performance are not enough, but this is not important. If you don’t play heavy games for days, don’t travel the world without a powerbank, Nothing Phone 1 will exceed your expectations. The feeling of exclusivity that a smartphone gives is impossible to get when working with any other device.
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