Flagship smartphones usually have a lot of hype and fanfare ahead of their launch, but it’s not often that we see the same or even higher level of excitement for the launch of mid-range phones. Nothing at allThe technology company founded by Carl Pei, who previously co-founded OnePlus, has just launched its first smartphone, the Phone 1.
It’s been a much-anticipated smartphone for a number of reasons, but I think the main one is the one that Carl Pei, the head of the company that helped shape oneplus From a budding enthusiast-only brand to one of the most popular smartphone brands today. Expectations for the first smartphone from Nothing are skyrocketing. After a seismic build-up with multiple leaks and teasers over the past few months, the Phone 1 is finally here.
Anything the Phone 1 aims to deliver a clean and simple Android experience, but with a unique hardware twist via its quirky notification lights. I’ve spent a little time with the Phone 1 and this is my first impression.
nothing call 1 Comes in a slim box with a cropped image of the back of the phone printed on it. The white and black versions of the phone come in color-matched boxes. Inside, you’ll find the Phone 1, a security guide, a USB Type-C to Type-C cable, and one of the best-looking SIM ejector tools out there. As expected, there is There is no charger with the phone, Nothing was sent to me a clear case for the Phone 1, which is sold separately.
The Nothing Phone 1 bundle doesn’t come with a charger, but the sim ejector tool sounds great
Before going into the specifications, we must first talk about the most unique feature of the Phone 1 and that is its back panel. You’ve probably seen this angle of the phone the most because that’s what it’s not using in all of its marketing materials. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the transparent design throughout, but I do appreciate how well all the components are hidden. In my opinion, the black version looks a lot better than the white because the translucent effect is more subtle and I also prefer the darker shade of the aluminum frame.
However, this transparent back isn’t just for show, as it serves a purpose. Beneath the glass back panel are a series of light strips that nothing refers to as the glyph interface. For this, the software has a dedicated menu from where you can set different light patterns for ringtones and notifications, or even monitor the battery level while the phone is charging. You can also use the Glyph interface as a fill light for the rear cameras, which is neat.
The Nothing Phone 1’s transparent back is its most striking feature, for better or worse
The Glyph interface seems useful provided you get used to laying your phone face down on a surface, which I personally don’t. The lights are really bright, though you can adjust the intensity, and some of the flashing patterns can be distracting. We’ll find out in the full review how useful it really is after I’ve used the phone for a long time. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will probably need to use this phone with or without a transparent or translucent case in order to see the lights.
As a premium mid-range smartphone, the Nothing Phone 1 gets a lot right. The flattened aluminum frame is smooth to touch and the rounded edges make it comfortable to hold. It’s quite thin at 8.3mm, but it has a slight heft at 193.5g. The power and volume buttons have good feedback and are placed on opposite sides of the frame, making them easy to use with one hand. At the bottom, we have a dual-SIM tray, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker. The earpiece doubles as a second speaker for stereo sound.
The Nothing Phone 1 is IP53 rated for resistance against water and the slightest splash of dust. An IP rating is becoming increasingly common in mid-range phones and even though it is not as widespread as an IP67 or IP68 rating, it is still something and I am glad nothing has been skimped on. .
The Nothing Phone 1 has a crisp OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
On the front of the Nothing Phone 1, you get a bright and crisp 6.55-inch display that produces great colors thanks to the OLED panel. The display has 10-bit color depth, full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This phone also has a capacitive in-display fingerprint sensor, which is working well so far. The display supports HDR10+ playback and has a typical brightness of 500 nits (1,200 nits peak). There is Corning Gorilla Glass on the front and back of the Phone 1.
The Nothing Phone 1 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC, which is a powerful 5G chip that is seen in phones such as Motorola Edge 30 ,review) Phone 1 comes in three configurations which are as follows: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage priced at Rs. 32,999, 8GB RAM + 256GB storage priced at Rs. 35,999, and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage costs Rs 38,999. It is LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. There’s nothing discount offer For customers who have pre-ordered the phone.
Phone 1 packs a 4,500mAh battery and supports 33W USB PD fast wired charging. There is support for 15W fast wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging. Wireless charging is a feature that’s still relatively rare in the mid-range space, so it should help the Phone 1 grab a decent footing.
The Nothing Phone 1 runs on Nothing OS which is pretty much stock Android 12 with a few tweaks like custom icon packs, additional wallpapers and widgets, and of course, custom ringtones and notification sounds for the glyph interface. Nothing promises three years of Android updates and four years of security updates, which is nice to see.
There are only two cameras on the back of the phone
Nothing crazy has happened with the cameras and there are just two on the back of the Phone 1, but with high quality sensors. The primary camera uses a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 sensor which is optically stabilized. We’ve seen good things from this sensor in a lot of flagships, so I’m expecting the same from the Phone 1. The second camera is a 50-megapixel ultra-wide one, and uses the Samsung JN1 sensor, much like oneplus 10 pro ,review) This sensor also has autofocus so it doubles as a macro camera. The selfie camera houses the 16-megapixel Sony IMX471 sensor that we’ve seen on several OnePlus flagships over the years.
The Nothing Phone 1 looks like it could be a solid mid-range offering just based on the specifications. The inclusion of wireless charging should give it a competitive edge, and the Glyph notification system, while a bit gimmicky in my opinion, definitely sets it apart from any other phone on the market. Besides having good hardware, it is equally important to provide good after-sales service for nothing if it hopes to compete with other established players. The company says that it has service centers in over 220 cities across India, which is a good start.
Should you believe the hype and buy the Nothing Phone 1? Find out in our full review coming soon.