July 14, 2022, 11:30 am | Read time: 4 minutes
The Nothing Phone 1 is a smartphone with which OnePlus founder Carl Pei is pursuing an entirely new concept. Already touted as an “iPhone killer” beforehand, the new device is now official. It aims to impress with seamless connectivity and an open platform.
In the high-end smartphone sector, few manufacturers can compete with Apple to this day. The potent hardware, almost perfectly aligned with the iOS operating system, makes the overall package unbeatable for many. Unfortunately, this also applies to the high price, with some devices costing well over 1,000 euros. However, the hardware manufacturer from Cupertino may now face competition from the OnePlus sphere. With the Phone 1, the newly founded company Nothing has introduced its first smartphone.
Overview
“Nothing” aims to challenge Apple
The name initially sounds unremarkable. However, behind the London startup is not a newcomer, but Carl Pei. The former OnePlus co-founder is anything but unknown in the industry. In recent years, OnePlus was considered one of the brands with the most attractive price-performance ratio. This makes it all the more interesting to see what direction the company Nothing will take.
When it comes to hardware suppliers, the manufacturer relies on well-known names. On board are companies such as Qualcomm, Samsung, and Sony. Given these manufacturers, it’s clear that external expertise is used, especially for processors, displays, and cameras. Nevertheless, the Nothing Phone 1 is different from other smartphones. This is evident not only in its unique design but also in its system.
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Nothing Phone 1 with clean Android and Glyph Interface
“Nothing” means “nothing” in English. This motto is reflected in the operating system. The Nothing OS used in the Phone 1 is a system that completely avoids bloatware, meaning it does without unnecessary apps. Android is presented here in its pure form. Widgets, fonts, sounds, and wallpapers have been specially developed for the new smartphone. The Nothing Phone 1 aims to offer users the ability to configure the smartphone largely according to their own preferences with its open platform.
Carl Pei highlighted the seamless interaction between hardware and software in Apple devices even before the Nothing Phone 1 was introduced. The company now wants to emulate this with its own device, but unlike the Californian model, it focuses on seamless connectivity between different manufacturers. For instance, the Nothing Phone 1 should easily connect with Apple AirPods or Tesla vehicles.
At the same time, it introduces the so-called Glyph Interface, a method of operation that other smartphones do not offer. The back of the device, which looks almost bare, is equipped with over 900 LEDs that can light up in various patterns. With these patterns, users can identify who is calling, the battery charge status, and whether app notifications are incoming without looking at the smartphone itself. Individual contacts can also be assigned a Glyph pattern, so the Nothing Phone 1 lights up uniquely for calls.
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Hardware in the Nothing Phone 1
The Nothing Phone 1 is equipped with a 6.55-inch OLED display that supports HDR10+ and offers an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz, making the smartphone suitable for gamers. A Qualcomm processor provides the necessary performance. While it doesn’t use the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, it does feature the Snapdragon 778G+, a very solid, gaming-optimized chip in the upper mid-range. It not only delivers fast performance but also supports 5G. Users can also choose between different storage versions of the Nothing Phone 1. Options include 8 or 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of internal storage.
The smartphone features two cameras on the back. This is numerically less than what Samsung and Xiaomi offer, but ultimately, the collaboration and software of the sensors matter. Both offer a resolution of 50 megapixels, with the main camera equipped with the very good Sony IMX766 image sensor. There is also dual image stabilization and an f/1.8 aperture.
The design of the Nothing Phone 1 is particularly striking, mainly due to its transparent back. The frame is made of recycled aluminum, providing the smartphone with stability. According to the manufacturer, 50 percent of the plastic elements are made from bio-based or recycled materials.
Prices and availability
The sale of the Nothing Phone 1 starts on July 21 through the website nothing.tech and selected retailers. The following models are available:
- 8 GB / 128 GB for 469 euros
- 8 GB / 256 GB for 499 euros
- 12 GB / 256 GB for 549 euros (available from late summer)