Nothing Phone 2 Review: Almost Everything You Wanted!
Nothing’s journey into the world of technology began with the revolutionary transparent Nothing Earbuds in 2021. Now, they are back with their latest innovation, the Nothing Phone (2), aiming to capture users’ unique satisfaction with an unparalleled design.
Following their successful entry into the smartphone market with the Nothing Phone 1 in July 2022, the brand has taken things up a notch with the launch of the Nothing Phone (2) in July 2023. This new offering boasts significant performance upgrades, including an advanced chipset and revamped “Glyph Stripes”, promising a seamless user experience.
In today’s Nothing Phone (2) Review, let’s dive into all the exciting details that Nothing has packed into their new transparent Phone 2.
Table of Contents
- What’s New?
- Pros & Cons
- Design & Build
- Display
- Camera
- Performance
- Software
- Battery Life
- Specifications
- Verdict
1. Nothing Phone 2: What’s NEW?
Nothing Phone 2 |
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2. Nothing Phone 2: Pros & Cons
Before jumping into the overall Nothing Phone (2) review, here’s a quick heads up about Nothing Phone 2’s good and bad sites:
Pros: | Cons: |
👍 Creative and unique design;
👍 Flagship processor from Qualcomm; 👍 Satisfying 4700mAh battery life; 👍 Vivid display with 1600 nits peak brightness. |
👎 No 4K front camera;
👎 Waterproofing could be better. |
Check latest Price of Nothing Phone 2
3. Nothing Phone 2: Design
- Upgraded Glyph Stripes
- IP54 splash resistance
Design
The Nothing Phone (2) has undergone significant design and build improvements, showcasing Nothing’s commitment to innovation and aesthetics. One of the most notable changes can be observed in its back design, where the 5 Glyph stripes have been replaced with 11 Glyph Stripes LEDs. Even the single LED around the wireless charging coil has been divided into 6 Glyph stripes, giving it a unique sci-fi vibe.
The device’s back now features more curved edges, departing from the flat design of its predecessor. This design alteration not only enhances the phone’s premium appearance but also ensures a comfortable grip during daily use.
The camera module retains its dual lenses, but the addition of dual flashlights elevates the photography experience. And the display front camera punch-hole has been moved to the middle if you didn’t notice.
Nothing has also introduced a new color variant, transforming the classic black into a sleek dark gray with a gunmetal finish. This color option adds to the phone’s allure and distinguishes it from other devices on the market.
Build
In terms of build quality, the Nothing Phone (2) maintains its sturdy aluminum framing and durable Gorilla Glass panels on the front and back. These materials not only provide robust protection but also contribute to the phone’s transparent look, giving it a sci-fi vibe.
Additionally, the Nothing Phone (2) has seen upgrades in its dimensions, weighing approximately 201.2 grams and standing at a height of 162.1mm. These changes ensure a substantial feel in hand without sacrificing portability.
Although the water protection has been improved to an IP54 rating, it falls short of flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S23, which boasts an IP68 rating. Nevertheless, the IP54 rating still offers a considerable level of water resistance, adding an extra layer of protection to the device.
4. Nothing Phone 2: Display
- 6.7’’ LTPO AMOLED Display
- 1600 Nits Peak Brightness
The Nothing Phone (2) features a stunning display that enhances your visual experience in every way. With a larger 6.7-inch flexible LTPO AMOLED. This flexibility ensures the refresh rate is variable while using less battery than a standard OLED display. Moreover, you get thinner bezels as well from Phone 1, making it have an increased screen-to-body ratio of 87.2%, immersing you in a world of vibrant colors and sharp imagery.
With 2412×1080 pixel resolution and it’s 394ppi ensures excellent clarity and detail, even though the pixel density may seem lower than last year’s model. This change is due to the larger display size, and the trade-off is well worth it for the expanded viewing area.
The display’s 120Hz refresh rate, adjustable down to 1Hz for optimal battery efficiency, brings smoothness and responsiveness to every interaction, making scrolling and app switching feel incredibly fast and seamless.
Additionally, the Nothing Phone (2) supports HDR10+, allowing you to enjoy FHD movies on platforms like Netflix and high-resolution YouTube videos with vivid colors and high contrast, creating a truly cinematic experience.
Outdoors, the display truly shines with its peak brightness of 1600 nits, significantly surpassing last year’s Phone (1) limited to 1200 nits. This upgrade ensures excellent visibility even under bright sunlight, enhancing usability in various lighting conditions.
5. Nothing Phone 2: Camera
- 50MP Dual Camera
- Dual Flash
- 32MP Front Camera
The Nothing Phone (2) boasts an impressive camera system that elevates your photography experience to a new level. With an 18-bit Image Signal Processor (ISP), the phone excels in capturing real-life moments with unparalleled clarity and crispness, outperforming its predecessor, Phone (1), by capturing 4,000 times more camera data.
Equipped with two 50MP lenses and a dual flash for the main camera, the Nothing Phone (2) guarantees excellent image quality, especially with the support of the advanced flagship chipset from Qualcomm. The Sony IMX890 sensor with an f/1.88 aperture and Advanced HDR, complete with night mode capabilities, ensures vibrant colors, balanced sharpness, and an impressive dynamic range in daylight photos.
Additionally, the 2x zoom option retains image clarity without introducing noise. Portrait enthusiasts will be pleased with the outstanding subject separation and decent background blurring offered by the phone’s portrait modes.
Nightography
Even in low-light conditions, the main camera performs remarkably, capturing nighttime shots with excellent exposure and accurate color reproduction. The added panorama night mode and detailed ultra-wide lens shoots further enhance its nighttime photography capabilities.
UltraWide
The 50MP ultrawide lens, featuring a Samsung JN1 sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, delivers wide shots with brilliant colors and detailed clarity, making it ideal for capturing vast landscapes or taking close macro shots as close as 4 centimeters, thanks to the auto-focus feature.
Video
Recording videos is a treat with the Nothing Phone (2). Both the main and ultra cameras offer 4K recording at 60 fps with Live HDR support, providing sharp and vibrant outdoor footage. The optical and electronic image stabilization minimizes shaking, resulting in smooth and shake-free recordings. For nighttime recordings, the phone switches to 1080p at 30fps, ensuring good-quality footage even in low-light conditions.
Front Camera
The front camera, while limited to 1080p recording, still offers HDR content support at 30fps, making it a suitable choice for outdoor meetings and video calls. Overall, the camera capabilities of the Nothing Phone (2) are sure to delight photography enthusiasts and casual users alike, promising a memorable and exceptional visual experience.
6. Nothing Phone 2: Performance
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Up to 512GB storage
The Nothing Phone 2 impresses with its outstanding performance and internal offerings, proving that “Nothing” is not just a clever name. Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ gen 1 processor, a 4-nanometer marvel from Qualcomm with an impressive 3.0Ghz Octa-core performance, this phone is a powerhouse.
It is also renowned for delivering additional power savings and extended performance across the board. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth app running, seamless multitasking, and effortless app-switching, providing an overall fluid user experience.
One significant upgrade from its predecessor is the storage option, with the Nothing Phone 2 now offering a spacious 512GB of storage, twice the capacity of the previous model. This ample storage, coupled with 12GB of RAM, effortlessly supports heavy apps running in the background without any slowdowns or performance hiccups.
Gaming
Gamers will appreciate the Adreno 730 GPU, delivering a top-notch gaming experience, whether it’s tackling intense battles in PUBG MOBILE or Call of Duty Mobile. The phone’s performance remains smooth and lag-free, making it a great choice for mobile gaming enthusiasts.
Audio
And when it comes to audio quality is another strong suit of the Nothing Phone 2. With three high-definition mics and dual stereo speakers, users can enjoy immersive sound during music playback or action-packed movie sessions. Though the phone lacks a Dolby Atmos label which is available OnePlus 11R or even Galaxy A54 5G, the quality of sound output is impressive and free from any distortion or noise.
Connectivity
On the connectivity front, the phone boasts Wi-Fi 6, providing fast and reliable internet connectivity. However, it would have been even better to see an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6e. Nonetheless, the Bluetooth connectivity has been upgraded to BT 5.3 from the previous year’s BT 5.2, ensuring better wireless connections with compatible devices.
7. Nothing Phone 2: UI & OS
- Nothing OS 2
- Software Merge with Glyph Stripes
Nothing Phone 2, is equipped with the latest “Android 13 based on Nothing OS 2.” Nothing really made quite a few changes from home screen widget customization to their new 11 Glyph stripes. While also incorporating its unique UI and software integration, Nothing maintains a clean Android 13 experience.
Users can now personalize their lock screen with various clock and weather widgets, and even resize app icons, prioritizing the apps they use most. There is also an “Essential Notification” option that lets you have a single LED light on for a particular app notification, which would be really useful if you prioritize a single app more than others.
The Phone 2 also comes with an exciting addition: 11 glyph stripes featuring 33 LEDs, with one glyph having 16 LEDs, each serving a specific purpose. For instance, when setting an alarm or timer, the lights automatically glow and minimize.
Moreover, Nothing has partnered with Uber and Zomato, enabling the LEDs to provide visual notifications for these apps by closing in. Although it is just limited to only two apps, so more app developers need to develop and design their own apps to support that single stripe LED minimizing feature.
Additionally, for creative souls who love crafting their own tunes, Nothing has joined forces with “The Swedish House Mafia” to offer users the ability to create custom ringtones. This collaboration caters to those who enjoy personalizing their device experience, making it a delight for artists and music enthusiasts alike.
8. Nothing Phone 2: Battery
- 4700mAh Battery
- 45W Wired Charging
- 5W Reverse Charging
The Nothing Phone (2) boasts an impressive battery life, thanks to its upgraded battery capacity of 4700mAh, a 200mAh improvement over the previous model. With this larger battery, users can expect enhanced performance and longevity from their devices.
One of the standout features of the Nothing Phone (2) is its ability to handle heavy usage without compromising on battery life. Whether you’re indulging in intense gaming sessions with titles like Genshin Impact or Asphalt 9 or binge-watching FHD content on Netflix, the phone continues to deliver an all-day battery, ensuring you stay connected and entertained throughout the day.
Charging the Nothing Phone (2) is a breeze with its 45W wired charger support. Within just 55 minutes, the device can go from 0% to 100%, making it one of the fastest charging options on the market. However, it’s worth noting that the box does not include a charger, so users will need to purchase one separately.
For those who prefer wireless charging, the Nothing Phone (2) supports 15W Qi wireless charging with dual charging support. While this offers a convenient way to charge the phone, it does take longer compared to wired charging, around 130 minutes according to Nothing’s website.
An intriguing feature of the Nothing Phone (2) is its ability to act as a power source for other devices. With reverse charging capabilities of up to 5W, you can charge wireless charging-compatible devices, such as Nothing Earbuds 2 or other gadgets, making it a handy feature for users on the go.
9. Overall Specs
Here is a more detailed overview of the Nothing Phone (2) technical specifications down below for your further speculation-
Specs | Nothing Phone 2 |
Display | 6.7 inch, LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits peak, Always-On Display |
Protection | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), glass back (Gorilla Glass), aluminum frame IP54 – splash, water & dust resistant |
Camera | Main: 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm Wide, OIS
50 MP, f/2.2, Ultrawide Features: LED Flash, panorama, HDR Video: 4K@30, 1080@30/60fps, Gyro-EIS, Live HDR Video: 1080@30fps |
Platform | OS: Android 13, Nothing OS 2
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) GPU: Adreno 730 |
Ram-ROM | 8GB RAM+128GB, 12GB+256GB, RAM, 12GB RAM+512GB |
Battery | 4,700, 45W Wired, 15W Wireless, 5W reverse Wireless |
Audio | Built‑in stereo speaker |
Features | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Colors | White, Dark Gray |
10. Verdict
Long story short, the Nothing Phone (2) showcases several notable improvements in their latest device. Despite being a relatively young company, the phone delivers flagship internals and introduces unique LED glyph stripes, adding a touch of innovation to the design. The upgraded battery is also a pleasant surprise, enhancing the overall user experience.
However, it would have been even more impressive if the phone featured the latest flagship chipset from Qualcomm, as it plays a significant role in performance and efficiency. Additionally, the absence of 4K recording for the front camera is a limitation that might disappoint some users, especially those who prefer better selfies.
One potential drawback to consider is the phone’s asking price, which might be on the higher side. Although the Nothing Phone (2) brings commendable improvements, the competitive market may present challenges in justifying its cost.
Get the Nothing Phone 2, if:
> You want a flagship processor;
> You adore a unique design with fancy lighting capabilities ;
> You want a bigger battery that has fast charging.
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Mohammad Shariful Islam is the CEO and MD of Apple Gadgets, a leading e-commerce and retail chain for gadgets in Bangladesh. He has a passion for technology, entrepreneurship, and holds a decade of experience in gadget E-Commerce. He’s committed to providing the best possible shopping experience for customers by delivering the latest and trendy gadgets.