Nothing, the company from the former co- founder of OnePlus, is finally ready to reveal its first smart device, and it is an ambitious one. It is trying to get into the world of phones. Nothing resembles the Nothing Phone 1.
The Phone 1 looks either good or bad. Regardless of whether you pick up the white or the black model, the back of the phone is a transparent Gorilla Glass slab that lets you see an array of components.
The phone is only a couple of days old, but I have already noticed some clever design choices and features in both the hardware and software. Flagship phone obsessives that like spicy spec sheets may be underwhelmed. This is the first phone from a new company and it is focused on other things.
The Phone 1 has been seen as a playful reinterpretation of the phone, a category that has become boring. Not competing with flagship cameras, screens and processors has ensured the price is reasonable, starting at $389. Sadly, there is no plan for US availability, but the price puts it in the mid-range phone category, along with the likes of Apple and Google.
Light-up details on the back of the phone are the most eye-catching. The interface is not called the glyph interface. It isn't just an eye-catching design choice, it's mostly that.
Different light patterns can be assigned to specific contacts, as well as different app notifications. The brightness is too aggressive at max power. The charging status of the phone is represented by the light up strip. You won't need to wake the device to check the battery level. The Glyph Interface can be used to light close-up subjects without using a flash.
A red indicator light has been added to the Glyph interface, which is a retro touch. The white panels underneath the Gorilla Glass backing are similar to the design of the Nothing Ear wireless charging buds case. It has a resemblance to the family.
The frame is made of recycled aluminum and the flat edges make it feel like an Apple device. The Phone 1 has a small but noticeable amount of space around its screen. The screen is responsive and bright so far.
It's a curse of a gorilla glass shell that both the screen and the back will pick up fingerprints very easily.
The phone is powered by a processor. The Phone 1 can offer wireless charging thanks to the custom twist on the chip we have seen in other devices. A Nothing spokesman told me that Nothing has its own custom app-optimization strategies that should be used on the device.
The Phone 1 has 33W fast-charging to top up the 4,500 mAH battery, and can also reverse charge up to 5W, which is perfect for the Nothing Ear buds.
The cameras are an important Spec. The phone has a dual-camera system with a 50-megapixel primary camera. 120 frames-per-second slow-mo video capture and more are included in this. Digital zoom is thrown in if you're desperate.
The primary shooter has an ultra wide camera with a 114 degree field of view. There is also a front-facing 16-megapixel selfies camera. There is an in-screen reader for fingerprints. Expect us to give some more meaningful insights on the camera in our review, coming soon, but for now, early samples suggest that the cameras are pretty capable, offering image quality that wasn't too far off flagships.
I am pleasantly surprised that the phone seems to be capable on the first glance. It's eye-catching and the price is tempting. It will be interesting to see how it fares against the other competitors.
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