Nothing Phone 1 with dual 50MP cameras, Glyph interface; first impressions, issues and updates

Nothing Phone 1 smartphone review

The Nothing Phone 1 has been released in several markets, including India, as per official sources. After generating a lot of buzz and several teasers, the smartphone has finally made its global debut. This marks the first-ever smartphone from the tech firm headquartered in London. The unique design of the Nothing Phone 1 features a transparent back panel that is not very popular. Additionally, the Glyph interface, which is one-of-a-kind, uses LED stripes located on the back of the device. Also Read – Amazfit Bip3 and Bip 3 Pro smartwatch battery life and other detail review

Nothing Phone 1 is finally here... Smartphone market gets a new unique handset after a long time
Nothing Phone 1 is finally here, Smartphone market gets a new unique handset after a long time

It allows the users to choose unique light patterns for notifications and more. Nothing Phone 1 sports a 6.55-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Regarding other vital features, the Nothing smartphone gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ processor, a dual 50MP rear camera, and a 4500mAh battery with 33W fast charging. Also Read – Apple iOS 15, iPadOS 15 features leaked online: New homescreen for iPad, smarter notification for iPhone

Nothing Phone 1 price in India

The all-new Nothing Phone 1 price in India starts at Rs 32999 for the base variant featuring the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage option. Another Phone 1 model with 8GB RAM and 256GB onboard storage is priced at Rs 35999. In contrast, the top-end variant comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, priced at Rs 38999.

The Nothing Phone 1 is available in two color options – Black and White. Furthermore, the smartphone is available for purchase exclusively on Flipkart India. Also Read – Amazon Prime Video UI revamped with dedicated Sports Tab, more user-friendly interface

The India price for the Nothing Phone 1 smartphone starts at Rs 32999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM
India price for the Phone 1 starts at Rs 32999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM
  • Discounted Price

In India, the London-based smartphone company sells this premium segment mobile at a discounted price. Meanwhile, the base edition of the Nothing Phone 1 with 8GB RAM and 128GB inbuilt storage is currently available for Rs 31999. At the same time, the Nothing Phone with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage costs Rs 34999. The top-end Phone 1 model with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage is now priced at Rs 37999.

  • Launch offers

Previously, the business offered the Nothing Phone 1 for pre-order. Customers who pre-order the Nothing Phone 1 will receive an immediate discount of Rs 2000 with HDFC Bank cards, which will be combined with 3 and 6 months of EMI. Additionally, an exchange offer is offered for select devices. Also Read – Microsoft Paint app for Android

The company also launched the 45W Nothing Power Adapter along with the Nothing Phone 1 smartphone
The company also launched the 45W Nothing Power Adapter along with the smartphone

Other Nothing products

Other Nothing products include a Rs 1000 immediate discount on the 45W Nothing Power Adapter. The Nothing Phone 1 45W Power Adapter is now available for Rs 1499 after the discount. Customers who pre-order Nothing 1 may get the Nothing Ear 1 TWS earbuds for Rs 5999. These smartphones are normally priced at Rs 2499 and Rs 6999.

Nothing Phone 1 specifications

The Nothing Phone 1 is a dual-SIM (Nano) smartphone that ships with the Android 12 operating system. It has a Full-HD+ OLED display of 6.55 inches. The display offers a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a 1080*2400 pixels resolution. Furthermore, the Nothing Phone 1 includes Corning Gorilla Glass screen and back protection.

Other display-related capabilities on the Nothing Phone 1 include HDR 10+ support. The display has a pixel density of 402ppi and a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits. Also Read – Realme 9 5G phone specifications surface online ahead of official launch

An octa-core Snapdragon 778G+ processor powers the Nothing Phone 1 Smartphone
An octa-core Snapdragon 778G+ processor powers the latest Nothing Smartphone
  • Mid-Range Snapdragon Processor

The newest Nothing smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC. The chipset supports up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM. This newest Phone 1 smartphone includes up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. Furthermore, because its internal storage does not permit expansion, there is no room for a microSD card slot. Also Read – New Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch, Samsung Galaxy 4 Watch battery life

  • Flagship Grade Dual Camera Setup

For optics, the Nothing Phone 1 sports a dual rear camera arrangement with two 50MP sensors. The primary 50MP camera here uses a Sony IMX766 sensor and an f/1.88 aperture lens. Along with Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), this first camera sensor supports Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) (EIS).

The secondary lens is a Samsung JN1 with 50MP and a popular camera sensor. It has an ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture. Electronic Image Stabilization is also available for the secondary sensor (EIS). It features a field of view (FoV) of 114 degrees and a macro mode. Also Read – Xiaomi 12 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 launched in India; first impressions

The latest Nothing Phone 1 smartphone features a dual 50MP rear camera setup with an LED Flash
The latest Phone 1 smartphone features a dual 50MP rear camera setup with an LED Flash

Aside from these camera characteristics, this phone includes a slew of camera capabilities like as Panorama, Night Mode, Portrait Mode, Scene Detection, Extreme Night Mode, and Expert Mode. The Nothing Phone 1’s front camera is a respectable 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor with an f/2.45 aperture lens. It can take nice selfies and is useful for video calls.

  • Connectivity

In terms of connection, the Nothing Phone 1 includes all of the required possibilities. 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6 Direct, Bluetooth v5.2, NFC, GPS/A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, and a USB Type-C connector are among the connection choices on the newest Nothing smartphone. An accelerometer, electronic compass, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, and proximity sensor are among the sensors on board.  Also Read – Mercedes Benz electric concept car and its interior design

Nothing Phone 1 camera sample in a daylight condition on fully bright day
The Nothing Phone 1 camera sample in a daylight condition on fully bright day
  • Battery and Software Features

The Nothing Phone 1 has an in-display fingerprint sensor for device security, which works perfectly 10 out of 10 times. The new Nothing smartphone has a 4500mAh battery and supports 33W rapid cable charging. This smartphone also supports 15W Qi wireless charging and 5W reverse charging. Nothing in the description indicates that it will provide three years of Android upgrades and four years of bi-monthly security fixes.

  • Other Features

Another feature of the Nothing Phone 1 is facial recognition, which works even when wearing a face mask. Furthermore, this Nothing smartphone is dust and water resistant to IP53 standards. The smartphone includes twin stereo speakers as well as three microphones for audio. A Glyph interface lets users to customize the lighting effects on the smartphone’s back for certain contacts and notifications.

Nothing Phone 1 first impressions

Flagship smartphones always come with a lot of hype and fanbase. Nowadays, we can see a similar hype for mid-range smartphones as well. Similar is the case with the recently launched Nothing Phone, the first phone from the Carl Pei-owned Nothing Technology. Also Read – Fossil sport watch interchangeable band set

The all-new Nothing Phone 1 is one of the most hyped smartphone of the year
The new Nothing Phone 1 is one of the most hyped smartphones of the year

This is one of the most hyped and awaited smartphones, featuring a plethora of luxury features. We feel that the buzz around this smartphone is primarily due to the company’s CEO, Carl Pei. As a OnePlus user, I have identical hopes for the Nothing Phone 1. The Nothing Phone has finally arrived, following several months of leaks and speculations. Also Read – Fitbit Charge 2 straps, Amazfit Bip U Series straps

Nothing Phone appears to offer a clean and basic Android experience at first glance. However, the inclusion of its distinctive hardware and a Glyph interface twist elevates it to the level of a premium-grade mid-range smartphone. Before we get into the specifics, let’s have a look at the brand-new Nothing Phone 1.

Nothing Phone 1: Unboxing

This premium Nothing Phone 1 comes inside a slim White/Black themed box packaging. The retail box gets a print of a cropped image of the back of the smartphone. Nothing Phone 1 is available in two distinct color variants – Black and White. These Black and White versions of the smartphone come inside color-matched boxes. Also Read – Android 11 update for Samsung Galaxy A51

Nothing Phone 1 smartphone retail box and box contents including a mobile unit, a SIM Tray ejector pin and USB Type-C to Type-C cable with some documents
Phone 1 retail box and box contents including a mobile unit, a SIM Tray ejector pin and USB Type-C to Type-C cable with some documents

While digging inside the retail box, we get the Phone 1, a safety guide, and other documentation. The box packaging also gets a USB Type-C to Type-C cable and one cool-looking SIM ejector tool. As expected, the Nothing Phone 1 box package has no charger bundled with the smartphone. Furthermore, the Nothing will be selling the Nothing Phone 1 clear case separately.

As previously said, the 33W Nothing fast charger is available only on Flipkart for Rs 1499. Furthermore, the London-based smartphone business is offering pre-order consumers discounts on the smartphone. Also Read – OnePlus 10 Pro latest mobile phone price

A good quality TPU Clear case for the Nothing Phone 1 smartphone, which needs to be purchased seperately
A good quality TPU Clear case for the Phone 1, which needs to be purchased separately

Nothing Phone 1: Design

Now, let’s take about the unique design and the back panel on the Nothing Phone 1. The London-based smartphone company has already showcased the 3D look of the Phone 1 on Flipkart before the official launch. Nothing has been using this design as its marketing material. This Nothing (1) is made of recyclable Aluminum with over 50% degradable plastic components, leading the industry as one of the most environmentally friendly smartphones.

To be honest, the Phone 1’s transparent back panel design is stunning. The smartphone has symmetrical bezels, which add to the handset’s elegance. The Phone 1’s back is without a doubt its most eye-catching feature. We admire how well the smartphone components have been organized.

We like the White color option of the Nothing Phone 1. The Glyph interface on the Black edition is very appealing. Furthermore, the Nothing Phone 1’s frame is made of aluminum. Also Read – Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum cleaner in India; initial review

The all-new Nothing Phone 1 smartphone comes with an aluminium frame sandwiched inside the glass body
The all-new Nothing Phone comes with an aluminum frame sandwiched between the glass body

Glyph Interface

The transparent panel on the Nothing Phone 1 isn’t just for show; it serves a purpose. Nothing Phone has innovative features like LED-infused illumination that responds to notifications, alarms, and phone calls. The company named this the Glyph interface. Underneath the transparent back panel, there are a series of light strips. Nothing calls this the Glyph Interface.

Furthermore, the smartphone makers have created a dedicated menu in the software for this Glyph Interface. This menu can set different light patterns for ringtones and notifications. Each glyph has a distinctive sound, a collection of pings and chirps with retro-techno titles like “squiggle” and “isolator.”

While the phone is charging, the Glyph Interface will monitor the battery level. This Glyph Interface will also provide illumination for the back cameras on the newest Nothing Phone 1. Also Read – Mercedes Benz GLB, EQB electric SUVs launched in India; starts at Rs 63.8 lakhs

The all unique Glyph Interface while the Nothing Phone 1 smartphone is charging
The all-unique Glyph Interface while the smartphone is charging

This one-of-a-kind interface will also instill in users the habit of placing their phone face-down on a flat surface. The Glyph lights are really brilliant. We may, however, change the brightness of the light. Some of the flashing patterns, in our opinion, are rather distracting. After utilizing Phone 1 for a longer length of time, the comprehensive review on this Glyph Interface will be released. Remember that we need to use this smartphone with or without a case to view the Glyph lights.

Nothing Phone: Physical Design

Being a premium mid-range smartphone, the Nothing Phone has an excellent design. The flat aluminum frame is smooth, and the rounded edges make it comfortable for the users to hold the smartphone for extended periods. Even though it weighs 193.5 grams, the Nothing Phone 1 is 8.3mm thick and feels lightweight. The Nothing Phone has very flat sides and rounded corners overall. Nothing Phone’s design is inspired on the Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series. Also Read – Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (2021) spotted on SIG website, to launch soon

A close-up looks the LED stripes on the rear side of the Nothing Phone 1 smartphone
A close-up looks the LED stripes on the rear side of the Phone 1, can be used as flash while clicking pictures in darker situation

The volume and power buttons provide excellent tactile feedback. Volume rockers and power buttons are located on opposing sides of the display, allowing consumers to use the smartphone with one hand. The bottom edge has the dual-SIM tray slot, a USB Type-C connection for charging and data transfer, and a speaker grille. The upper earpiece functions as a supplementary speaker with stereo sound output.

Phone 1 with OLED display

On the display front, Nothing Phone 1 sports a bright and crisp 6.55-inch display. This display produces excellent colors, all thanks to its OLED display. The OLED display gets 10-bit color depth. It comes with Full-HD+ resolution along with a 120Hz variable refresh rate.

According to our observations, this Phone 1 provides one of the greatest multimedia experiences. Meanwhile, video playback and web streaming worked well. Colors and contrast are abundant in the output photos and movies on display. Also Read – Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey donates Rs 110 crores to help India fight COVID-19 second wave

The latest Nothing Phone 1 smartphone comes with a bright crisp 6.5-inch OLED display with Full-HD+ screen resolution
The latest Nothing smartphone comes with a bright crisp 6.5-inch OLED display with Full-HD+ screen resolution

A capacitive in-display fingerprint sensor is also included with the smartphone. This fingerprint sensor performs admirably. In addition, this monitor supports HDR10+ playback. The average luminance is 500 nits. During the launch ceremony, the business claimed that the peak brightness could reach up to 1200 nits. The Phone 1 also has Corning Gorilla Glass protection on the front and rear. Such characteristics make this smartphone an ideal alternative for around Rs 40000.

Performance on the Phone 1

An octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ chipset powers the latest Nothing Phone 1. This chip is one of the powerful 5G processors seen on other phones like Motorola Edge 30. The smartphone is available in three RAM/ Storage configurations and comes up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Also Read – Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G edition with Snapdragon processor to launch soon

The performance with Snapdragon 778G+ is highly optimized
The performance with Snapdragon 778G+ is highly optimized on the latest smartphone

For the best gaming experience, the Phone 1 also comes with Game Mode, which matches the sound to graphics for a more fluid and continuous immersive experience. With this Game Mode on, the notifications and other unintentional taps can be minimized. Also Read – Redmi Note 10T 5G, another rebranded smartphone to launch soon in India

Battery life on Nothing Phone

The Phone 1 packs in 4500mAh battery with support for up to 33W USB PD fast wired charging. Furthermore, the mid-range smartphone also offers 15W wireless charging support and 5W reverse wireless charging. Wireless charging is one of the most premium features, relatively rare in this mid-range price segment, and this feature will make this smartphone stand ahead of its competitors. Also Read – Xiaomi Amazfit Bip 3 series hybrid smartwatch review

The handset packs in 4500mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support, also supports reverse wireless charging
The all-new Phone 1 packs in 4500mAh battery with both wired and wireless charging support, also supports reverse wireless charging

Camera Review

Nothing’s cameras haven’t gone bonkers like those of other smartphone manufacturers. The Phone 1 packs in dual rear cameras with high-quality sensors. This primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) support.

Furthermore, the secondary camera is a 50MP image sensor with a Samsung JN1 sensor. The secondary camera gets a 114-degree field of view, which is helpful while wide-angle photography. Nothing Phone uses more innovative technologies like Scene Detection and more. Also Read – Poco X3, Poco M2 Pro, Poco M2, Poco C3 and other devices for MIUI 12 update based on Android 11

Regarding configuration, the Nothing smartphone gets a similar set of camera sensors as the OnePlus 10 Pro. The secondary sensor also doubles as a macro sensor. Regarding videography, the Phone 1 sports 4K video recording at 60fps. The video output offers a crystal-clear experience. The smartphone camera also comes with Live HDR support. It produces some natural highlights and shadows.

A portrait mode camera sample with HDR Auto
A portrait mode camera sample with HDR Auto on the latest Phone 1

This phone is well-equipped for the ordinary photographer. Still, not the best when compared to all the other Androids on the market. The selfie camera on the Phone 1 is a 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor, and this sensor is also present on plenty of OnePlus flagship smartphones.

IP rating on Nothing Phone

Nothing Phone 1 is dust and water resistant, with an IP53 grade. This indicates that the most recent smartphone is resistant to mild spills and dust. An IP certification is becoming increasingly important in mid-range smartphones these days. Also Read – MIUI 12 Based on Android 11 for Poco, Xiaomi, Redmi: List of devices

The latest mobile comes with Nothing OS which offers nearly stock like experience with no bloatware
The Phone 1 comes with Nothing OS which offers nearly stock like experience with no bloatware

New Nothing OS with Android 12

The all-new Nothing Phone 1 runs on the latest Nothing OS. It is pretty much stock Android 12 with few tweaks such as a new custom icon pack, extra wallpapers, and widgets. Some custom ringtones and notification tones work well with the Glyph Interface. During the launch event, the Nothing promised to provide three years of Android updates and four years of security patches bi-monthly.

Nothing OS is a free, open operating system that lets you connect your smartphone to nearly any device. For instance, you can use your Nothing Phone to check the AirPods, Nothing Ear 1‘s battery, turn lights on and off, and much more. It can also work with other portable Alexa or Google Assistant-based devices.

Phone1 will get three years of major Android updates and four years of bi-monthly Android security updates
The Phone 1 will get three years of major Android updates and four years of bi-monthly Android security updates

Nothing OS is quicker, more stable, and decreases latency, allowing you to use your apps faster than regular Androids. The smartphone learns your app preferences and loads your most-used apps faster than unused apps that are frozen to save battery and prevent waste.

Nothing Phone: Issues

Many Nothing users complained about the Phone 1 green tint issue. However, this issue is limited to a handful of customers. Earlier this week, a Nothing Phone user took to social media to complain about the green tint issue on the screen. He further adds that he noticed dead pixels near the hole-punch cutout. Responding to his problem, the spokesperson noted that a factory reset would fix the problems with the Nothing Phone 1 display. Also Read – Windows 11 operating system-based MS Paint for iPhone

Green tint issue on the recently launched handset
Green tint issue on the recently launched Nothing smartphone
  • Green Tint issue

Earlier this week, a few users shared short videos on social media mentioning a green tint on the Nothing 1 screen. Some even claimed that the green tint issue also plagued their replacement handsets on the screen. A small number of them also reported dead pixels near the Nothing Phone 1’s hole-punch camera cutout. Later, the Nothing also mentioned this problem in their post. Also Read – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 could skip on S-Pen Silo

A spokesperson for Nothing also stated that some customers were able to resolve the issue of green tint on the Nothing Phone 1 by performing a factory reset. “We advised some customers to perform a factory reset, which resolved the issue.” If the problem persists for some users, we encourage them to contact our Customer Support team, and a replacement will be provided,” the spokesperson said.

Nothing Phone 1: Software Update

Recent reports show Nothing Phone 1’s first ever OTA update brings multiple bug fixes and improvements. The update is 93.81MB in size and is rolled out globally. This update brings optimization to the battery life of the smartphone. Furthermore, the new OTA update also improves the sound effects and the Glyph Interface. In terms of camera features, it also adds HDR10+ support to the camera app. The HDR update is also available for portrait mode and night scenes. Also Read – Fossil Android Wear battery stats with big watch face

The company has pushed a new Android update with July security patch, firmware version S1.1-220716-0150
Nothing has pushed a new Android update with July security patch, firmware version S1.1-220716-0150
  • What is in the new Android update?

With this new update, users can expect refinement in fingerprint reading and unlocking. Besides this, the new update also fixes some other bugs. On July 20, 2022, the London-based smartphone company launched another OTA update with July 2022 Android security patch. This update comes with firmware version S1.1-220716-0150. Furthermore, the update weighs 117MB in size, bringing several new features and camera improvements to the smartphone.

Final Verdict

The Nothing Phone 1 is a solid mid-range smartphone offering decent hardware and premium features. The inclusion of wireless charging provides an edge over the competition, and we found the Glyph Interface system bit more of a gimmick. Besides having suitable hardware, the Nothing Phone has to provide good after-sales service to compete with other well-established players in the market. During the launch event, the Nothing confirms that it has service centers across 220+ cities in India. Also Read – Microsoft rolls out revamped Windows Stock App

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