HIGHLIGHTS

* Nothing Phone 2 has been officially unveiled by CEO Carl Pei in a live broadcast featuring popular YouTuber Casey Neistat on 11 July 2023.
* Apart from a uniquely designed Nothing OS 2.0 and a new Glyph Interface, Nothing Phone 2 boasts a 6.7” flexible OLED display (LTPO), 12 GB RAM + Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 and 50-MP dual rear cameras.
* Nothing Phone (2) offers a 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection.
* The handset packs a 50MP Sony IMX890 camera and a 32MP selfie camera.
* It comes equipped with a 4700mAh battery and 45W fast charging support.

Nothing, earlier this month, launched the successor of last year’s Phone (1) – the Nothing Phone (2). The Nothing Phone (2) will be available for purchase for the first time today in the country.

Last year when the first Nothing Phone debuted, it promised something individualistic to a monotonous smartphone landscape.
 Many were quick to call Nothing’s design approach gimmicky even though the hype it generated was palpable.

Phone 1 was eventually appreciated for being a solid and reliable Android handset. Now, after exactly a year, Nothing Phone 2 is officially out this week and amidst all the hype it is time to take a closer look.

Nothing as a brand has a vibe that is both glam and futuristic. Phone 2 is a much more refined and higher resolution version of Phone 1 that gives significant upgrades across the board.

During the live-streamed keynote, CEO Carl Pei promises that Phone 2 is going to be thePhone 1 .

“With Phone 2, we deliver top-notch features while encouraging more intentional smartphone usage through hardware and software design innovation. A smartphone is a vital tool in our lives, but it has increasingly become a distracting force, making us less present and less creative,” said Pei during the live stream.

The new smartphone features a revamped Nothing OS 2.0, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, a powerful 50MP dual rear camera, and a stunning 6.7-inch OLED display with LTPO.

The display comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. It has a 4,700mAh battery that supports wired and wireless charging.
Phone 2 further incorporated up to 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of internal storage.

Phone 2 also features an enhanced Glyph Interface that has more LED segments to allow greater customizability and functionality. The Glyph Interface can now serve as a visual countdown, volume checker, timer, and progress tracker for third-party apps such as Uber or Zomato.

The OS 2.0 is based on Android 13. The brand has reworked the home and lock screen utility with widgets to access key functions without opening the apps.
The Nothing OS 2.0 also feature a new monochrome layout and an option to remove the app label.

Nothing Phone (2): Price in India, Launch Offers, and Availability

The Nothing Phone (2) price in India starts at Rs 44,999. Check out variant-wise pricing below,

* Phone (2) 8GB + 128GB – Rs 44,999
* Phone (2) 12GB + 256GB – Rs 49,999
* Phone (2) 12GB + 512GB – Rs 54,999

As a launch offer, Nothing is offering a flat Rs 3,000 discount with Axis Bank Debit and Credit Card transactions in today’s sale.
The smartphone will be available for purchase starting at 12:00 PM, today (July 21) exclusively via Flipkart.

Nothing Phone 2 – Key Features

* Display – 6.7-inch OLED Screen
* Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
* RAM – 12 GB
* Storage – 512 GB
* Rear Camera – Dual Setup – 50MP + 50 MP
* Front Camera – Single – 32MP
* Battery – 4700mAh
* OS – Android 13

Nothing Phone 2 – In-The-Box Contents

* Nothing Cable (c-c)
* Safety information and warranty card
* Screen protector (pre-applied)
* SIM tray ejector

Nothing Phone 2 – Design and Build Quality

The Phone 2 presents a much more refined and premium design compared to its predecessor. The flagship version also gets a significant number of upgrades across the board that impresses both on paper and in hand.

Despite being slightly thicker on paper, the Phone 2 cleverly utilizes design elements that give it a perceived thinner profile when held in hand.

With a thickness of 8.5mm, the Phone 2 surpasses Phone 1’s 8.3mm measurement but achieves a visual effect through thoughtful design choices that make it appear thinner.
Contributing to the Phone 2’s perceived thinness is the reduction of the aluminium mid-frame on the sides.

By reducing it by 1mm, Nothing has managed to create an illusion of slenderness, resulting in a sleek and elegant feel when holding the device.
This attention to detail is commendable as it not only enhances the aesthetics but also contributes to an improved user experience.

The 3D pillow glass at the back curves around the edges and instantly makes the phone look premium to look at.

The transparent design aesthetic, that we have previously seen in Nothing Buds and Nothing Phone 1, has now been extended to the Type-C cable bundled with the Nothing Phone 2.

The Type-C cable has a transparent middle part with Nothing branding inside. The Nothing Phone peripherals now adopting a similar design establishes the brand’s individualistic approach to positioning itself in the market.

Nothing Phone 2 – The Glyph Interface

Undoubtedly the most hyped aspect of the Nothng phone is the Glyph Interface since the first time it was introduced before the launch of Phone 1. This time, with Phone 2, we are getting a better design and a more capable Glyph interface.

The enhanced Glyph Interface has more LED segments to allow greater customizability and functionality. The Glyph Interface can now serve as a visual countdown and progress tracker for ride or delivery services.

It also offers additional functionalities such as a volume checker, and timer. When receiving a notification from selected contacts or apps, the top-right LED segment will remain on until it has been addressed.

The Glyph interface in Phone 2 has been redesigned. The new interface now has an extra number of LED segments compared to Phone 1.

The upgrades in design give it the ability to assign personalized light and sound sequences to contacts and apps. When receiving a notification from them, the top-right LED segment will remain on until addressed.

Nothing Phone 2 – Camera Hardware

The Nothing Phone 2 will have a 50-megapixel dual camera setup on the rear. The primary lens has been upgraded to IMX890 from the previous IMX766 used in Phone 1.

The Ultra-Wide lens, on the other hand, is Samsung ISOCELL GN1. On the front, you get a 32-megapixel sensor for selfies and video calls.
The front camera too has been upgraded to an IMX615, which is a 30 per cent larger sensor and can capture more light and field.

With Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip enabling camera processing, the Phone 2 gets an 18-bit ISP that captures over 4,000 times the camera data than the Phone 1’s 14-bit predecessor.

The phone is bringing an advanced HDR to address the over-exposure of images when in direct sunlight. The advanced HDR breaks the image into 8 frames of different exposure and then stitches them back together to get the best results.

There is a significant upgrade here from the 3-frame break out that the usual Phone 1 HDR was capable of.

The Nothing Phone 2 seems to have also addressed the issues most camera face in capturing moving subjects. The brand is introducing Motion Capture 2.0 which intelligently detects moving objects to ensure distorting-free and noise-free final images.

It supports 4K recording at 60fps on the main rear camera. The main lens also has EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). The front camera records at 1080p at 60fps.

Nothing Phone 2 – Processor and Nothing OS 2.0

Phone 2 will be equipped with the advanced Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, and feature Nothing OS 2.0 with a completely redesigned user interface.

8+ Gen 1 is a powerful processor for multitasking or gaming. It is definitely a significant upgrade enhance the overall performance of the Phone 2, making it capable of handling all types of tasks smoothly.

It operates on Nothing OS 2.0 based on Android 13. With an emphasis on functional customisation, Nothing OS 2.0 allows interactions with the smartphone to be more intentional and mindful.

Nothing has reworked the home and lock screen utility with widgets to access key functions without opening the apps. The Nothing OS 2.0 also feature a new monochrome layout and an option to remove the app label.

Moreover, the operating system also introduces several new features. From app labels to grid design to widget size, the latest iteration of Nothing’s Android skin lets you customise several aspects of the operating system.

The company also added new widgets that come with swipeable views and animations and can be added to the lock screen.

The Nothing OS 2.0 also uses the company’s distinctive dot matrix typeface for various UI elements in the Nothing Phone 2.

Many elements such as the headings inside the Settings app, the lock screen, the charging UI, and the custom home screen and lock screen widgets have distinctive Nothing matrix designs.

Nothing Phone 2  – Sustainability Initiatives

Nothing Phone 2 has achieved a 5 kg reduction of CO2, exemplifying Nothing’s ongoing commitment to sustainability across the years.
Phone 2 is one of the most sustainable smartphones as it is made with recyclable materials.

In fact, it will come in plastic-free packaging. Below are some of the sustainability initiatives adopted during the making of the phone –

* 100% recycled aluminium mid-frame, buttons, and SIM tray tip
* 80% of plastic parts are made from recycled and bio-based materials
* 100% recycled tin used on 9 circuit boards
* 100% recycled copper foils are used for the main board
* Over 90% recycled steel is used for all 28 steel stamping parts
* Zero waste from the assembling process ends up in landfills
* 100% renewable energy is used across the final assembly plant and the recycled aluminium production plant

Nothing Phone (2): Quick Specifications and Features

* Display: 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED display, 10-bit panel, Full HD+ (2412 × 1080 pixel) resolution, 394 ppi pixel density, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 1000 nits peak brightness, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, HDR10+, Corning Gorilla Glass protection

* Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with Adreno 730 GPU

* Memory and Storage: 8GB/ 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB/ 256GB/ 512GB UFS 3.1 internal storage

* Software: Nothing OS 2.0, based on Android 13. Eligible for Android 14, Android 15, and Android 16 updates.

* Cameras: 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with 1/1.56-inch sensor size and OIS, 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor with 114° field of view, ultra-wide-angle functionality, and 4cm macro shot support

* Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor

* Battery: 4700mAh

* Charging: 45W fast charging over USB Type-C port, 15W Qi wireless charging, 5W reverse wireless charging

* Audio: Stereo speaker setup, Type-C headphone jack

* Security: In-display fingerprint scanner, face unlock

* Others: IP54 splash resistant

* Dimensions: 162.1 × 76.4 × 8.6mm

* Weight: 201.2 grams

* Connectivity: Dual-SIM, 5G, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, QZSS, and NavIC,

* Colour Options: White, Dark Grey

Nothing Phone (2) Pros & Cons

Pros

• Presentation:- From the get go, the phone give you a premium feel by the unique and well designed packaging that the phone comes in.
  Apart from the actual phone inside you do also get a cable and sim ejector tool which stay true to its transparent/ look through apperance.
• Build:- The phone has a very premium to look at design and finish to it, it looks distinct and something that nobody else has to offer, mainly being the transparent back design and glyph interface which makes up its brand identity.

Holding and using the phone feels very solid too with the flat edge to edge display, metal rails and the ever so slightly curved back panel which makes it look good and feel more comfortable than the phone (1).
Although the phone does seem a little less dense that it seems when you do pick it up.

• Diplay:- Probably the part i enjoyed most while testing the device was it’s display. The flat amoled panel looks great with it’s symmetrical bezels and the tiny punch hole in the centre which is easy to forget about.

The display has vivid but realistic colour representation, the viewing angles are great with little to no colour shifting issues, it’s nice and snappy with the variable 120hz refresh rate, and it gets nice and bright with its 1600 nit brightness put in the sun.

For what it is, there doesn’t seem to be much I’d want more from a display in this class. I would like to see even slimmer bezels all around the next time though.

• Haptics:- The phone seems to have an x-axis haptic motor which does a great job at feeling tight and fast in its response.

I also loved the integration of these Haptics in many areas especially the glyph paired ones which work very well with the lighting patterns at the back.
The only thing I would like to improve is the strength as it has room for improvement.

• Battery Life:- The phone with it’s more efficient yet powerful chipset and a larger cell size from its predecessor provides a better experience in terms of battery life.

With mixed usage of WiFi and mobile data and also using the camera app for quite some time paired with YouTube and internet browsing, I was more than comfortable in getting a full day of use with 10-15% still in the tank.
Safe to say it’s very difficult to kill it in one single day of use.

• Performance:- The phone comes with last year’s flagship chip (SD 8+gen1) and it’s a beast of a performer, not only does it fly through daily tasks like watching videos or social media apps, it also has no problems in running heavy games at high settings with ease and very few frames are dropped.
  All in all a very solid performer and this level of performance is more than enough for most of the people.
• Notable, Incredible, Upgraded Glyph interface:- Yes, it’s a gimmick for the most part but it is what makes this phone unique and nothing have integrated it in a much better manner than the phone (1) for it to be more useful and like to see more functionality moving forward.
  For the most part though, it’s more of a fashion statement than a feature and i don’t mind that.

Cons

• Cameras:- Being a big camera enthusiast, I love testing phone cameras out and this one sadly didn’t impress me quite as much.
  For what the phone’s asking price is, i expected better camera hardware and software to be implemented. For the good, the camera does seem to have good stabilization and noise reduction, but apart from those two things, it’s a mix bag.

The HDR for starters is a big hit or miss, and even when it does hit, it’s not very good at it and i consistently get blown out highlights, and a weird big that i detected was when shooting into a bright source of light, the processing seems to spawn dark black bands in the photo out of nowhere.

Secondly even though the noise reduction on surface seems good in daylight situations, the moment light starts to go down, there is a huge dip in the quality as the phone resorts to extreme smoothening which sacrifices a lot of details in the process, this is very evident when you zoom into pictures.

There also seems to be quite a white balance difference between the main and ultrawide sensors which is still solved by software in photos, but videos do suffer quite a bit from it.
The night mode for the most part is satisfactory except, I’d want to have a manual toggle to switch it on in some instances and also when the auto night mode does trigger, it consistently produces crushed shadows.

The video department is where it needs most improvement, the HDR is botched with blown highlights and extreme smoothening at night. When I did turn on the HDR video mode, it sacrificed a lot of detail and didn’t really do much in preserving the highlights or shadows.
I would’ve also liked to see a dedicated telephoto module for the price.

• Speakers:- Even thought it has a sterio sound setup and does get decently loud, the highs and lows are very weak with the kids being very dominant. The high pitched sounds are mushed in the vocals and the bass is almost non existent even at the max volume.
• Call quality:- The microphones do a good job at cancelling the noise in the background but the earpiece itself isn’t very loud and clear to listen to and i couldn’t understand a single word from the other end when I was out in live music event.
• Charging speed:– Even thought it has a new and improved 45w support, the phone still takes just under an hour to fully charge which again is an area where many other smartphones have improved a lot and can do the same thing in half the time with ease. I’d like to see 65w support the next time around.
• Fingerprint scanner:- The two main gripes i have with the scanner are its location and speed.
  It’s placed way too low and I didn’t seem to get used to it, and secondly it’s not the fastest one out there with me having to press for quite some time and that too in a very specific way and area for it to read my finger.
• Pricing:- The phone starts at 45k which is a lot to ask for in the Indian market that too for a brand as new as nothing.
  Even though they have made many improvements in the second iteration, it would’ve been better to price it around the 40k mark for it to be much more competitive as there are many more well known brands under 50k which people know more about.

The Nothing Phone 2 is a flagship device that impresses with its thoughtful design, powerful hardware, and optimized software, delivering a high-quality smartphone experience across various aspects.

Behind all the fancy and glitter, it is a device that caters to the needs of tech enthusiasts and offers a premium smartphone experience.

Starting with its design, the Phone 2 showcases a refined aesthetic with a slim profile and uniform texture, complemented by the 3D pillowed glass at the back, giving it an elegant and visually balanced appearance.

Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and ample 12 GB of RAM provide blazing-fast performance and smooth multitasking capabilities, ensuring seamless navigation through applications and intense gaming experiences.

The 6.7-inch OLED screen with HDR10+ certification offers vibrant and immersive visuals, supported by the impressive 50 MP + 50 MP dual camera setup, which captures stunning photos with rich details. The 32 MP front camera further enhances the selfie-taking experience.

In summary, the Nothing Phone 2 impresses with its unique design aesthetic, powerful hardware, exceptional display, advanced camera capabilities, generous storage capacity, reliable battery performance, and user-friendly software.

Buy Nothing Phone 2 For

* Fluid OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
* Improved Camera
* Additional Glyph Functionalities like third-party integrations
* Decent battery capacity with fast wired, wireless, reverse wireless charging
* Great low-light camera performance
* Clean UI

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