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.
• Scheduled to go on sale starting 13 July 2023, Nothing Phone 2 price in India starts at ₹44,999 for the base variant.
• In this blog, we are sharing a quick Nothing Phone 2 hands-on first impression taking a closer look at its specs, hardware design, Glyph features, Nothing OS 2.0 and new features.

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 the real premium flagship device.

“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.

Before we get to our hands-on first impression, here’s a quick look at the key features.

Nothing Phone 2 – Key Features

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

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 – Price and Availability

The Nothing Phone price in India starts at Rs 44,999 for the base variant with 8GB RAM + 128 GB storage configuration.

Apart from this, Phone 2 will also be available in 12 GB RAM + 256 GB  and 12 GB RAM + 521 GB storage variants, which are priced at Rs 49,999 and Rs 54,999 respectively.

Phone 2 will be available in two colour options, White and Dark Grey colour variants.

Scheduled to go on sale starting 21 July 2023 in India on Flipkart.com, Nothing Phone 2 is currently available for pre-booking on Nothing’s website.

After months of speculations, the CEO of Nothing has finally confirmed that the Nothing Phone 2 is coming out in the US.

Since Phone 1 never enjoyed a full launch in North American countries, there were apprehensions in the market about Phone 2’s fate.

However, many leaks had already indicated that Phone 2 will be available in the US.

NOTHING PHONE 2 KEY SPECIFICATION

General

Performance

Display

Camera

Battery

Storage

Network & Connectivity

Multimedia

Sensors

FAQs

Q1. What country is nothing smartphone from?

Answer. Nothing Technology Limited (stylised as NOTHING) is a consumer electronics manufacturer based in London, England. It was founded by Carl Pei, the co-founder of the smartphone maker OnePlus.

Q2. What is the glyph in Nothing phones?

Answer. Glyph basically means symbols, So in the Nothing Phone 1, you’ll see the five symbols that light up bright and form different patterns, including 900 LED. In addition, you’ll also see the tiny red LED.

Q3. What is the purpose of Glyphs?

Answer. When you receive notifications on your Nothing Phone 1, the Glyph feature on the Nothing Phone 1 enables you to place the smartphone face down and send light signals. And let the users rely on this Glyph feature instead of sound and haptics. The menu also provides access to the Flip-to-Glyph feature, which was most recently added to the Nothing Phone 1. To signal notifications or an incoming call, it flashes the lights. You’ll need to move the phone slightly to see the LEDs showing wireless charging sessions and how much battery life remains.

Q4. Where do you use Glyphs?

Answer. You can use Glyph in calls, notifications, batteries, and cameras. In the Nothing Phone 1, you’ll get ten in-built ringtones that sync with the light and flash. And even you can set different ringtones for your contacts. Additionally, you can set custom ringtones with perfectly synced lights. Furthermore, you can also choose different ringtones for the notifications.

The Glyph interface can show a progress bar to indicate the smartphone’s charge level when you plug Nothing Phone 1 into the wall. As the Nothing Phone 1 battery charges, it gradually fills. Navigate to the Glyph interface’s settings. Turn on the Charging metre setting. In addition, you’ll also get wireless charging with reverse wireless charging.

Q5. How many phones did Nothing sell in India?

Answer. The Nothing Phone (1) sells over 100,000 units in India in only 20 days.

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