What is the Nothing Phone 1 and do you need it?
This intriguing phone has been seizing headlines, but is it worth the hype?
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It's rare for a manufacturer's very first smartphone to gain significant traction, but that's exactly what's going on with the Nothing Phone (1). Founded in 2021 by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, Nothing has just 1 product to its name, the Ear (1) earbuds. (Have you picked up on the minimalist aesthetic yet?)
The semi-transparent earbuds received positive reviews, and anticipation has been steadily building for the company's first smartphone venture. Let's take a look at what we know about the device, and whether it's likely to be worth your dollar.
Nothing Phone (1) release date
The Nothing Phone (1) will release in Australia on 21 July.
Nothing Phone (1) price
The pricing for the Nothing Phone (1)'s storage variants will be as follows:
- 8GB RAM/128GB SSD – $749
- 8GB RAM/256GB SSD – $799
- 12GB RAM/256GB SSD - $899
Nothing Phone (1) design
The phone's most arresting feature is its completely transparent back. Your mileage will vary when it comes to this concept, but when just about every competitor is doing everything they can to hide the shameful internal workings of their devices, there's certainly room for this bold, naked design.
Nothing has made the internal workings of the Phone (1) very easy on the eyes, with a sleek, futuristic aesthetic. It has accented these features with an element the company has dubbed "glyphs" – 900 LED lights run along elements like the rear camera module and wireless charging coil.
The glyphs will act as a notification feature, and you can choose what the glyphs react to. Out of the box, the glyphs react to the Phone (1)'s default ringtone in a synchronised manner. The glyphs also indicate battery life and can serve as photography lighting as well.
The Phone (1) features dimensions of 159.2/75.8/8.3mm.
Nothing Phone (1) specs
If you find the Phone (1)'s design a touch on the gimmicky side, you'll be keen to find out more about its nuts and bolts. Fans might be surprised and a little disappointed that Nothing has not opted for a flashy new Snapdragon 8 chipset, instead settling for a refined version of a generation 7 chip, the 778G+. That goes some way to explaining the device's modest price tag.
Models with a "+" symbol will feature wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support. The device features a 4,500mAh battery, which the company claims offers 18 hours of battery life with the ability to charge up to 50% in 30 minutes with the use of a quick-charger.
More excitingly, the device will offer a 120Hz AMOLED FHD+ display, a 50MP triple camera and 16MP selfie camera. The Phone (1) will not feature a wired headphone jack and will run on Nothing OS, which is essentially a reskin of the standard Android OS.
There's nothing overly offensive about the Phone (1)'s specs given the price, but it's clear a unique design will be the product's main selling point.
The verdict
We can compare and contrast specs between phones until we're blue in the face. But if you want an (early) answer to the question "Is the Nothing Phone (1) worth getting excited about?" the simple answer is yes. Sure, there are more high-powered alternatives available at the price point, but it's great to see a company stepping outside of the box and delivering a truly unique aesthetic experience with its very first smartphone.
With so many competitors looking to top one another, the one thing the smartphone world could do with more of is artistry. The Nothing Phone (1) looks to provide that in spades.
Smartphone deals
Not keen to wait on the Phone (1)? Here are some deals on smartphones you can cop right now.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 | $1,399 $549 (save $850)
Mobileciti is offering 61% off this brilliant cross between a tablet and a smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G | $1,549 $1,088 (save $461)
Head over to Mobileciti to cop a saving on this classic and still-elite smartphone.
OPPO Reno 4 5G | $799 $499 (save $300)
The OPPO Reno 4 has a 48MP quad camera to compete with the photography features of the Nothing Phone (1).
Motorola Razr Flip | $799 $545 (save $254)
This retro phone seamlessly blends the past and present to deliver an unforgettable experience.
Huawei Y6s | $299 $199 (save $100)
Mobileciti is offering this great value smartphone for an even bigger steal than usual. Take advantage of an 87% screen-to-body ratio and biometric unlock features.
Want even more savings? Head over to Sales Finder or check out today's top daily deals.