What is Nothing Phone 1? Rival with the iPhone? Should you buy one? I’ve been trying out the new phone and have really enjoyed it, from its flashing “glif” LED to its affordable price. My full thoughts on the phone can now be found in our Nothing Phone 1 review, but here I will do a full explanation of what Nothing and this phone really are. While the U.S. lack of availability at launch is disappointing, this phone is an interesting mid-range model for those who want something a little different from Apple, Samsung, or Google devices.
Here, then, is what you need to know about this first phone from the technology startup Nothing, including its price, when you can buy it and, above all, if it is good.
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What is Nothing?
Nothing is a technology brand started in 2020 by entrepreneur Carl Pei. He was one of the founders of OnePlus, a company that offers phones and other devices and is known for making solid products with good specifications at prices that are usually lowered by rivals Apple and Samsung.
It was precisely this philosophy that transformed OnePlus from a small niche business to a top-tier technology brand with products that offer serious competition to the best out there.
The Nothing Phone 1 (left) and the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon / CNET
Pei left OnePlus to start his new business, Nothing. While I can’t say I’m a big fan of the name, Pei’s philosophy of trying to make things a little different from those of rivals should make it an interesting brand to watch out for.
What’s so exciting about the Nothing Phone?
But who cares who’s behind the company if the product itself has nothing to call it? Fortunately, the Nothing Phone 1 has some good features to look forward to.
See the transparent back of the Nothing Phone 1, flashing glyph
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Its design is where it really stands out. The back has a clear cover that exposes the interiors and makes you feel like you’re looking at the heart of the phone. You can see where different pieces are connected, you can see exposed screw heads and the only brand is the subtle Nothing logo and the little red dot, which is the brand’s signature.
But it improves. Some of these pieces that are seen under the cover are actually LEDs that light up in what Nothing calls a “glyph” when you receive incoming notifications. Sure, this is a novelty, but it is certainly a pretty funny peculiarity of this phone.
The illuminated “glyph” makes the phone stand out.
Andrew Lanxon / CNET
At the back you’ll also find a dual camera setup with standard, ultra-wide vision. The phone is wrapped in a metal band that looks and feels nice, while the 6.55-inch OLED screen is vibrant and sharp. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G + processor should be more than capable of meeting your daily needs while giving you access to this super fast 5G network.
It’s an Android phone at its heart, with the latest Android 12 on which Nothing has taken a look at a neat and cluttered interface that does not preload any nonsense that can slow things down. Then there are features like fingerprint scanning on the screen, IP58 water resistance, a screen refresh rate of 120 Hz and fast charging, all this makes this phone feel amazing full of features for its price.
How much does the Nothing Phone 1 cost?
One of the most interesting things about this phone is its affordable price. It costs £ 399 in the UK. This places him firmly in the lower mid-range price range, which to be honest surprised me when I first heard him. The specs look very solid. And with so much attention to design, I expected a price of perhaps a hundred pounds more. So get a decent performance phone at a good price. On paper, at least.
The transparent back looks great and there is only one very subtle brand of Nothing to look at.
Andrew Lanxon / CNET
The US price is not confirmed, as far as I can tell, but this £ 399 price goes straight to $ 475 (or AU $ 700), which puts it at around the same price as the 2022 iPhone SE (429 dollars) or the next, in the US. Google Pixel 6A only ($ 449).
When can I buy the Nothing Phone 1?
The phone was launched on Tuesday in the UK and Europe first. There is currently no firm plan on when it could have a proper launch in the United States. It is likely to happen, however, perhaps once Nothing finds an operator to partner with to help make its 5G bands compatible.
We’ll provide you with US availability updates as soon as they happen.
The phone runs on Android 12.
Andrew Lanxon / CNET
Is the phone the first product of Nothing?
The Phone 1 is probably the most prominent and exciting product that Nothing has released, but its first product was a set of headphones that it launched last year called Nothing Ear 1. It can certainly be said that they are from same team. There is a defined aesthetic shared between the products, with the same transparent elements that show the internal operation.
Like the phone, the buds were released at a more reasonable price, but they still offered pretty decent overall performance which made them worth considering if you didn’t like splashing out Apple’s headphones. If you have the Nothing Buds and you love the unusual look, you will almost certainly appreciate the phone.
It has a dual camera setup with standard and ultra wide viewing.
Andrew Lanxon / CNET
Should I buy the Nothing Phone 1?
There will always be a lot of fanfare and public relations and marketing nonsense around a new company. And certainly part of Nothing’s rhetoric around “more soul,” “brave simplicity,” and a “new way to communicate” is certainly a bit pretentious. But aside from all the nonsense of the company, the actual product looks pretty good.
It has a solid set of specifications and a scaled interface. While its design may not be to everyone’s taste, it certainly stands out from the crowd. Personally, I think it’s great.
But it is this affordable price that I think makes the phone so attractive. The Phone 1 does not attempt to compete with the iPhone 13 Pro or the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Instead, it aims to offer a decent overall experience for a much more affordable price for those of us who are tightening the strings of the bag.
We are testing the phone right now for full review, putting the processor, camera and other features in its step to see how well it performs in front of the competition and if it is really worth your money.