Last year, Nothing introduced their first smartphone, the Nothing Phone 1, which caught the attention of many.
Now, they’re back with the Nothing Phone 2, and while it may not be as revolutionary as its predecessor, it’s still incredibly impressive.
Leading up to the big reveal, Nothing’s marketing campaign gave us some glimpses of the stunning design of Phone 2. Marques Brownlee even got an exclusive first look, showcasing the updated glyph interface and signature transparent case.
While the design may not have undergone a drastic change, the Phone 2 now sports 33 individually controllable LED pieces in its glyph, compared to the 12 in the previous model.
This allows for more precise updates, including a volume indicator, a glyph timer, and support for third-party features.
Similar to the Nothing Phone 1, the Phone 2 uses a white LED exclamation point near the USB-C port to indicate charging progress. Speaking of charging, the Phone 2 comes with a transparent USB cable, a small but thoughtful detail.
Before launching the Nothing Phone 1, the company’s founder, Carl Pei, who also co-founded OnePlus, generated excitement around the phone’s camera performance by sharing unfiltered photos taken with it.
The Phone (2) camera is turning out to be pretty good. Other brands use pro photographers or even pretend DSLR photos are shot on phones.
— Carl Pei (@getpeid) July 3, 2023
To keep things real, I encourage everyone testing the Phone (2) to share unfiltered images right now.
I'll go first. 📸 #NothingPhone2 pic.twitter.com/cEUQaFlkPq
He has taken a similar approach with the Phone 2, encouraging reviewers to share photos captured directly from the device ahead of the launch.
The image quality looks promising, and the Phone 2 carries on the tradition of Pei’s time at OnePlus by featuring the same 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 main camera sensor found in the OnePlus 11.
The Phone 1 also had two 50-megapixel rear cameras, but they used Sony IMX766 sensors instead.
The IMX890 offers improved dynamic range and performs better in low-light conditions compared to the IMX766. Additionally, it can output video at its full resolution of up to 30 frames per second, a capability the IMX766 lacks.
The sensor can also record 8K video at 24fps and 4K at up to 60fps.
The secondary 50-megapixel camera, which is an ultrawide camera, appears to be the same in the Phone 2 as it was in the Phone 1, featuring a 114-degree field of view.
The front-facing camera has been upgraded from a 16-megapixel selfie camera in the Phone 1 to a 32-megapixel selfie camera with electronic image stabilization.
Improvements have also been made to the Phone 2’s image processing. It captures a significantly higher amount of data compared to the Phone 1, which enables Nothing to implement advanced algorithms that result in more dynamically accurate photos and videos.
The Phone 2 introduces Motion Capture 2.0 algorithm, enhanced HDR, and promises improved video stabilization for its various modes.
With a 6.7-inch OLED display and resolution of 1080×2412, the Phone 2 offers excellent visuals, and its variable refresh rate can reach up to 120Hz. In low-power modes, the refresh rate can go down to as low as 1Hz.
Powering the Phone 2 is a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which Nothing claims provides an 80% performance boost compared to its predecessor.
Unlike the original Nothing Phone 1, the Nothing Phone 2 will be available in the United States. The starting price for the Phone 2 is $599 for the 8+128GB version, with options for a 12+256GB version and a 12+512GB version at $649 and $749 respectively. Preorders come with a special $50 discount.