The Nothing Phone (2), is now official, but how does it compare to the original Nothing Phone (1)? The Nothing Phone (2) carries forward the Phone (1)’s transparent design, while bringing some much-needed improvements to the chipset, display, cameras, and software. However, the phone also costs much more than its predecessor, raising the question of whether it’s worth the price.
Starting with the design, the Nothing Phone (2) features the same transparent rear panel as the Phone (1), with a glass back and aluminum frame. However, the new model upgrades to a curved Gorilla Glass-protected back. The front camera is at top-center instead of the top left corner of the screen. Nothing has even bumped up the water and dust resistance rating to IP54 on the latest model. Like the Phone (1), Phone (2) also comes in white and black colors.
Nothing Phone (1) Vs. Phone (2): Display & Processor
The Nothing Phone (2) has a larger 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display, compared to the 6.55-inch OLED display on the Phone (1). The newer model features LTPO technology, making it more power efficient. The peak brightness is also higher on the Phone (2), going all the way up to 1,600 nits, a big jump over the Phone (1)’s 1,200 nits. Although both phones feature Gorilla Glass on the front, the exact version that the Phone (2) uses hasn’t been confirmed.
The most significant upgrade, however, is to the chipset. Nothing’s latest smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) SoC, a huge upgrade over the Phone (1)’s Snapdragon 778G+. Geekbench scores suggest a 60 percent improvement in raw performance, so users can expect the Phone (2) to feel smoother and more responsive. While the processor is certainly an upgrade, it isn’t the latest flagship Qualcomm chip available.
Nothing Phone (1) Vs. Phone (2): Cameras & Battery
The Nothing Phone (2) features dual rear cameras like the original Phone (1), but there are some changes here. The Phone (2) features a 50MP Sony IMX890 (f/1.88, 1/1.56″) sensor, and thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s ISP, it can capture 4,000 times more detail than Phone (1). The sensor supports both electronic and optical image stabilization.
The phone’s ultra-wide camera (which doubles up as a macro shooter) is the same 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor. Other features added to the camera include Advanced HDR and an Action Mode for recording super-stable videos. Speaking of video recording, Phone (2) can shoot 4K videos at 60 fps, but Phone (1) maxes out at 4K at 30 fps. Although the 32MP Sony IMX615 (f/2.44, 1/2.74″) front camera is an improvement over the 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor on the Phone (1), it can only record videos in 1080p resolution at up to 60 fps.
The Phone (2) also gets a minor upgrade to the battery, with a 4,700mAh unit that’s slightly bigger than the Phone (1)’s 4,500mAh cell. With the more efficient chipset, Nothing’s latest smartphone should last significantly longer on a single charge. Wired charging has been bumped up from 33W to 45W, while wireless charging remains the same at 15W. Neither smartphone comes with a charger in the box. Both phones feature Wi-Fi 6 for wireless connectivity, but the Phone (2) has Bluetooth 5.3 compared to Bluetooth 5.2 on the Phone (1). Other similarities include an in-display fingerprint scanner and a dual-speaker setup.
Nothing Phone (1) Vs. Phone (2): Software & Price
The Glyph Interface (rear lighting setup) on the Phone (2) is divided into 11 different segments that run along the same pattern as the five segments on the Phone (1). Nothing has added more functionality to the Glyph segments by allocating certain areas to particular functions, like app notifications, a visual representation of a timer, and integration with third-party apps like Uber.
Other new features include the ability to create custom ringtones with the Glyph Interface, and activate the Glyph lights through the flashlight option in the quick settings panel. The Phone (2) runs Android 13 with Nothing OS 2.0, and is promised three years of Android updates and four years of security updates, the same as the Phone (1).
In the U.S., the 8GB + 128GB variant of the Phone (2) costs $599. The 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB variants are priced at $699 and $799, respectively. Given that the Nothing Phone (2) is the brand’s first smartphone to be officially sold in the United States, that price might not work in its favor. Buyers have other options, including the Pixel 7 and iPhone 13, both of which retail at the same $599 starting price. While the Nothing Phone (2) is a big upgrade over the Phone (1), it will have a tough time carving out a segment of the U.S. smartphone market.
