The Phone 2, manufactured by Nothing, is a new Android smartphone with a unique transparent design. Priced at £579 ($599), it offers high-end specifications at an affordable mid-range price. Featuring a 6.7-inch OLED screen and aluminium sides reminiscent of the iPhone 12, the Phone 2 stands out with its transparent back that exposes a series of LED strips. These LEDs have more functionalities compared to the Phone 1, including automatic brightness adjustment, complex light patterns, countdown timer, charge status display, and progress indicators for third-party apps. The device will be available for sale in the US, UK, and Europe, marking a first for the company.
Key specifications of the Phone 2 include a 6.7-inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED screen, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, 8 or 12GB of RAM, and 128, 256, or 512GB of storage. It runs on Nothing OS 2.0 (based on Android 13) and features a 50MP main camera and ultrawide camera, along with a 32MP selfie camera. Connectivity options include 5G, eSIM, wifi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, and GNSS. The phone is splash-resistant with an IP54 rating and weighs 201.2g.
Despite using a year-old chip, the Phone 2 offers solid performance and battery life. It charges to 60% in just 29 minutes with a 45W USB-C charger (not included). The device maintains at least 80% of its original battery capacity for at least 1,000 full charge cycles. It is made of recycled materials such as aluminium, copper, plastic, steel, and tin, accounting for 20% of the phone’s weight. The phone’s carbon footprint is 53.45kg CO2 equivalent, and the company publishes sustainability reports.
Nothing OS 2.0 offers several customization options and unique features, including larger folders with one-tap access to apps, quick settings as widgets, third-party glyph options, and monochrome theme. It provides an interesting twist to the Android 13 experience.
The camera set up of the Phone 2 consists of two 50-megapixel cameras on the back and a 32MP selfie camera. The image quality is generally improved compared to the Phone 1, but it falls short when it comes to sharpness and detail. The phone lacks a telephoto camera and the digital zoom performance is not satisfactory. However, video recording capabilities are solid, including slo-mo up to 480 frames per second.
In terms of pricing, the Phone 2 starts at £579 ($599) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. It competes with devices such as the OnePlus 11, Google Pixel 7, Samsung Galaxy S23+, and iPhone 14 Plus, offering a premium feel at a competitive price.
Overall, the Phone 2 is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with a more premium design and improved features. Its unique back design and software customization options make it stand out. However, it falls short in terms of camera performance, software support, and water resistance. It faces tough competition from Google’s offerings.