Nothing Phone (1) Review with Pros and Cons: 1 Big Problem

So Finally bought the Nothing Phone 1 and yes, Flipkart is very bad when it comes to shopping but somehow I managed to get the device. Now, the phone has its Pros and Cons, and it’s also not made for everyone but one thing is for sure, it’s a balanced smartphone that is worth the Rs 32999 price tag.

Nothing Phone (1) Price in India

• 8GB RAM + 128GB storage: Rs 32,999
• 8GB RAM + 256GB storage: Rs 35,999
• 12GB RAM + 256GB storage: Rs 38,999

Update: Nothing is rolling out Public Android 13 Beta which is smoother and faster while they have fixed tons of bugs with Android 13. So looks like, finally, Nothing has fixed most of the software issuess, still, wait for a stable Android 13 Update.

Nothing Phone (1) Review

The phone doesn’t have a powerful gaming processor, so if your end goal is to play heavy games then the Nothing Phone (1) is not the best option but if you wanted a balanced smartphone with good cameras, solid battery life, unique design, great build quality, wireless charging support, 5G connectivity then yes, the Nothing Phone (1) is worth buying.

Nothing has used the Snapdragon 778G+ processor because it’s a balanced chipset and it doesn’t cost them tons of money and that’s the reason, why they managed to keep the price at Rs 32,999.

Related: 5 Best Smartphones Under Rs 30000

Now, we all know that snapdragon 778G+ is not a gaming processor, so don’t even think about buying this device for heavy gaming, the chip can handle games like BGMI and even COD Mobile but if you play for a long time then you will see some frame drops.

Overall, the price of Rs 32999 is a balanced smartphone and you won’t face any kind of issue while using it in day-to-day life, Nothing has checked all the boxes which can be seen on the device.

Nothing Phone (1) Pros and Cons

PROS	CONS
120Hz Smooth OLED Display	No Charger in the Box
NFC Support	Not the best option for Gaming
Solid Build Quality	No SD-Card Slot
In-Display Fingerprint	No 3.5mm Audio Jack
Superb Camera Setup	Average Front and Ultra-Wide Camera
Stable Video Recording
Clean Android Experience
12 5G Bands
4×4 MIMO Carrier aggregation
Glyph Lights on the Back
Faster RAM & Storage Support
Wireless Charging Support
Solid Haptic Motor

Display

The Nothing Phone (1) comes with a 6.55-inch flexible 120hz OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and pick a brightness of 1200 nits while it also has an optical in-display fingerprint sensor.

The display & back are protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 while the frame is made out of Aluminum. Nothing is also added to the Widevine L1 Support which means, you will be able to stream FHD+ content on OTT apps like Netflix and Prime Videos.

The display is HDR10+ but for some reason, I didn’t able to watch HDR content on the OTT platforms, maybe, Nothing can add this via an OTA update.

The 120Hz screen refresh rate is smooth, didn’t notice any kind of frame drops.

Related: Best Smartphones Under Rs 25,000

By the way, the phone doesn’t have to have a big bezel which makes this smartphone unique because most Android smartphone under Rs 50000 comes with a huge bottom chin.

Overall, for the price of Rs 32999, the display is beyond amazing, I can even say that the Nothing Phone (1) has the best display under Rs 50000 in India.

Design

You already knew this will come,

Now, design is subjective but you can’t deny that the Nothing Phone (1) looks and feels unique compared to any other smartphone.

Lighting on the back can be called gimmicky or useless but it won’t be the same for everyone.

If you ask me, I love those lights. By the way, I don’t know how long I will use the Glyph lights but it looks different…

Performance

Now, I have already said lots of things about the performance still, for better understanding,

It’s the best option if you’re looking for a balanced smartphone but if you wanted a proper gaming smartphone then you should stay away from it because the Snapdragon 778G is not that powerful to handle heavy games like Genshin Impact or even Fortnite…

Now, we have seen Snapdragon 778G on many smartphones and the new Snapdragon 778G+ will give the same performance, Qualcomm has just changed the name but inside, everything is the same.

By the way, just for Nothing, Qualcomm has added wireless charging support in Snapdragon 778G+ but other than that, it’s a decent processor for balance use.

Related: Best Smartphones Under Rs 50,000

The phone runs on Nothing OS based on Android 12, Nothing has also promised 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. The security updates will be pushed every two months just like any other Android smartphone.

The device doesn’t come with single third-party applications and there are no ads in the UI either. The UI also feels smooth, with no frame drop whatsoever while the 120Hz refresh rate will make everything perfect.

Keep in mind that, the software is still in development and it doesn’t have tons of customization options. Nothing has promised they will add more features very soon but they haven’t given a date.

In short, if you’re a gamer then it’s a straight answer, just stay away from the Nothing Phone 1 and consider the IQOO Neo 6 5G which is available at Rs 28,999 on Amazon.

In direct words the Nothing Phone 1 is a balanced smartphone, so don’t buy it for heavy gaming.

Cameras

We have smartphones with three or even five cameras but out of all those sensors, only two sensors are useable, the other sensors are added for the showcase.

In the case of Nothing Phone (1),

It has a 50 MP Primary Sony IMX766 sensor that has OIS & EIS support + a 50MP ultra-wide Samsung JN1 sensor while there is a 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor. The rear camera can shoot videos at 4k@30fps, 1080p30/60fps while the front can shoot at 1080p@30fps. The

Now, the phone does look like iPhone 13 Series but don’t expect the cameras to be like them…

The 50MP primary Sony IMX766 sensor is well-tested and there is nothing new to say about it, yes, Nothing has made some improvement in the colors but other than it doesn’t provide extraordinary photos.

The images also come out good but still, I noticed that the sensor is trying to boost the colors a little bit, just like all the other budget smartphones but the good thing is, the image doesn’t come out that saturated like Xiaomi, RealMe, or Vivo Smartphones.

The night mode is kind of okay. The details are there even under the low lights but still, the images don’t come out brighter…

Now, if you’re taking images under low lights then images will come out a bit on the softer side.

The primary sensor uses the OIS and EIS at the same time, so the videos will come out more stable. Now, keep in mind that, if you want smooth videos then use 1080p@60fps.

Coming to a 50MP ultra-wide Samsung JN1 sensor,

Again, well-tested sensor and it does deliver quality images even under low lighting. Now, of course, it’s not as good as the primary sensor but still, as this is a bigger sensor, the images do look better.

By the way, didn’t notice any issue with the dynamic range. Still, I feel, Nothing needs to work on the ultra-wide lens because that 50MP sensor doesn’t feel like a 50MP sensor, it gives a 16MP sensor vibe.

All in all, the ultra-wide lens needs optimization, now it depends on Nothing when they gonna do it but as of now, this can’t be called the best ultra-wide lens, it provides average images.

Talking about the front 16MP Sony IMX471 sensor,

Here I feel, Nothing is trying to soften the images a little bit, it’s not extra like RealMe or Xiaomi phone but it’s there and I also get why they want to do it. By the way, the front camera has a dynamic range issue…

When taking images with portrait mode, sometimes, the background doesn’t even blur out which is a software problem but still, it shouldn’t have been.

In short, don’t expect much from the front cameras, it’s an average sensor that takes a few soft images.

Overall, Under Rs 40000, the Nothing Phone (1) has a decent camera, now the cameras are not that bad but I expected better cameras because this is Rs 32999 smartphone.

Here, the camera samples of Nothing Phone (1)

Audio

The Nothing Phone 1 has a stereo speaker, and 40% volume will come out from the top speaker while the remaining 60% will come out from the bottom speaker. The speakers don’t provide heavy bass which I didn’t like that much because I’m a bass lover.

The stereo speakers are loud too, whether you’re in a crowded place or at home, you will be able to hear everything clearly. There is also 4×4 MIMO Carrier aggregation support, so there won’t be any issue with calling too.

By the way, the phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio jack.

Battery

We all know that Snapdragon 778G+ is battery efficient processor, so yes, expect the battery life to be around a day. Also, if you’re a heavy user then you will have to charge the device twice a day, depending on usage.

Coming to the charging speed, here, I feel, They should have provided faster charging…

Also, there is no charger in the box and you will have to use a Quick Charge 4.0 certified charger otherwise you won’t able to take the advantage of 33W charging.

There is also support for 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse charging support.

In short, if you’re a heavy user who plays tons of games for hours then you should stay away from the Nothing Phone (1). It’s a good device but it’s made for power users.

Nothing Phone (1) FAQs

Q: Can I disable Glyph Lights on the Back on Nothing Phone (1)

A: Yes.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor?

A: No, it only has an optical in-display fingerprint sensor.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) has a 3.5mm Audio jack?

A: No.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) has NFC Support?

A: Yes.

Q: How many OS updates will Nothing Phone (1) will get?

A:  Nothing has also promised 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. The security updates will be pushed every two months just like any other Android smartphone.

Q: What is the screen refresh rate of Nothing Phone (1)?

A: It has a 120Hz refresh rate OLED Panel.

Q: DoesNothing Phone (1) have stereo speakers?

A: Yes.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) Widevine L1 support??

A: Yes.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) has a camera2api enabled?

A: Yes

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) 5G have 5G Support?

A: Yes.

Q: How Many 5G bands do Nothing Phone (1) have?

A: The Nothing Phone (1) has 12 5G Bands which include N1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41, n77, and n78

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) have fast charging support?

A: Yes, it has 33W wired fast charging support.

Q: Does Nothing Phone (1) has carrier aggregation?

A: No.

Q: Where to buy Nothing Phone (1) in India?

A: The Nothing Phone (1) is available on the Flipkart India website.

Verdict

Now, you can’t find the perfect device, you will have to sacrifice one or two features but in the end, you will have to ask yourself, which two or three features I want the most and if you can find those features in Nothing Phone (1) then just order the phone otherwise, this is not the only smartphone available under Rs 40000 in India.

As I have said earlier, this is not made for everyone, Nothing is targeting specific users and here, you have to decide what you want.

Reasons to Buy Nothing Phone (1)

There are many reasons to buy Nothing Phone (1) starting from solid build quality, new design, wireless charging support, 120Hz OLED panel, 1200 nits brightness, long-lasting battery life, clean Android experience, excellent speakers, and it’s also available at a reasonable price too.

Reasons to Not Buy Nothing Phone (1)

There are a few reasons to not buy Nothing Phone (1) like there is no charger in the box, no SD-card slot, no 3.5mm audio jack, and average cameras, and the Snapdragon 778G+ is not the best opinion for heavy gaming.

Still, if you have any kind of questions then do let me know in the comments, I would love to chat with you, see you there…

By the way, we also have a WhatsApp Channel, so feel free to join the channel. And yes, it’s FREE…

Nothing Phone (1) Specifications

Launch Date	12th July 2022
First Sale	21st July 2022 via Flipkart at noon
India Price	8GB Ram + 128GB Storage: Rs 32,999 8GB Ram + 256GB Storage: Rs 35,999 12GB Ram + 256GB Storage: Rs 38,999
Colors	Black and White
Launch Offer (Limited Time Offer)	2000 Instant Discount on HDFC Bank Debit, Credit Cards
In the Box	Nothing Phone (1) Type-C cable Safety information and warranty card Screen protector (pre-applied) SIM tray ejector
Display	6.55-inches FHD+ flexible OLED display 1200 nits pick the brightness 10-bit color depth HDR10+ Support Gorilla Glass 5 (front) 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate 401 PPI density
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels
Dimensions	159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm
Build	Gorilla Glass 5 Front Aluminum Frame Gorilla Glass 5 Back
Rear Camera	50 MP Primary (Sony IMX766 sensor) – OIS & EIS 50 MP Ultra-Wide (Samsung JN1 sensor) – EIS Video: 4K recording at 30 fps 1080p recording at 30 or 60 fps
Front Camera	16MPFront (Sony IMX471 sensor) Video: 1080p video recording at 30 fps
Processor	Qualcomm SM7325-AE Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) GPU: Adreno 642L CPU: Octa-core (1×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
OS	Nothing OS – Android 12 3 OS update & 4 Year Security Update
5G Support	Yes, 12 5G Bands N1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n40, n41, n77, and n78
NFC	Yes With Google Pay Enabled
Audio	Stereo Speakers No 3.5mm audio jack
Battery	4500mAh battery 33W PD3.0 wired Charging 15W Qi wireless charging 5W reverse charging USB Type-C 2.0 Charging Speed:  50% in 30 min, 100% in 70 min  –No Charging Adopter in the Box
Other Features	UFS 3.1 Storage LPDDR5 RAM IP53 Splash, water, and dust resistance Haptic touch motors Glyph Lights on the Back Bluetooth 5.2 4×4 MIMO Carrier aggregation
Card Slot	No
Weight	193 Gram (6.84 oz)
Modal Number	A063
Nothing Phone (1) accessories	Nothing Power 45W Charger: Rs 2,499 Nothing Phone (1) Case: 1,499 Nothing Phone (1) Tempered Glass: Rs 999
Available at	Flipkart IN

*Source: Bit-Tech Hindi