So. The Nothing Phone (1) is finally official which means that the incredible hype surrounding the handset can die down a bit as we discover exactly what those gorgeous parrots have been squawking about all this time. We already know so much about the Phone (1) that there's little to surprise us but lets see if Nothing managed to keep anything in reserve for the big launch.
As you may remember, the Phone (1) is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 778G+ chipset which has a Adreno 642L GPU as well as 5G connectivity. There's a choice of 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB of built-in storage (UFS 3.1), and the 4,500mAh battery supports USB PD 33W fast-charging and 15W wireless charging. Nothing says that the Phone (1) can fully recharge in 70 minutes via wired charging and in 120 minutes when charging wirelessly.
The 6.55-inch OLED display has FHD+ resolution, a 60-120Hz refresh rate, and 240Hz touch sampling. It is also capable of 1,200nits peak brightness, supports HDR10+, and incorporates the fingerprint sensor.
The 50MP main camera which has both OIS and EIS, is the same IMX766 sensor found on the likes of the OnePlus Nord 2 and 2T which can, if the software allows, produce stunning imagery. There's also a secondary 50MP sensor (Samsung JN1) with EIS which takes care of the ultra-wide function. The 16MP front-facing camera (Sony IMX471) is housed in a punch-hole cutout on the top left corner of the display.
Probably the most interesting aspect of the Phone (1) is the design of the semi-transparent rear panel which can be seen in both black and white colorways above. The Glyph interface lights up for notifications and can be customized for specific patterns. Of course, to see the Glyph interface working you'll either need to use a clear case or not use a case at all. As for the Phone (1)'s construction, Nothing says that is made using 100% recycled aluminum and at least half of the plastic is either bio-based or recycled.
In case you were wondering, the Phone (1) has been awarded an IP53 rating, which basically means it's protected against dust. So don't go taking the Phone (1) into the swimming pool if you want it to last.
Finally, the Phone (1) runs on the Nothing OS which sports custom widgets, icons, wallpapers, and is claimed to offer a bloat-free experience.
How Much is the Phone (1)?
Well, Nothing has announced that there are three configurations, the 8/128GB and 8/256GB variants and the 12/256GB version which is ‘coming later'.
Where Can I Buy the Phone (1)?
There are three ways to buy the Phone (1); via the pop-up kiosk in London, from one of the limited ‘Partner Drops' from July 18th, and then from open sale from July 21st.
London Kiosk
- Where: Seven Dials, Earlham Street, WC2H 9LJ. Stop when you get to the Urban Outfitters store. Here you will be greeted by a big red pod. And a giant Nothing logo. You can’t miss it.
- When: 16 July – 20 July. Open Saturday – Wednesday, 10:00 – 19:00 BST. With limited quantities sold per day.
Otherwise, the Phone (1) goes on general sale from July 21st and can be bought directly on Nothing's online store or retailers in the UK, Europe, and selected Asian markets. This is where fans of the Nothing phone in the US are set to be disappointed because the Phone (1) will not be released in North America.
Was the hype of the Phone (1) leading up to the launch worth the end result? Perhaps. But it comes against rival handsets such as the OnePlus Nord 2T and the Realme GT Neo 3T, both of which offer flagship performance, fast AMOLED displays, and speedier wired charging for the exact same price.
