Much ado about something: Nothing Phone (1) stands out with premium design, superior performance

Nothing — started by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei — entered the market with Ear (1) in 2021. Its first smartphone — Phone (1) – has been launched, resembling an iPhone in terms of hold and feel, though its rear panel is like nothing you have seen before. It is striking thanks to a glyph interface that has light patterns designed to do more than just look different. There are 20 patterns — made from 900 LED lights — and you can choose them for notifications. This brings a totally different and unique take to a smartphone. It’s a bold move as Phone (1) will turn heads and demand more than one look.

The other key highlight of Phone (1) is the Nothing OS. At a time when almost every brand offers its own custom User Interface — which often comes loaded with bloatware — Nothing OS is neat, clean and easy to use. There is no pre-installed app. While some may find it tedious to download must-have apps, it gives users the choice of what apps they need to keep. Phone (1) is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778+ processor which handles routine tasks easily. Even hardcore gaming doesn’t seem to make the processor sweat too much.

Also Read: Nothing phone (1) review – Futuristic design, stunning cameras, and efficiency make for a solid something

Nothing has also gone for a rather unconventional approach with the camera setup. Rather than have three or four sensors, Phone (1) comes with a dual camera setup comprising 50MP sensors — one primary and one ultra-wide. Both sensors deliver reasonably impressive images but don’t really blow your mind. Overall camera performance is good but doesn’t really stand out.

The battery lasts a day, but it doesn’t support fast charging like OnePlus, Xiaomi and others. Starting at Rs 32,999, Phone (1) merits your consideration. It delivers impressive performance and has reasonably good cameras. Phone (1) is certainly one of the best this year in terms of design.