Nothing Phone (2) Review: An Indie Darling With A Unique Android Experience
The Nothing Phone (2) is an indie darling's dream come true in many ways. From the radiant Glyph Interface on the back to the device's subversive user interface, the Nothing Phone (2) might be the right choice for you depending on what you look for in a smartphone. In this review, I assess the device in terms of its performance, camera, battery life, and of course, the Glyph Interface.
Glyph Interface
Let's dive right into the Glyph Interface, the standout feature of the smartphone. While the first generation Nothing Phone also came with the interface, many saw it as a novelty feature that didn't add lots of value to the device. So what did Nothing do? The company added more functionality to the Glyph, and intends to do more. Besides the flashing LED lights that beam when you receive a message or a call, the Glyph Interface can now tell you how far your Uber is via a timer on the back.
The company claims that the motto behind its device and its Nothing OS is to limit the amount of time people spend on their screens. Did that work for me? Not really, I found myself browsing and scrolling as much as I used to on my OnePlus 11. In fact, the Glyph Interface's blinking lights at night made me want to pick it up more. However, simply turning the Glyph off at night seemed to help. If your goal is limiting screen time, a foldable might make more sense.
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In addition, the Glyph doubles as a stunning torch and an additional source of light when you're clicking pictures, especially in dark settings. While many people will be quick to dismiss the Glyph Interface as a gimmick, I think we're just starting to unlock the potential of what it can truly do. You can customise the interface to create your own ringtones. The Glyph Timer is also an interesting addition if you wish to focus on a task without being disturbed. In addition, the Glyph Interface may be used as a volume indicator and also as a Google Assistant indicator.
Design and Display
The Nothing Phone (2) comes with a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2412 pixels. It supports the 20:9 resolution and the best in class 394 ppi pixel density. With a screen-to-body ratio of 87.51% and a bezel-less punch-hole display on the front, the phone also supports 1600 nits of brightness and a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
Numbers don't mean anything to Nothing, a company that doesn't take pride in yearly numerical upgrades but instead promises to deliver a quality experience with whatever its devices can offer. My experience in terms of the display has been very favourable - watching high-definition content is beautiful on the device, especially supported by the pleasant grip of the back glass panel.
Also read:?OnePlus 11 5G Delivers Impressive Flagship Performance On A Budget
The phone has a thickness of 8.6 mm, height of 162.1 mm and width of 76.4 mm. With a weight of 201.2 grams, the device is a little heavier than its predecessor, but makes for a comfortable companion if you're watching something or gaming. The transparent body in the back doesn't look clumsy, but instead does justice to the industrial aesthetic with only a few screws visible.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (2) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. I got my hands on the 12 GB RAM and 512 GB storage variant. While most people will argue that the chip is a year old, the phone is able to complete all tasks without any lag. In terms of software performance, the Nothing Phone (2) gives a flagship experience at a fraction of the price. The monochrome UI too, stands out compared to the competition and offers a smooth and responsive experience.
Camera
The camera on the Nothing Phone (2) has been tricky for me. In some settings, the back camera does a great job, in others, it falters. For starters, the dual-camera setup on the back comes with a 50-megapixel main sensor that supports optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an ultrawide camera that comes with a 50-megapixel sensor too.
Clicking moving objects on the Nothing Phone (2) is a difficult task - get prepared for blurry images lacking detail. In the daytime, the Nothing Phone (2) manages to capture bright images with good sharpness. However, try to zoom in and you'll see the camera's weak points.?
At the night time, the camera's performance is disappointing. The images clicked at night appear extremely dull, leaning towards darker colour tones with most details amiss.??The ultra-wide camera is decent, even though it fails to keep up with the main camera. In essence, if you're an avid photographer, the Nothing Phone (2) isn't the right device for you.
The selfie camera gets most facial details including skin tones right in the day time, but that changes starkly in low light settings wherein it delivers underexposed images that will not please most users.
Battery
The 4700 mAh battery is built to last all day, making it a good experience for someone who uses the device for social media browsing, calls, and some video consumption every now and then, even with the Glyph Interface on.
The Phone (2) lasted me an entire day on most days. However, the charging speed did not impress me much. With a full charging time of almost an hour at 45W speed, the device might leave you wanting more if you're always on the go. So, it's a good thing that the battery can last for the entire day for an average user.
Also read:?Samsung Galaxy S23 Review: A Harmonious Blend Of Style And Performance
The Nothing Phone (2) comes with stereo speakers and a USB Type-C port and supports an on-screen fingerprint scanner too. The Nothing Phone (2) costs ?44,999 in India for 8GB RAM and 128GB storage,??49,999 (12GB + 256GB), and??54,999 (12GB + 512 GB).??
Verdict
Want the novelty of having a head-turning device that flickers and flashes like it's out of a science fiction film from the 90s? You might enjoy the Nothing Phone (2). But even beyond that, the Nothing Phone (2) offers a beautiful display and manages to get most things right, including the battery and UI. The only drawback for me was the camera performance.
Also read:?Everything About Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Screams 'Extra' And Rightly So!
What do you think about the Nothing Phone (2)? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.
