The Nothing Phone 2, the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s flashy smartphone, has finally arrived. With a unique design, upgraded specs, and a range of new features, this premium upper-mid-range phone aims to impress.
In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the design, display quality, audio performance, software experience, camera capabilities, battery life, and more to determine if the Nothing Phone 2 is truly worth the upgrade.
Design and Build Quality:
The Nothing Phone 2 maintains the aesthetic charm of its predecessor with a glass back featuring a mesmerizing arrangement of bright LED lights. The transparent back allows users to catch a glimpse of the internal components, giving it a distinctive look.
The slightly curved back and flat aluminum frame provide a comfortable grip. Moreover, the addition of IP54 ingress protection ensures a degree of resistance to water and dust, surpassing the IP53 rating of the previous model.
Display Quality and Design Changes:
One notable improvement in the Nothing Phone 2 is its larger 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1080p resolution and an impressive 120Hz refresh rate. The adaptive nature of the LTPO technology allows the refresh rate to dynamically adjust from 120Hz all the way down to 10Hz when idling, conserving battery life.
The display is sharp, contrasty, and color-accurate, offering an immersive visual experience. It also supports HDR10+ video and boasts Gorilla Glass protection for added durability.
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Fingerprint Scanner, Audio Speaker, and Glyph LEDs:
Unlocking the Nothing Phone 2 is a breeze with the under-display fingerprint reader, which offers fast and reliable performance. The Nothing Phone 2 impresses with its stereo speakers, providing excellent loudness, well-presented highs, and even some bass. The audio quality is immersive and enjoyable, making it a suitable companion for media consumption and gaming.
One of the standout features of the Nothing Phone 2 is the Glyph LEDs, which can light up to indicate incoming messages, calls, and notifications. The LEDs blink in different patterns based on various ringtones, customizable for different notification types and individual contacts.
The addition of the composer feature allows users to create their own ringtones and patterns. Glyph LEDs also offer status updates for volume levels, charging progress, and integration with select third-party apps.
OS And Storage Options:
The Nothing Phone 2 runs on the Nothing OS 2.0, which is based on Android 13. The interface is customized yet retains an organized layout similar to stock Android. Custom widgets and large folders enhance the overall user experience, allowing for efficient space management on the home screen.
Nothing promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, ensuring longevity and software support for its users.
The device is available in three storage variants: 128GB, 256GB, and 512 GB. However, it is worth noting that there is no option for expandable storage via a microSD card.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1:
The Nothing Phone 2 incorporates the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a significant upgrade from the upper mid-range Snapdragon 778G+. This flagship-grade silicon delivers exceptional performance, surpassing the capabilities of the previous model. Benchmark scores rival last year’s Android flagships, and thermal management and sustained performance are commendable.
Battery Life and Charging Speed:
With a larger 4,700mAh battery capacity, the Nothing Phone 2 offers improved screen-on times compared to its predecessor. However, an average standby score results in an overall endurance rating of 103 hours, still respectable for daily usage.
Charging has been upgraded to 45 watts, allowing the device to charge from 0 to 62 percent in just 30 minutes. Additionally, the phone supports wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Cameras’ Specs And Capturing Quality:
The Nothing Phone 2 is equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, similar to the previous model. However, the new processing algorithms enhance image quality, resulting in excellent photos.
Default 12.5-megapixel images from the main camera showcase plenty of detail, balanced sharpness, and natural-looking rendition of fine details. The two-times zoom sourced from the main camera also produces pleasing results. Night mode processing in low-light conditions further improves image quality.
Video Quality:
Main Camera: Recording videos with the main camera can be done in up to 4K at 60fps. The videos exhibit good dynamic range, contrast, and true-to-life colors. While the stabilization is effective, there may be a slight jello-like effect. In low-light scenarios, the main camera’s 4K videos perform reasonably well, offering ample detail, adequate dynamic range, and some visible noise.
Ultrawide Camera: The ultrawide camera on the Nothing Phone 2 captures 12.5-megapixel photos with impressive detail, balanced dynamic range, and colors that match the main camera’s output. Autofocus functionality enables users to capture macro close-ups with excellent results. Low-light photography benefits from automatic night mode processing, delivering great image quality.
Selfie Camera: The new 32-megapixel front-facing camera captures decent selfies with good contrast, wide dynamic range, and lively colors. However, there is room for improvement in terms of detail and sharpness.
Conclusion:
The Nothing Phone 2 is a remarkable upgrade over its predecessor, offering a larger and brighter display, flagship-level performance with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, faster charging speeds, and improved camera capabilities.
While it falls on the pricier side for a flagship killer, the unique Glyph LED setup sets it apart from the competition. If you’re willing to pay a premium for a standout smartphone experience, the Nothing Phone 2 is undoubtedly worth considering.
Alternatives like the Poco F5 Pro and OnePlus Nord 3 offer viable options for those seeking alternative devices with their respective features and price points.
In summary, the Nothing Phone 2 delivers on its promises, providing a premium smartphone experience that combines aesthetics, performance, and innovative features.
