OnePlus used to be a brand that worked on phones for enthusiasts – the One even had CyanogenMod. Over the years, it turned into a more traditional smartphone maker, but now one of its co-founders, Carl Pei, has started a new company. Is this a new beginning or just a sequel under a different name?
The nothing phone (1) was announced earlier this week. This is a phone, indeed a company, that puts style first. The goal is to break the monotony of current smartphone design trends (the company’s tagline on Twitter is, “We’re here to make tech fun again”).
A signature design element is the transparency – like the ear (1) TWS buttons, the phone (1) uses clear glass to show some of the inside. Nothing took advantage of that with the “Glyph interface,” which uses several strips of white LEDs on the back for some lighting effects and notifications.
The phone also comes with a custom launcher (which you can test drive on your current phone). There is also support for NFTs out of the box and for remote control of certain features on your Tesla. Let’s say the Nothing phone (1) is built for a certain audience.
Does that limit its appeal? Or does the perceived exclusivity (of which the sales system is by invitation only) make the handset all the more attractive?
Because if you take away the glitzy exterior, this could easily have been a OnePlus Nord model. This is a mid-range phone and with a price tag of €470/£400/₹33,000 it’s not that competitive. This is for the 8/128GB model, the 8/256GB model is €500/£450/₹36,000 and the 12/256GB model is €550/£500/₹39,000.
For that you get a Snapdragon 778G+ (modified to support wireless charging), a 6.55” 120Hz HDR10+ OLED display with FHD+ resolution (no LTPO panel) and a 50MP main camera (IMX766, 1/1.56” with OIS). There’s also a 50MP ultra-wide unit (114° JN1, 1/2.76″), stereo speakers and a 4,500mAh battery with 33W fast charging (0-50% in 30 min, 0-100% in 70 min) , plus 15W wireless charging.However, there is no telephoto camera, no microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Nothing promises three years of OS updates (the phone will start on Android 12) and four years of security patches. That can be compared to Samsung Galaxy A Series and the Google Pixel 6 phones.
Let’s take a look at the competition that the Nothing phone (1) faces. We’ll start with the OnePlus 9. The display is basically the same and you get the more powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset. The cameras are similar (and feature Hasselblad modes), as is the battery. An 8/128 GB phone can be found for around €550 with some shopping around.
The OnePlus Nord 2 normally costs €400, but can be found for slightly less. It has a smaller 6.43-inch 90Hz AMOLED display and is powered by the Dimensity 1300, which should outperform the Snapdragon. The ultrawide camera only has an 8MP sensor and there is no wireless charging.
OnePlus 9 • OnePlus North 2T
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a 6.5” 120Hz Super AMOLED display (without HDR10 support) and runs on the not so exciting Exynos 1280 chipset. The camera department is also pretty basic with a 64MP main (1/1.7″, OIS) and 12MP Ultra Widescreen. The 5,000mAh battery is bigger, but slower to charge (no wireless charging either) A 6/128GB unit costs €360 on Samsung.com and slightly less elsewhere.
You could also think of the Galaxy M53, which looks more like the A73 than the A53. It has a larger 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED (no HDR) and runs on the less powerful Dimensity 900 chipset. What it does do is the 108MP main camera (no OIS), but the 8MP ultra-wide angle disappoints. The 4,500 mAh battery isn’t great for this size, but at least it can be charged wirelessly. A 6/128 GB unit will set you back €400. The A53 and M53 have microSD slots, but no 3.5mm jacks.
You might be better off with the Galaxy S21 FE. It has a 6.4-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with HDR10+ and a Snapdragon 888 chipset, even in Europe. The 12MP main camera (1/1.76”, OIS) and 12MP ultra wide angle (1/3.0”) camera are nothing to write home about, but there is also an 8MP 3x telephoto module (with OIS). It also has a 4,500 mAh battery with support for wireless charging. The S21 FE and A53 get better software support than the M53. The S21 FE (6/128GB) routinely falls under $500.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G • Samsung Galaxy M53 • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
The Redmi Note 1 Pro+ 5G in Europe costs €400, has a 6.67-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display (HDR10) and is powered by the Dimensity 920. Like the M53, it has a 108PM main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens. The phone does have a 3.5mm jack and microSD slot, plus a 4,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging (0-100% in 15 minutes, but no wireless). You can buy one for €350 (6/128 GB unit) and you get both a microSD slot and a 3.5mm jack.
The Poco F4 uses the old but gold Snapdragon 870 and has a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (HDR10+), a 6/128GB unit costs €400. The Poco X4 GT has the more exciting Dimensity 8100 chipset and has a 6.6-inch 144Hz LCD (HDR10), plus a 3.5mm jack. Neither phone has particularly interesting cameras (64+8+2MP, with OIS on the F4). In terms of battery, they only have wired charging (67W), the X4 GT battery is larger (5.080mAh vs. 4.500mAh).
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G • Xiaomi Poco F4 • Xiaomi Poco X4 GT
The Realme GT Neo 3T also goes for the Snapdragon 870 and has a 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen (HDR10+). The 64+8+2MP camera doesn’t impress here either. There is also a 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging (wired only). An 8/128 GB phone costs €430, unless you want the Dragon Ball edition (8/256 GB for €500).
The Realme GT2 runs on the Snapdragon 888 and has a 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (HDR10+). The main camera uses the same IMX766 (50MP, 1/1.56″ with OIS) as the Nothing phone, but the 8MP ultra-wide angle lens is no match. There’s a 5,000 mAh battery with 65W charging (0-100% in 30 minutes, no wireless) An 8/128GB unit is quite pricey at $550.
Realme GT Neo 3T • Realme GT2
If software support is your main concern, you can find the Pixel 6 in some countries for €530 (8/128 GB). It uses Google’s custom Tensor chipset and has a 6.4-inch 90Hz AMOLED display (HDR10+). The main 50 MP sensor is large (1/1.31 “with OIS), the 12 MP ultra-wide camera lags behind in resolution. The 4,610 mAh battery supports both wired and wireless charging.
Google Pixel 6
The Motorola Edge 30 also has a Snapdragon 778G+, but without the wireless charging modification. It has a 6.5-inch 144Hz AMOLED display (HDR10+) and a 4020 mAh battery with 33 W wired charging. The camera setup is competitive with a 50MP main sensor (1/1.55”, OIS) and 50MP ultra-wide (1/2.76”). The price on Motorola Germany is €450 (for an 8/128 GB unit), but you can also find it for less.
The older Moto Edge 20 is also worth checking out, it uses the original 778G chip and has a larger 6.7-inch 144Hz AMOLED (HDR10+) display. The main camera has a 108MP sensor (1/1.52″, no OIS) and there’s an 8MP 3x telephoto lens, in addition to the 16MP ultra-wide angle lens. Like its 30-series brother, it has a small 4,000mAh battery. you can pick one up for € 360.
The Moto G200 has a similar setup, albeit with a 144Hz LCD (HDR10) and a Snapdragon 888+ chipset. The 108MP (1/1.52”, no OIS) main camera is in place, but the telephoto module is gone. At least you get a bigger 5,000 mAh battery (still no wireless charging). These go for around €499 (for an 8/128 GB unit).
Motorola Edge 30 • Motorola Edge 20 • Motorola Moto G200 5G
Okay, time to vote – who will be joining the community of Nothing phone (1) owners here?
ps. if you are having trouble voting with the poll widget above, please cast your vote here.