Nothing Phone 2 Review

Meet the Nothing Phone 2, the much-anticipated successor to the NP1. This flagship smartphone packs a serious punch with its dual 50MP rear cameras, delivering stunning photos in any situation. The main sensor’s f/1.9 aperture ensures fantastic low-light shots, while the ultrawide lens empowers you to capture the world in all its glory.

But it’s not just about the camera. The Phone 2 boasts a large 6.7-inch OLED display. With a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate and a 1600 nits peak brightness, this phone offers a visual treat whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or just browsing the web. Plus, thanks to intelligent LTPO technology, your battery life is in good hands as the screen optimizes refresh rates efficiently.

Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 chipset, one of the fastest mobile processors around, it effortlessly tackles any task you throw at it. And you won’t find yourself constantly hunting for a charger—the hefty 4700mAh battery ensures this phone can keep up with your busy day, easily lasting up to two days on a single charge.

Speaking of charging, it takes just under an hour to charge from 0 to 100%. However, do keep in mind that the packaging doesn’t include an adapter, so you might want to have one handy. If you’re after a phone that offers impressive camera capabilities, stunning display, and top-notch performance, the Nothing Phone 2 might just be your perfect match.

Specifications

View full specifications here.

Packaging

The Nothing Phone 2comes in a minimal black cardboard box with the phone and accessories well protected in different compartments.

The box includes:

• Nothing Phone (2)
• Type-C Cable
• Safety information and warranty card
• Screen protector (pre-applied)
• SIM tray ejector

Design & Display

You’ve got a choice between two elegant color options: White and Dark Gray. This phone boasts a premium feel, blending recycled aluminum and glass in its construction. The result is a device that showcases both style and durability, complete with protective glass and IP54 water resistance for dust and splash protection.

In terms of size, the Nothing Phone 2 is a large phone, measuring 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm and weighing 201g. It’s on par with the latest Samsung S23 Ultra in terms of dimensions, but it’s slim at just 8.6mm thick. Despite its size, the weight distribution is well-balanced, making it comfortable to hold, even with one hand, though you might find using both hands beneficial for full utilization.

Moving to the front is a flat LPTO AMOLED display. It houses a selfie camera cutout at the center. The 32MP selfie camera, equipped with AI, ensures speedy biometric face-unlocks. The physical buttons are neatly arranged, with volume controls on the left side and the power button on the right.

Coming to the 6.7-inch OLED display, it offers 1600 nits peak brightness, and a smooth 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. This combination ensures sharp, bright, and colorful visuals, whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or simply browsing. Thanks to LTPO technology, the screen intelligently manages refresh rates, optimizing performance while preserving precious battery life. The display truly shines, offering vibrant visuals that remain visible even in bright outdoor conditions, all framed by slim bezels. Hidden underneath the display is a rapid and accurate optical fingerprint scanner.

Turning the phone around reveals a gently curved, transparent glass body, enhancing its natural and comfortable feel in hand. The Glyph LEDs make a return, maintaining their familiar shapes, as does the wireless charging coil. The dual-lens rear camera system, featuring a 50MP wide-angle and 50MP ultrawide lens, excels in capturing stunning photos in various settings. You’ll also find the 32 Glyph-LEDs here for notifications.

For audio, stereo speakers are located on the top and bottom of the device, delivering rich sound quality. Charging is a breeze thanks to the USB Type-C port at the bottom, which also houses the SIM tray. It’s worth noting that the phone skips the 3.5mm headphone jack, so wireless audio options or USB Type-C headphones are the way to go.

Overall, the Nothing Phone 2 showcases a thoughtfully designed, premium smartphone with a striking display and advanced features. Its combination of recycled materials, water resistance, and an elegant design makes it a standout. The immersive OLED display, coupled with powerful camera capabilities, ensures a delightful visual experience. While it lacks a headphone jack, it compensates with rich stereo speakers.

Performance & Connectivity

Under the hood, this phone packs a punch with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, marking a significant upgrade from its predecessor. It’s a clear move into flagship territory, ensuring that even the most demanding tasks run smoothly. With a generous 12GB of RAM and a spacious 256GB of built-in storage, the Nothing Phone 2 offers room aplenty for all your needs.

When it comes to real-world performance, The Nothing Phone 2 truly excels. It effortlessly juggles multiple apps simultaneously, delivering a seamless experience without any lag or slowdown. Demanding games like Fortnite and Asphalt 9 Legends are a breeze, showcasing the device’s prowess in handling graphically intensive tasks with ease.

Connectivity is another strong suit. The Nothing Phone 2 is future-ready with 5G support, ensuring you stay connected at high speeds. It covers all the bases with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC for convenient contactless transactions, GPS for accurate navigation, and IR support for added versatility.

In summary, the Nothing Phone 2 earns its flagship status with robust performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and ample RAM and storage. It effortlessly handles multitasking and demanding games. Plus, its connectivity options ensure you can stay connected in various ways.

Camera

The Nothing Phone 2 features dual-camera setup, accompanied by a single-LED flash and a sensor. The main is a 50MP main sensor, with a wide f/1.9 aperture, Phase Detection AF, and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This combination results in impressive photo quality, showcasing well-balanced images with excellent dynamic range and sharpness. Even in low-light conditions, the camera shines, delivering detailed and sharp shots with accurate colors and minimal noise.

The 2x Super High-Res zoom proves its worth with fantastic detail and sharpness. While there’s no dedicated depth sensor on the Nothing Phone 2, portrait shots still impress with detailed subject rendering, vibrant colors, and effective background separation.

The second sensor is a 50MP ultrawide-angle camera with a wide f/2.2 aperture and autofocus (AF). It captures 12.5MP ultrawide shots with impressive color accuracy and clarity. This camera supports autofocus and excels at close-up shots, allowing you to focus as close as 4 cm while maintaining good detail and sharpness.

What sets the Nothing Phone 2 apart is its versatility. It shines in various scenarios, whether you’re zooming in, exploring low-light environments, or diving into macro photography. Regardless of the conditions, the camera consistently delivers vibrant colors, sharpness, and impeccable balance. Even when the lights are low, this device steps up, producing clear and precise images.

For selfie enthusiasts, the 32MP front camera doesn’t disappoint. It captures well-composed shots with colors that match the quality of the rear cameras.

When it comes to video recording, both the main cameras support video recording up to 4K at 60fps, ensuring you capture moments in stunning detail with gyro-Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) keeping videos steady. Additionally, you have the option of 1080p at both 30fps and 60fps. Even the selfie camera impresses, recording videos at 1080p@30fps with excellent stabilization and detail.

Nothing Phone 2 OS

The Nothing Phone 2 runs on Nothing OS 2.0, on top of Android 13. The operating system brings a mix of fresh enhancements to the user interface while maintaining a sense of familiarity. This balance ensures that users can enjoy a more refined experience without feeling lost in a completely new environment.

One of the standout features of Nothing OS 2.0 is its impressive level of customization. Users have the power to tweak nearly every aspect of the interface to their liking. Whether it’s adjusting app labels, reimagining the grid layout, resizing widgets, or playing with color themes, you have the tools to make the phone truly yours. The Glyph interface, in particular, stands out in this regard. It can be tailored to your preferences, allowing you to craft your own Glyph Ringtones and lighting effects using the Glyph Composer app.

Battery & Audio

Powering this smartphone is a substantial 4,700 mAh battery, ensuring you have more than enough go through a full day of usage. Thanks to optimized power management, the Nothing Phone 2 excels in the battery department, delivering impressive longevity. You can confidently go about your day without constantly checking the battery indicator.

When it does come time to recharge, the 45W fast-charging capability ensures that you can get back to full power quickly, taking just around 60 minutes to reach 100% from 0%. It’s worth noting, though, that the device doesn’t include the adapter, so having one handy is a good idea.

Turning to audio, the Nothing Phone 2 doesn’t disappoint. Its top and bottom-firing speakers deliver clear and immersive sound across various media, be it music, videos, or calls. These speakers are more than capable of filling a small room with quality sound, enhancing your overall audio experience. Additionally, the Nothing Phone 2’s high-quality microphones ensure calls are crystal clear.

Nothing Phone 2 Verdict

The Nothing Phone 2 is a standout sequel. Its dual-camera system excels, while the vibrant 6.7-inch OLED display immerses you in visuals. Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, it handles demanding tasks effortlessly. With a 4,700 mAh battery and 45W fast charging, it’s built for extended use. The Glyph Interface and stylish design make it a top choice in the flagship market.

The Nothing Phone 2 is available in two beautiful, premium finishes – White and Dark Gray at a starting price of AED 2,499.