Let’s start first with what we didn’t know: the price. No (1) phone will be available from July 21 also in Italy in three versions: 8 GB / 128 GB, only available in black for 499 euros, 8 GB / 256 GB Available in black and white for 529 euros (perhaps a bestseller) and 12GB / 256GB, and they will be available in the coming months in black and white for 579 euros.
The price of a mid-range product, even if the datasheet tells us that’s not the case. None did not want to focus on the technical specifications and wanted to focus on the user experience, starting with the things that a person asks. As for updates and security, three years of system updates and four years of security patches are guaranteed with the bimonthly release, design and sustainability, the phone has a unique streak and has been designed with the environment in mind but above all ads, Nothing Phone 1 is an air of freshness in an industry that appears to be stagnant.
The font is mysteriously inspired by the iPhone font in its search for perfect symmetry: the designers chose to use a flexible OLED panel in order to be able to hide the on-screen hook while keeping the frames identical on all four sides.
6.55-inch screen protected by Gorilla Glass and pre-applied film: HDR10+ compatible, resolution 2400 x 1080 pixels, brightness up to 1200 nits, 500 nits base. The screen has an adaptive refresh rate depending on the application: up to 120 Hz when needed, and also corresponds to consumption.
Those who hold it in their hands will find glass on both sides: Gorilla Glass 5, transparent on the front and transparent on the back as well, where you can see the internal structure that hides 900 microscopic LEDs. The whole is strapped into a recycled aluminum frame, which has a USB Type-C port for fast charging at the bottom and slots for two stereo speakers at either end. The body is protected by IP53: rain, drizzle but no diving. There are also three microphones, two for capturing ambient sound and one for speaking.
If the interface, due to its symmetry, is really interesting and makes smartphones with curved glass look terribly “old”, then the back with LED lights is the real flagship. Lamps are not just aesthetic, they are an integral part of the facade: lights up if reverse charging is used, lights up according to the selected ringtone or notification, indicates charging status and can also act as a fill light for photos, although the temperature of this light must be evaluated in order to understand if you can really use it for this.
It is interesting to see how the visible components on the back, the transparent component, have been revised: the wireless charging coil, the protection screens, and the flat cables. In addition to being made from bio- or recycled materials, they are also redesigned to please the eye. This, in the product design economy, has a significant price tag.
There are two cameras on the back on the topic of “hardware” and it turns out that the “leaks” information is incorrect: There are two 50MP cameras, not one 50MP and one 8MP. The main sensor is the IMX766 used on various flagships, 24mm focal length, optical stabilization and all necessary modes, from portrait to night photos and videos. The ultra-wide camera is based on a 1/2.76-inch Samsung JN1 sensor with night mode and macro autofocus up to 4cm. There is no TV, but at least we are not in the configuration with the 8-megapixel camera that is increasingly prevalent in the mid-range.
Video recording is up to 4K @ 30p, but that’s a limitation on the processor chosen Snapdragon 778G+: in terms of performance and consumption, we think it’s a pretty decent option. Other notes include a 4,500mAh battery, 33W Power Delivery fast charging, and 15W Qi wireless charging with reverse fast charging. The fingerprint sensor is at the bottom of the screen.
charger Not in the box: Nothing adapts to the direction and future demands of the European Union.
Nothing OS is no-frills, except for a custom theme: Nothing has integrated some of the UI elements within the platform like direct management of Tesla cars or the NFC Gallery. An open platform that everyone can join to integrate their connected products at the system level.
Phone (1) is not on sale yet but it has already achieved some of its goals, even at the pre-order level: Everyone has talked about it, and in the end it seems that the product is nothing but pure marketing.
At €499, it puts a clean design on board, with perfectly symmetrical edges and a high-quality flat OLED display, stereo sound, water protection and guaranteed updates, plus a clean Android interface and a pair of 50MP cameras.
The processor isn’t the best in the range, but Samsung’s top-of-the-range Qualcomm isn’t perfect, we’ve seen it: nothing for a phone (1) where autonomy and performance can be more balanced than a flagship at half the cost is required for the top model. This is also combined with a unique interface, where we can help the program find 900 small LEDs that turn the transparency back into a second screen.
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