Tech

Nothing Phone (2), the best Android adaptation of 2023

A version of Google’s operating system with an unconventional approach

Update: Nov 2nd, 2023 14:00 CET

Nothing is a British brand based in London that has sought to make a difference from the base of its own creators since it was founded by Carl Pei, co-founder of the Chinese brand OnePlus, the inventor of the iPod, Tony Fadell, co-founder of Twitch, Kevin Lin, CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman and Youtuber Casey Nesitat. Our first contact with the brand was with the Nothing ear 2 headphones, and now we had the chance to use the Nothing Phone (2), a smartphone running a version of Google’s operating system with an irreverent proposition, for at least 3 months.

A camera that evolves with every upgrade

It is important to say that part of the delay of this analysis was to see that from one update to another, the camera has improved, since at the beginning its configuration with Sony IMX890 main sensor of 50 megapixels, f/1.88, OIS, its ultra-wide angle Samsung JN1, 50 MP; f/2.2 and its front camera Sony IMX615 of 32 MP, f/2.45 left much to be desired, placing it at the height of a mid-range. After the consequent updates, we saw an improvement that made it recover ground, so this analysis is based on version 2.0.3 of its operating system.

Photograph

All photos were taken with autofocus, as we usually do with top-of-the-line smartphones, to see the shutter speed and especially the performance in different lighting scenarios.

In close-up photos, despite the use of HDR, the colors come out a bit muted compared to what we have in reality.

Night shots are the ones that have improved considerably after the updates, although it is important to consider that there is a small delay in the capture, so if the lens moves a lot it can spoil the shot.

The zoom shots have good results, but it can also cause problems in low-light conditions.

One of the most complex shots we took was of a store with neon lights on a dark street in New York City. These types of shots tend to complicate things for the sensors, but the Nothing Phone (2) did well.

Another test we did was with a moving target, in this case, the flame of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia on a cloudy day. The result is good, but there is still the fact that the HDR makes it look a bit dull.

In natural light, the shots are up to the level of a top-of-the-line phone after the latest updates.

The selfie camera, unlike the main camera, has no problems with high dynamic range and works perfectly with face unlock.

The software includes additional features such as Portrait mode, Motion Capture 2.0 which recognizes scenes in real-time, and Super Res 2X zoom which tries to preserve all the details of a photo. It also includes 4K slow-motion at 120, 240, and 480 frames per second in 1080p. Video is recorded in 4K and Full HD at 60 and 30 FPS, and time-lapse in 1080p and 4K can be configured from 15 to 960 seconds per shot. For enthusiasts, it has the Panorama mode, Macro, and Expert mode where we can modify the values to taste.

Another additional feature is its integration with Google Lens, which works like few others, since this software usually does not work well on most devices, including the top of the range.

Display

Its 6.7-inch, 87.2% screen-to-body ratio, LPTO AMOLED HDR10+ panel with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 offers a resolution of 1080 × 2412 with a density of 394 ppi, its color depth is 20 bits and its dynamic refresh rate of 120 Hz is perfect for viewing content. It achieves a maximum brightness of 1600 nits, which is ideal for viewing content indoors.

The response time of the screen is 86 ms, which is not too bad for playing competitive titles, but it is important to note that you will have to constantly adjust the brightness when you are indoors, as the sensor lowers it too much.

The screen allowed us to watch HDR content on Amazon Prime Video and up to 2160 at 60 fps on YouTube. In the case of applications such as Disney+, HBO Max, and Star+, these can be viewed in HD.

It has a customization section where we can choose the refresh rate of the screen, which we can leave in dynamic mode, in high mode (120 Hz), or standard at 60 Hz.

On the other hand, it integrates a color customization mode where we can choose between active or standard mode with a color temperature modifier, as well as a fingerprint reader on the screen.

Performance

The Nothing Phone (2) we tested has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal storage, although there are other versions, the 8 GB of RAM with 128 GB of storage and the 12 GB of RAM with 512 GB of storage.

The multitasking capabilities were no problem, even when recording 4K video in extended sessions.

Demanding video games like Fortnite, which has the highest visual values, maintained a preset average of 60 frames per second, even when livestreaming with the Twitch app, so it can serve as a tool for mobile gaming content creators. We also ran titles like Call of Duty: Mobile or Diablo Immortal, all of which ran above 60 FPS without any major issues. One thing we liked was that it maintained its temperature without overheating too much.

Apps such as Alexa, Furbo, Google Assistant, Philips Hue, Hue Sync, Ring and syncing with headphones such as the WH-1000XM5 or Nothing ear 2 themselves worked perfectly, the latter even syncing in a similar way to Apple devices as they are Apple’s own brand. Wearables such as the Ray-ban Stories or smartwatches had no problem syncing, and interaction with Android Smart TVs or LG’s WebOS worked flawlessly.

As in most of the top-of-the-range smartphones adds a game mode with a floating panel. In this section, we can improve the color, enable the touch error prevention feature, leave the panel icon fixed, and remove notifications so you won’t be interrupted while playing. We can also customize the in-game panel by leaving the icons for taking screenshots or videos, displaying the FPS, as well as the no interruption mode.

Audio

This is the weakest area we found since it does not integrate sections such as Dolby or DTS, but Dirac, an audio optimizer.

As for the external stereo speakers, they have a good volume level with decent bass to watch multimedia content or enhance the effects of video games.

Battery

The 4700 mAh that it has can now be considered as the minimum within the high end, in addition to this they have integrated normal charging of 45W and wireless charging of 15W, as well as wireless reverse charging of 5W, which you can customize through the menu to limit it to reach a certain percentage of the internal battery. It also adds sections where we can see the consumption of this, battery saving modes, and a function that allows an administrator to detect which applications drain the battery to restrict them.

Accessories

The box of this smartphone comes without a charger, a USB-C cable, and a tool to eject the SIM. Although the unboxing experience is pleasant, we can say that we would have liked to integrate a charger of the brand.

Design

This device, although it follows the same line as the previous model, is definitely out of the classic stereotype, although at times it seems to have the shadow of an iPhone. What amazes us is the interface for the Glyph, which are all LED lights that you can customize in different ways, either with ringtones, notifications, the timer, with Google Assistant, the volume indicator, the charge meter when connected, and even see real-time updates of some third-party applications such as Uber, here we can see the proximity of the driver through one of the LEDs. We can also create our own sequences with the sound composer, something that all musical creators will be able to take advantage of.

The Nothing Phone (2) feels sturdy to the touch with its 201 grams and its transparent look definitely gives it a unique touch for its dimensions of 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm. It has NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, and IP54 certification, which makes it resistant to dust and water.

OS

Nothing OS 2.0 on Android 13 is undoubtedly the best adaptation of Google’s operating system, as it feels clean and is not cluttered with unnecessary software, in fact some of the native applications of the Alphabet subsidiary are adapted to the interface design of the device, which makes it look harmonious. Another section that shines is its widgets, with the whole Nothing look that also makes it unique.

It is important to point out that during the entire period of analysis, we did not have any crashes and it remained stable.

Conclusion

The Nothing Phone (2) is undoubtedly a device that you want to have and show off, everything it has is typical of a top-of-the-range with a competitive price. Its Android layer is impressive, and the ability to link its design to the Glyph through software gives it that fashionista touch that few can offer. In short, it's a top-of-the-line device made with a lot of geek hearts and has enough power to meet the needs of a content creator, gamer, or enthusiast user.

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