Nothing Phone 2 Review: Is it Worth the Upgrade?

Nothing Phone 2, a premium smartphone designed to compete with the Google Pixel 7, brings upgraded camera technology, impressive gaming capabilities, and reliable battery life. As I have used the Nothing Phone 2 extensively as my primary device over the past week, I am ready to deliver my full nothing phone 2 review, whether it’s worth upgrading from the phone 1.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Review

Design

So, for this flagship phone, nothing has gone bigger pretty much everywhere, and that includes the size of the nothing phone 2, 6.7-inch handset, thankfully, doesn’t feel much larger when you hold it, as the bezels have shrunk a bit and the device is slightly thinner. However, it still features those iPhone-style flat edges, and the curvature is subtle, to say the least. while the nothing phone 2 isn’t uncomfortable to hold, it’s not exactly ergonomic either. Still, while casual tech enthusiasts may struggle to distinguish between the first and second nothing phone.

Similar to the previous generation, the nothing Phone 2 is available in just two colors: dark gray or white. While I preferred the lighter model in the original nothing phone one, I’m certainly more drawn to the dark gray variant this time around. It’s not so dark that you can’t appreciate all the little interesting design details of nothing’s creation, but it certainly helps to accentuate the glowing glyphs when they’re putting on their dazzling display.

So far, the nothing phone 2 has proven to be quite sturdy. The aluminum frame has only a tiny scuff in one corner, possibly from when the phone slipped through a hole in my shorts and fell onto a hard floor. Nothing Phone 2 pre-installed screen protector has prevented any damage to the display, and as for the glass back, there’s not a single scratch or scuff to be seen. Additionally, the nothing phone 2 has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating.

Nothing OS 2.0

Now, one of the highlights of the nothing phone 2 for me has been nothing OS. With a fresh lick of paint, or more accurately, completely drained of color, this monochrome finish may sound rather dull and depressing, which again suits the British vibes. However, I actually found it rather refreshing. The idea behind these colorless vibes is to help reduce distractions and therefore cut down on unnecessary screen time, and it actually seems to work quite well.

And if you’re not convinced, well, Don’t worry because you can have a stock Android experience instead, if you fancy that. Although, you do have to specify whether you want the nothing or west layout or the stock Android experience when you first set up the phone, and I’m not sure if you can switch between the two without fully resetting the device. Anyway, nothing OS version 2 serves up plenty of other upgrades to the lock screen, folders, and all kinds of stuff.

Glyph Features

And the glyph lighting has been improved and split into even more sections with bonus functions added that are exclusive to the nothing phone 2. For instance, the glyph timer is quite funky and a great way to track time without seeing any distractions on the lock screen. Although it’s only an approximate measure, as it’s basically just a glowing fuse that dwindles down to nothing. As I’m not an Uber user, I haven’t yet tested out the similar feature which gives you a glyph countdown until your ride arrives. I can see that being really useful for things like just-in-time deliveries. When you’re playing a game or watching a movie, you don’t want to constantly pick up your phone, lock it, and check how long it is before your KFC bargain bucket arrives.

However, the flip-to-glyph feature was unfortunately a bit unreliable for me, especially when I was traveling by train. Occasionally, it would take a while to activate or not activate at all, possibly due to vibrations. I also struggled with it when I laid the phone down on a sofa or some surface that wasn’t completely flat. Hopefully, these are just early issues that will be sorted out in a future nothing software update. Likewise, in the past week, I found that the do not disturb mode was constantly activating on its own. This might be because I added a widget on the lock screen that was somehow getting nudged. However, I do love the fresh new essential notifications feature, which you can set for any app or your most beloved contacts. For instance, you can activate it for your sweetheart, and then when they message you, you’ll be constantly notified by the glyph lighting until you actually pick up the phone and read the message. It’s very handy if you’ve wandered off and missed the original notification. A couple of minor bugs aside, I really liked nothing OS 2 quite a lot.

Updates and Storage

Nothing is planning three OS updates and four years of regular security updates for the nothing phone 2, so it won’t become a useless slab anytime soon. This past week, I’ve also experienced absolutely subtle issues with the optical fingerprint sensor, to the point where I actually forgot to set up the face recognition for the first few days because I simply did not need to use it. The nothing phone 2 also offers more storage options compared to the previous generation. You can choose between 128 or 512 gigs of storage, once again not expandable via micro SD memory cards.

Display and Audio Quality

The nothing Phone 2 offers a larger 6.7-inch OLED screen, While it may not be as sharp as some mid-range rivals like the Honor 90 and the OnePlus Nord 3, it is undeniably a treat for your eyes. Although my sample doesn’t support HDR streaming on Netflix just yet, I found that the contrast was still crispy, and cinematic extravaganzas certainly looked lush, like that Avatar thing. The Phone 2 panel is super bright, so I had no trouble seeing what was happening even when the sun was shining and I was wearing shades. It also features a bit of LTP Auto Tech, dynamically scaling from one Hertz all the way up to 120 Hertz when necessary.

The nothing Phone 2 boasts impressive audio swagger, and those stereo speakers can deliver loud and clear sound, perfect for watching YouTube videos while in the kitchen or elsewhere. There’s no headphone jack, but I encountered no issues with Bluetooth streaming, except for one time when I lost connection. That was the only hiccup throughout the entire week. If you have nothing’s own true wireless earbuds, you’ll get full custom controls integrated into the Bluetooth menu.

Performance and Gaming

Now, what came as no surprise was when nothing revealed that the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 would be powering the nothing phone 2. This information was already common knowledge back in February. While it may not be the latest Qualcomm chipset, it’s more than good enough to ensure smooth sailing in whatever you’re up to, including realizing you have absolutely no idea what you’re actually supposed to be doing in Genshin Impact. No matter how many circles you run in or weird and seemingly pointless side quests you complete, you’ll be charmed by a stable frame rate, even on higher graphic settings. I did notice one or two stutters while gaming when things got a bit crazy, and on one occasion, the phone 2 did have a complete meltdown and crashed mid-game. However, overall, it provided a solid gaming experience. You have nothing’s gaming mode, which is essentially the stock Android effort, so it is rather limited compared to some rivals. But at least the notifications blocking works like a charm. Moreover, the Phone 2 can keep its cool as those precious hours of your all-too-finite existence go tumbling through the hourglass, never to be retrieved.

Nothing Phone 2 Battery Life

The battery is another aspect of phone 2 that doesn’t disappoint. It boasts a slightly larger 4700 milliamp-hour capacity cell, which typically takes at least six hours of screen-on time to drain, even if you’re actively using the camera and streaming music and podcasts in the background while the phone is in hibernation. Additionally, the 45-watt fast charging is one of the quickest around, allowing the nothing phone 2 to be fully refilled in under an hour, even when completely drained. This is certainly a feature that surpasses the likes of Pixel phones. In Phone 2 Wireless charging is also included, which adds to the overall convenience. and let’s not forget to mention that the tips of the charging cable are transparent now, which is a nice touch.

Cameras Test

So, let’s wrap up this delightful nothing phone 2 review with a closer look at the camera capabilities. This phone comes equipped with a fresh camera sensor, the Sim 50 Mega IMAX 890, similar to the OnePlus Nord 3 and even the OnePlus 11 flagship, with the added bonus of optical image stabilization. For this 2023 model, nothing has also upgraded the ISP, and the good news is that this combination of new hardware and software seems to have improved photo quality, at least in certain circumstances. In my tests, the images appeared natural and less processed compared to other mid-range phones I’ve recently tested, such as the Honor 90. Similar to Google’s Pixel 7A, The phone 2 can accurately reproduce colors captured in the wild, resulting in vivid and vibrant shots that look beautiful on the screen.

The nothing phone 2 also boasts more advanced HDR photo capture with 8 levels of exposure, an improvement over the measly 3 levels in the previous model. Although I didn’t notice a significant difference outdoors, you can trust this handset to handle challenging shots with bright backdrops or tricky lighting conditions. It usually delivers fine results without overprocessing the scene, unlike the iPhone’s tendency to do so. Low-light shots also turn out quite well, with minimal graininess. While the focus speed remains fast and responsive, the only drawback is the occasional blown-out light source that can detract from an otherwise decent photo. Naturally, there’s a portrait mode available, which can apply a snazzy bokeh effect without compromising the subject you’re shooting.

The second lens on the nothing phone 2 is an ultra-wide sensor, the 50-megapixel Samsung GN1. Despite using a different sensor from a different manufacturer, switching between the primary shooter and the ultra-wide lens is relatively seamless, with colors appearing just as natural. It’s worth noting that this phone 2 doesn’t include a telephoto lens, so zoom capabilities are limited. If you crop into your photos, you may notice pixelation if you’re too enthusiastic. Additionally, the phone 2 offers a 50-megapixel high-resolution mode, but the increase in detail is minimal and not really worth bothering with.

For video enthusiasts, nothing has also upgraded the video recording capabilities. You can now capture 4K footage at a fluid 60 frames per second, and once again, the performance is impressive. The stabilization helps prevent shaky footage when shooting on the move, and the overall picture quality is commendable, even in ambient light conditions. On the audio side, the phone 2 captures clear sound without being perturbed by strong gusts of wind.

The upgraded selfie camera, which now features a 32-megapixel IMX 715 shooter. It performs well in ambient conditions, although things can get a bit murky and grainy in challenging lighting situations. However, the camera handles strong backlighting reasonably well, and the portrait mode tends to work quite effectively.

Final Thought

The nothing phone 2 offers a range of new features and upgrades, justifying its price point. While some minor software quirks may be present, they are expected to be addressed in future updates. The sleek design, powerful performance, impressive camera capabilities, and long-lasting battery make the nothing phone 2 a compelling choice for those seeking a premium smartphone experience.

FAQs

90%

90%

Worth the Upgrade

The nothing Phone 2. And I must say, I really enjoyed my week using this as my full-time device. There are enough fresh and new features and upgrades packed inside to justify the price hike.

• Design

  10
• Nothing OS 2.0

  8.9
• Gylph Features

  8
• Display and Audio

  9.5
• Performance and Gaming

  8.5
• Battery Life

  9
• Cameras

  9
• User Ratings (7 Votes)
  4.7