July 28, 2023

2023-07-27 19:54:00

Launched earlier this month in Europe, the new Nothing Phone (2) hits the market as yet another option that has Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. However, it stands out mainly for its design that features LEDs on the back.

This has pleased many users, and the manufacturer also ensures that the Nothing Phone (2) has a new camera sensor much more improved than that found in the past generation.

Other small adjustments were also made to make the smartphone even more complete, but is it really worth it?

That’s what we’re going to try to answer in this hands-on.

design and accessories

The new Nothing Phone (2) was announced with a design very similar to its predecessor and that even includes the LEDs on the back.

The manufacturer justifies this lack of aesthetic change by stating that it was feedback from the public, who liked the iconic design of the past generation.

Even so, the manufacturer took care to make small adjustments, such as changing the layout of the top microphone and antennas. At the bottom, we have the audio output, USB-C port and also the SIM card drawer.

Despite the large size and weight above 200 grams, the digital reader under the device’s display is in the ideal place and it does not cause much effort to reach it.

Finally, in addition to highlighting the use of recycled materials in the production of Nothing Phone (2), the company only sends the smartphone, USB-C cable, SIM chip removal key and manuals. In other words, no charger.

screen and hardware

Nothing Phone (2) hit the market with a new 6.7-inch LTPO OLED panel that has FHD+ resolution and supports refresh rate up to 120 Hz.

In practice, this display can vary between 1 and 120 Hz, something essential to save battery. In addition, for those who enjoy using their smartphone outdoors or leaving home in full midday sun, we will highlight here that the maximum brightness of the panel reaches 1600 nits.

This screen also supports HDR10 and is well calibrated when it comes to colors. To ensure that top-of-the-line performance, Nothing Phone (2) was announced with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset.

Combined with up to 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage, this chipset will be able to deliver powerful performance to run any game on the Play Store.

In terms of connectivity, we have 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC for payments. The smartphone even has three microphones to optimize noise cancellation in recordings, and the sound is stereo, since the call speaker is used as a secondary channel.

Finally, and very important, the Nothing Phone (2) has a 4,600 mAh battery with support for 45W wired and 15W wireless fast charging.

Nothing Phone (2)

6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen with Full HD+ resolution Hole-hole display and refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Platform Adreno 730 GPU 8 GB or 12 GB RAM 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB internal storage 32 MP front camera Two rear cameras: Main lens with 50 MP sensor (OIS) Ultrawide lens with 50 MP sensor 5G connection, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and USB-C Fingerprint reader under cover screen IP54 certification 4,700 mAh battery with fast charging 45W (wired) or 15W (wireless) 5W reverse charging Android 13 with Nothing OS 2 Dimensions: 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm Weight : 201 grams

Software

With native Android 13 running under Nothing OS 2.0, Nothing Phone (2) stands out for having a well-developed interface.

In practice, we have a responsive software that usually performs well to open applications, switch between them and an interesting care for the animations.

As for the software policy, here we have the guarantee that the Nothing Phone (2) will receive three versions of Android and four more years of security updates. That is, it will reach Android 16.

Security updates are released every two months. Speaking a little more regarding the unique features of the software for this smartphone, you can set the order in which the rear LEDs flash manually.

You can also set an animation to show via LEDs when you’re turning the volume up or down. The LED can turn red to identify that you are recording video and more.

There is also support for third-party applications to drive the LEDs. In practice, you might even find these LEDs cool to show your friends, but in the long run the user will certainly forget regarding their existence.

Cmeras

In Nothing Phone (2) we have a new main sensor of 50 MP, which is the Sony IMX890. He is also joined by a new ISP.

This results in sharp, high-quality images, even in nighttime environments. It is interesting to note that the color capture is as expected and that the post-processing software does not overdo the saturation.

The ultrawide camera is the same as the previous generation. That is, it has 50 MP and uses the Samsung JN1 sensor. This results in photos similar to what we had in the Nothing Phone model (1).

That is, the manufacturer did not make much effort here and did not even touch the post-processing. Still, we don’t have bad pictures. Far from it. It’s a worthy result.

You’ll get good landscape and outdoor shots. In the super zoom option, the photos will come out more or less. There is a loss of quality because most of the zoom is digital.

As for selfies, we have balanced photos here without exaggeration from this 32 MP front camera, which also records videos at 1080p at 60 fps.

On the other hand, the rear sensors record 4K videos at 60 fps with ok stabilization in records with the main sensor.

first impressions

Nothing Phone (2) was launched in Europe for 679 euros, something around R$ 3,574 in direct conversion and without considering Brazilian taxes.

Despite the price considered high for a smartphone from a new brand, the device’s data sheet is consistent and makes it a good deal for anyone looking for a “different” cell phone.

The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is a chipset that does the job, the camera set is better and the software has a good update policy.

However, if we take into account that the Xiaomi 13 can already be found cheaper and that the Galaxy S23 is priced just a little more expensive, in the Brazilian scenario, it is worth taking the Korean cell phone. That’s because, in addition to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy, this device also has Samsung’s warranty here.

For those who want to take a risk on imports, Xiaomi’s smartphone is also a good deal. That is, the price of the Nothig Phone (2) makes it a niche cell phone, but it is clear that this should change over the next few months and it may have good value for money in the near future.

But, as the device is not officially sold in Brazil, the consumer will need to import and will have to deal with almost certain taxation at customs.

The Nothing Phone (2) is not yet available in Brazilian stores. To be notified when it arrives.
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