I wasn’t sure what kind of endurance I was going to get from the Phone 2 between its 4,700 mAh battery and slightly older, less power-efficient chip. So while third-party app integration is still a work in development, it’s off to an interesting start.įinally, while it’s not quite as long as what you get from Google or Samsung, Nothing is promising three years of OS updates along with four years of regular security patches. That makes it easier to develop more custom Glyph integrations without needing to partner with every single app developer. Instead of using a special API, the LEDs are simply getting info from your notifications to update the lights. It’s a neat trick that could have a ton of potential. This was convenient for me because since my wife and I seem to be the only people we know that use Google Chat, I set that as my essential notification so I never miss her messages.Īnd while it’s limited to a single app for now, Nothing is even integrating its Glyph interface with a third-party app in Uber, so you can see a real-time arrival estimate for a car just by looking at the back of the phone. This way, you can put the phone facedown on a table and really pay attention to the people you're with. Features range from simple things like using its rear lights to show battery status or volume to more sophisticated things like what Nothing calls “Essential notifications.” That allows you to set specific apps to activate LEDs on the back of the phone. Nothing also added a new tab in the settings menu for its Glyph interface so you can get more granular control over all those LEDs. That’s a refreshing change from just reflexively doom scrolling through social media every time you have a spare minute. The idea is that, by making apps a touch harder to find, you’re forced to be more deliberate about how and when you use your phone. Not only does it look great, you can also make all the app icons grayscale and even remove the name of the app entirely. This time instead of a barebones version of stock Android, Nothing has included its Monochrome UI which consists of new widgets, wallpapers, icon packs and more that create a distinctive experience that ties into the phone's exterior design. SoftwareĬompared to the previous model, the Phone 2’s software may have the biggest number of improvements. Still, coming from the Phone 1, it’s a big improvement and if you aren’t an avid photographer, the Phone 2 is still serviceable. Nothing has a hard time keeping up with Google’s Night Sight mode in low light too, sometimes struggling when trying to nail white balance while also preserving detail. It’s only when you zoom to 100 percent that you notice things like color fringing and worse dynamic range. During the day, the Phone 2 captures images with bright, rich colors and good sharpness. And while the Phone 2’s 50MP main cam and 50MP ultra-wide cams are decent, they’re still a tier or two below what you get from a Pixel 7. Tuning a phone’s cameras and image processing can be extremely difficult when you don’t have the same level of resources as a trillion-dollar megacorp. It’s like having a cyberpunk art installation in your pocket. I’ve been told there are other creatures hiding as well, but I haven’t spotted them yet. Everything is buttoned up just enough, and there are human touches like arranging some of the components to look like an elephant. Its transparent Gorilla Glass back reveals a monotone assortment of components, allowing you to see things like its magnetic charging coil, power cables and more. DesignĬompared to most phones that are clad in a blank sheet of glass, the Phone 2 (which is available in white or a new gray color) is a stunner. In a sea of Android phones that often blend together, getting an eye-catching device for a reasonable price is definitely something notable. And while this added sophistication comes at an increased cost, it’s still very affordable at $600. But perhaps most importantly, the Phone 2 will officially be available in the US. Even the phone’s most distinctive feature – its Glyph interface – offers enhanced customization and added functionality. Not only does it have a significantly faster CPU, its cameras have been improved, and we’re finally seeing Nothing’s vision of a more thoughtful and deliberate UI. And while it looks similar to the previous model, it feels like Nothing is finally figuring out its groove. But after selling more than 500,000 Phone 1s last year, Nothing has returned with a sequel: the Phone 2. Being a smartphone startup is hard, particularly when you’re up against tech giants like Apple, Google and Samsung.
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