In its day, OnePlus was a brand that worked on phones for enthusiasts: the One even ran CyanogenMod. Over the years it transformed into a more traditional smartphone maker, but now one of its co-founders, Carl Pei, has started a new business. Is it a new beginning or just a continuation with a different name?
The Nothing (1) phone was announced earlier this week. This is a phone, in fact, a business, that prioritizes style. The goal is to break the monotony of current smartphone design trends (the company’s motto on Twitter is “We’re here to make technology fun again”).
A characteristic design element is transparency: like the (1) TWS ear, the phone (1) uses clear glass to display some of the internal elements. Nothing took advantage of it with the “Glyph interface,” which uses several white LED strips on the back for some lighting effects and notifications.
The phone also includes a custom launcher (which you can try on your current phone). There is also support for NFT from the box, as well as for remote control of certain functions of your Tesla. Let’s say the Nothing (1) phone was created for a particular crowd.
Does this limit your appeal? Or does perceived exclusivity (part of which is the invitation-only sales system) make the phone look even more appealing?
Because if you take out the glossy exterior, this could easily have been a OnePlus Nord model. This is a mid-range phone and priced at € 470 / £ 400/33 33,000, it is not so aggressively priced. This is for the 8/128 GB model, the 8/256 GB model is € 500 / £ 450 / € 36,000 and the 12/256 GB model is € 550 / £ 500 / € 39,000.
For this, you will get a Snapdragon 778G + (customized to support wireless charging), a 6.55 “HDR10 + OLED screen, 120 Hz with FHD + resolution (not an LTPO panel) and a 50 MP main camera (IMX766, 1 / 1.56 “with OIS). There is also an ultra-wide 50 MP unit (114 ° JN1, 1 / 2.76 “), stereo speakers and a 4,500 mAh battery with a fast charge of 33 W (0-50% in 30 min, 0-100% in 70 min), plus 15 W wireless charging.However, there is no telephoto camera, no microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Nothing promises three years of operating system updates (the phone starts with Android 12) and four years of security patches. This is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy A series and Google Pixel 6 phones.
Let’s take a look at the competition the Nothing phone (1) faces. We’ll start with the OnePlus 9. Its screen is basically the same and you’ll get the most powerful Snapdragon 888 chip set. The cameras are comparable (and feature Hasselblad modes), as does the battery. You can find an 8/128 GB phone for around € 550 with some shopping around.
The OnePlus Nord 2 usually costs € 400, but can be found for a little less. It has a smaller 6.43-inch AMOLED screen at 90 Hz and is powered by the Dimensity 1300, which should outperform the Snapdragon. The ultra large camera only has an 8 MP sensor and no wireless charging.
OnePlus 9 • OnePlus Nord 2T
The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G has a 120 Hz 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display (no HDR10 support) and runs on the not-so-exciting Exynos 1280 chips. The camera department is also pretty basic with a 64 MP (1 / 1.7 “, OIS) main and 12 MP Ultra wide. The 5,000 mAh battery is bigger but slower charging (also, no charge without A 6/128 GB drive costs € 360 at Samsung.com and a little less elsewhere.
You can also consider the Galaxy M53, which is more like the A73 than the A53. It has a larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED at 120 Hz (without HDR) and works with the less powerful Dimensity 900 chips. What it does have is the 108 MP main camera (no OIS), but the ultra wide 8 MP disappoint. The 4,500 mAh battery isn’t great for this size, but at least it does charge wirelessly. A 6/128 GB drive will cost you € 400. The A53 and M53 have microSD slots, but no 3.5mm jacks.
Maybe you will do better with the Galaxy S21 FE. It has a 120 Hz 6.4 “AMOLED display with HDR10 + and a Snapdragon 888 chipset, even in Europe. The main camera is 12 MP (1 / 1.76”, OIS) and 12 MP ultra wide (1 / 3.0 “) are nothing to highlight, but there is also an 8 MP 3x telephoto module (with OIS). This also has a 4,500 mAh battery with wireless charging support. The S21 FE and A53 they will have better software support than the M53.The S21 FE (6/128 GB) usually falls below € 500.
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G • Samsung Galaxy M53 • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
The Redmi Note 1 Pro + 5G in Europe is priced at € 400, has a 6.67 ”120Hz Super AMOLED display (HDR10) and works with the Dimensity 920. Like the M53, it has a 108PM main camera and a ultra wide 8MP. The phone has a 3.5mm jack and a microSD slot, plus a 4,500mAh battery with 120W fast charging (0-100% in 15 minutes, but wireless). You can pick one up for € 350 (6/128 GB drive) and you’ll get a microSD slot and a 3.5mm jack.
The Poco F4 uses the old but gold Snapdragon 870 and has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz (HDR10 +), a 6/128 GB drive costs € 400. The Poco X4 GT uses the most exciting Dimensity 8100 chip set and has a 6.6-inch LCD screen at 144 Hz (HDR10), plus a 3.5mm jack. Neither phone has particularly interesting cameras (64 + 8 + 2MP, with OIS on F4). As for the battery, they only have cable charging (67 W), the X4 GT battery is larger (5,080 mAh compared to 4,500 mAh).
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro + 5G • Xiaomi Poco F4 • Xiaomi Poco X4 GT
The Realme GT Neo 3T also caters for the Snapdragon 870 and includes a 6.62-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz (HDR10 +). The 64 + 8 + 2MP camera settings don’t impress here either. There is also a 5,000 mAh battery with fast charging of 80 W (cable only). An 8/128 GB phone sells for € 430, unless you want the Dragon Ball edition (8/256 GB for € 500).
The Realme GT2 runs on the Snapdragon 888 and has a 120 Hz 6.62 “AMOLED display (HDR10 +). The main camera uses the same IMX766 (50MP, 1 / 1.56” with OIS) as the Nothing phone, but the 8MP ultra wide is not the same. There is a 5,000 mAH battery with 65 W charge (0-100% in 30 minutes, wireless). An 8/128 GB drive is quite expensive at € 550.
Realme GT Neo 3T • Realme GT2
If software support is your main concern, you’ll find the Pixel 6 in some countries at € 530 (8/128 GB). It uses the Google Custom Tensor chipset and has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display at 90 Hz (HDR10 +). The 50 MP main sensor is large (1 / 1.31 “with OIS), the ultra wide 12 MP camera is back in resolution. The 4,610 mAh battery supports both wired and wireless charging.
Google Pixel 6
The Motorola Edge 30 also has a Snapdragon 778G +, albeit without the wireless charging modification. It has a 6.5-inch AMOLED display at 144 Hz (HDR10 +) and a 4,020 mAH battery with 33 W cable charge. The camera configuration is competitive with a 50MP main sensor (1 / 1.55 “, OIS) and 50MP ultra wide (1 / 2.76 “). The price at Motorola Germany is € 450 (for an 8/128 GB drive), but you can also find it for less.
The older Moto Edge 20 is also worth a look, it uses the original 778G chip and has a larger 6.7-inch 144 Hz AMOLED display (HDR10 +). The main camera has a 108 MP sensor (1 / 1.52 “, without OIS) and there is an 8 MP 3x telephoto lens, in addition to the ultra wide 16 MP. Like its brother in the series 30, has a small 4,000 mAh battery, you can pick one up for € 360.
The Moto G200 has a similar configuration, albeit with a 144 Hz LCD screen (HDR10) and a set of Snapdragon 888+ chips. The 108MP (1 / 1.52 “, no OIS) main camera is in place, but the TV module is gone. At least you get a larger 5,000 mAh battery (still without wireless charging). These cost about € 499 (for an 8/128 GB drive).
Motorola Edge 30 • Motorola Edge 20 • Motorola Moto G200 5G
Okay, it’s time to vote: who here will be part of the Nothing phone (1) owner community?
PS. if you are having trouble voting with the poll from the previous poll, cast your vote here.