If there may be one system you utilize greater than the rest, it’s your smartphone. Customers are spoiled foolish as of late with so many decisions, the place even mid-range handsets are able to delivering a near-perfect person expertise.
Nothing, the UK model spearheaded by OnePlus founder Carl Pei, is again with a sequel to its uniquely designed Nothing Cellphone (1), with the handset aptly referred to as the Nothing Cellphone (2).
It’s nigh unattainable to inform the distinction between this beginner and its predecessor at first look. The eye-grabbing Glyph UI remains to be there, albeit with customisable ringtones and lightweight show for a extra private contact.
The Nothing Cellphone (2) has shed a number of millimetres in thickness however has gained a wee little bit of top. Nonetheless, tipping the scales at simply 201.2g, it matches simply into the pocket.
The button structure is acquainted for many who are flirting with the thought of creating the bounce from iOS, and every button executes a unique operate primarily based on the quantity of strain utilized.
On the again lies further LEDs that energy the Glyph UI, which consists of a sequence of shapes and elements. With its clear glass again and rounded edges, you gained’t be faulted for spending time admiring the craftsmanship.
There’s a paradigm shift within the Nothing Cellphone (2) for the reason that again can talk with the person through the distinctive Glyph UI. Whereas there’s a studying curve to determine which patterns depict incoming messages, incoming calls, and different notifications, it needs to be second nature very quickly in any respect.
Heck, you simply may end up putting the telephone face down extra due to the Glyph UI.
The Nothing Cellphone (2) clearly resides within the higher band of the mid-range smartphone class, powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 system-on-chip that debuted late final yr.
This SoC is in no way outdated, by no means thoughts that 2023’s flagships are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. All the things runs quick with none hiccups, and it ought to final you effectively over the subsequent three years earlier than you begin to yearn for one thing newer and sooner.
The entrance incorporates a 6.7-inch (17cm) LTPO Oled show that provides wonderful efficiency. With a 2,412 x 1,080 pixel decision and 1,000 nits of brightness, your eyes are in for a deal with.
Energy customers will admire the LTPO know-how used for the reason that refresh price could be adjusted dynamically for optimum battery life.
There are two configurations to select from: 12GB RAM and 256GB of space for storing, or the identical quantity of RAM with double the space for storing. Since there is no such thing as a microSD reminiscence card slot, you may need to get the bigger capability mannequin from the get-go.
The ability button lies on the appropriate aspect of the handset, with quantity buttons on the other aspect. The under-display fingerprint sensor works quick, in case you favor that over a PIN or face unlock. Connectivity options embody NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, and GPS.
Whilst you ought to take particular care to not drop the Cellphone (2) right into a swimming pool, it’s IP54 rated for water and mud resistance. A spell beneath a lightweight drizzle mustn’t faze it, so be at peace bringing this in your out of doors runs.
Software program
Powered by its OS 2.0 which is predicated on Android 13, Nothing guarantees three main Android updates and 4 years of safety patches. In different phrases, when Android 16 rolls out in 2025, your Cellphone (2) will nonetheless be capable to purr together with the most recent Android model.
You’ll be able to persist with the monochrome look of the Nothing OS or return to color icons if you want. That stated, the monochrome interface that includes Nothing’s very personal font – which brings you again to the period of dot-matrix printers – could be very cool and attention-grabbing.
The diploma of customisation enables you to take away all app names, prepare them in a grid, or simply entry probably the most often used apps by enlarging the icons.
As for the Glyph UI, the LED strips behind will pulse and glow in tandem with vibration to visually inform you of an occasion, such because the particular person calling or messaging, the kind of app used, and far more.
Nothing has included six extra LED lights within the Cellphone (2) in contrast with its predecessor, growing its flexibility. As an illustration, you should use these LEDs to depict a extremely cool timer countdown.
Other than the a number of presets, there may be additionally a Glyph composer which you can obtain beforehand. This unleashes the inside maestro in you to create your very personal ringtones and LED patterns.
Apparently sufficient, experimental options have been baked into Nothing OS 2.0, together with connectivity to your Tesla to manage your automobile out of your telephone, assist for AirPods, and integration of the Glyph interface with third-party apps, amongst others.
Since they’re experimental, they won’t be that steady, however Nothing guarantees to launch them as full-fledged options sooner or later.
Digicam
This yr’s model nonetheless carries two 50MP cameras, albeit with a more recent Sony IMX890 sensor for the primary digicam that claims to supply improved autofocus and optical picture stabilisation.
The opposite 50MP ultra-wide digicam is powered by Samsung’s JN1 sensor, similar to the predecessor. Each rear cameras can deal with 4K recording at 60 fps to maintain up with the occasions. In entrance, the selfie digicam has acquired an improve to a 32MP shooter.
Just about all smartphone cameras are able to taking nice photographs beneath shiny gentle, even on entry-level handsets. The check of a great telephone digicam is how effectively it captures photographs in low-light situations, and simply how far it will probably zoom in earlier than dropping an excessive amount of element.
Nothing has labored onerous to enhance the digicam software program, which provides a big selection of choices for extra versatile photographs, together with customary photographs, macros, panoramic scenes, and portraits. A grid system helps you compose extra inventive photographs, whereas tapping on the display will allow you to deal with the specified topic/space.
There appears to be a problem with the dynamic vary at occasions, however it’s one thing that may be fastened through a future software program replace if Nothing works on it. The low-light efficiency is first rate however not nice, because it has bother reaching the appropriate white steadiness with out dropping an excessive amount of element.
General, the Nothing Cellphone (2)’s cameras have improved over its predecessor’s, however are nonetheless a step behind the flagship units from different manufacturers.
Battery
The 4,700 mAh battery bodes effectively for the Nothing Cellphone (2). It takes near an hour for a full cost from empty and is greater than able to lasting the complete day even if you’re searching the online, streaming music over a Bluetooth connection, and enjoying movies.
It’s going to take an actual energy person to completely drain the battery in a single work day’s price, which isn’t one thing that may be stated about different units in the identical class.
Charging is achieved at 45W through a wired connection, whereas these taking the wi-fi route should accept 15W. In the event you occur to have earbuds that assist wi-fi charging, the Cellphone (2) can be more than pleased to juice them up due to its 5W reverse wi-fi charging functionality.
The Glyph UI even comes with a charging meter on the backside LED close to the USB-C port, offering a visible indicator of how a lot time stays earlier than the handset is totally charged.
All in all, with costs beginning at RM2,999 for 256GB of storage and an extra RM500 for twice this quantity of space for storing, the Nothing Cellphone (2) is far steeper than what its predecessor price, though it’s justified primarily based on the present financial local weather and elements.
In the event you already personal the Nothing Cellphone (1), then the minimal enhancements won’t warrant an improve. For everyone else, the Cellphone (2) comes extremely really helpful as a flagship various, and is certainly one of many prime picks for a classy, premium mid-range handset that may flip heads.
Discover out extra in regards to the Nothing Cellphone (2) here.
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer solely to have circumstances mould him right into a programmer in a previous life. He has since moved on to write down about client electronics and different matters.
