• By Vikas Yadav
  • Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:50 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

JE Technology Desk: Nothing Phone (2), arguably the most awaited handset of 2023, launched in India on Tuesday to "make tech fun" again. It will sit next to the OnePlus 11 and 11R 5G, OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ 5G, Google Pixel 7, Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, and the newly relaunched Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (with Snapdragon 888) in the Android world.

The sequel to Phone (1) debuted with a faster chip, more mature Glyph Interface, superior software and other worthy advancements. But do these upgrades justify the premium price tag? Well, here is a full review that will try to answer this.

Also Read: Nothing Phone (2) Launch: You Can Buy The Phone (2) Offline In India On July 14 In This City

Nothing Phone (2) Display:

Phone (2)'s 6.7-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED panel is a treat for the eyes. Colours are close to natural and produced excellently on the 10-bit screen. The brightness meter ensures the content is legible in broad daylight. It streams 4K HDR videos on YouTube without any hiccups. Plus, good-sounding stereo speakers add to the multimedia viewing experience on the handset. But if you belong to the group that leans toward the curves (like me), this flat panel would partly disappoint.

Nothing Phone (2) Design and Build:

While it is a two-handed phone and is on the heavier side, the curved back (that Nothing calls: Pillowed Glass) makes things somewhat easy. The metal frame and glass back combo offers a premium touch and feel. However, the variant I tested attracts fingerprints easily. CEO Carl Pei (in the launch clip) claimed the current design is an outcome of the 54th prototype. He added the firm skipped a complete makeover to make it recognisable and "build icons" to cement a brand identity. And I take his point.

Nothing Phone (2) Performance:

The 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 sails through multitasking like a piece of cake. From surfing across multiple Chrome tabs to scrolling social media, lags and stutters seemed non-existent. The verdict is the same for gaming. I played games such as Asphalt on high settings, and it performed well. During my stress test, one thing that impressed me was thermals. After playing HDR 4K video for around an hour after intense gaming, the smartphone's temperature was still under control.

Also Read: Lava AGNI 2 5G Review: Not Just Looks, AGNI 2 Packs Potent Performance And Software

Nothing OS 2.0 and Glyph Interface:

Phone (2) runs on the new Nothing OS 2.0, which packs some much-needed upgrades. Though not as feature-rich as other software UIs (like OneUI), I adored the non-negotiable approach to ads and bloatware. The OS has numerous customisation options, including new widgets for home and lock screen, customisable folders, custom ringtone maker and extra use cases for Glyph Interface.

Speaking of updates in Glyph LEDs, Glyph Timer, and progress meter in apps such as Uber to track service requests are coupled in the OS. But I still ended up unlocking the Phone (2) for updates on my order. It also gets dual apps and app lock features. To polish version 2.0 and make it future-proof, Nothing has promised three Android updates. Plus, haptics adds to the satisfying experience of the software. They are implemented amazingly throughout the UI.

Minor bugs, such as the volume rocker LED not responding to adjustments and pictures not loading in full resolution while swiping them from the camera app, are present in the software. During my lengthy camera testing, I observed shutter lags while clicking pictures.

Nothing Phone (2) Battery:

Nothing has revised the battery pack to 4700mAh, which now supports 45W wired and 15W wireless charging. The battery can easily survive over a day of medium usage (as was the case with me). Nothing claims the battery can charge within an hour with maximum supported power. A 15W adapter took over two hours to charge the battery from 0 to 100 per cent.

Nothing Phone (2) Camera:

The 50MP + 50MP might portray an identical tale on paper, but the primary sensor has been upgraded to IMX890. It captures excellent shots in daylight. And hands down, this is the best wide-angle shots you can get on a phone at this price segment. Check for yourself:

2. Ultra-wide

The 2x sensor captures well-detailed shots. However, I missed a telephoto lens considering the premium a buyer will pay.

In night or dull lighting conditions, the sharpness deteriorates. But I would still not call it a big dent in quality.

It can shoot 4K 60 FPS videos from the back cameras. Considering a spike of content creators in India, the same configuration on the selfie camera would have been a welcome addition. The 32MP front sensor captures well-detailed shots in daylight and slightly soft skin tones in artificial light. Despite a missing zoom lens, this is among the top camera phones in the segment.

Verdict: Should You Buy The Nothing Phone (2)?

Considering the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has already completed its first anniversary, a price tag of around Rs 45,000 seems a steep ask. However, Nothing Phone (2)'s striking design, signature Glyph LEDs, clean custom software and good cameras compensate to some extent. But still, a more competitive starting price would have made it an unbeatable Android champion.