Hey team! Just to clarify, it is the 8+ Gen 1 chipset being used in the Phone (2) - not the 8 Gen 1; however, all thoughts remain the same. Just wanted to correct that slight error on my part! Also, in case anyone is wondering, all camera related issues are still present on the latest 2.0.2a version of the software (I'm still using the phone as I write this). Hope you enjoy the video!
That pop sound when you switch from silent to ring was there on my phone 1 when it ran Android 12,but isn't there now at first i thought it was a bug it isn't after watching your video. The sound is irritating, it doesn't feel pleasant at all. Shutter lag is still present on my phone 1 and it's too bad and sometimes frame drop occurs, hope they rectify this through Nothing OS 2.0.
@@sebastiento9695The S23 Ultra has the 8 Gen 2 chip. I think you might mean the S22 Ultra? Also, I never said that the 8 Gen+ 1 is a mid-range or bad chipset... only that the Nothing Phone (1)s chipset/performance was already fantastic, so I'm hoping switching to the upgraded, flagship level chipset hasn't been the cause of the phone's price increasing.
I find it so interesting that you were hoping for a matte finish back. I don't foresee Nothing ever doing something like that. Their entire design aesthetic is full transparent, with a clear view at the meticulously laid out internals. Making the back glass matte would obscure that. I wouldn't hold my breath for that in a Nothing produict anytime soon.
@@Arrow7700 yeah, but that would obscure the detailed interior or Nothing devices. I can’t imagine any world where they’d do that. Even a subtle amount would reduce the visibility of the intricate design work they are so proud of inside the device.
@@Lyrisius I just wonder what you guys are picturing as a matte finish, because you can totally do a matte finish that isn't too strong and wouldn't ruin the design language nor blur the lights a significant degree. Like, there's degrees to this.
Ï can also confirm that I've had my Phone (1) for a year now and its performing very well and better than any other phone I've owned (samsung, iPhone or Sony). Still 1,5 - 2 days of battery life and phone is still delivering that wow-factor and premium feel like it came with out of the box.
I really enjoy using the glyphs for alerts when I get a notification from a specific person. That way, I can leave my phone downwards at my desk while at work, and now that specific people in my life can still reach me, while less important notifications leave me alone till I turn the phone around. Apart from that, I agree the use cases feel quite limited for now.
It would be nice if they just expanded the current system with the "imortant glyph light" but you could just set different apps or contacts to light different glyphs, making it more useful.
I'm here just to say that I truly love the panoramic format that you record in! It fills my wide monitor perfectly so viewing your videos is just a visual pleasure!
Nothing 2 phone has upgraded to EXACTLY the same regular and wide camera modules, and they are EXACTLY the same SONY modules as what's in the iPhone 15. But the Android/Qualcomm camera software is shit so every manufacturer enhances their camera software. Nothing software was DRASTICALLY upgraded a few months ago, AFTER this video was made.
I personally feel like the glyph needs to be integrated into the lock screen. Like re-invent the lock screen and how it functions with information that is accessible and interactive while only being on the lock screen. Even if I owned a Nothing phone, you would never ever catch me putting my front screen face down even with a screen protector.
Yeah, I feel if there was a way to mirror what was on the back with software, while getting the front of the phone to detect whether it was facing up or down (and disabling the glyphs on the back if front is up), would be a really great idea. Think about it - people who don't want to risk the screen getting scratched could have the back be "mirrored" onto the front, preferably with the always-on display. That would give users the "coolness" of the glyphs, while keeping their screens safe. It could be a bigger part of nothing's brand. If they execute the glyphs in some smarter ways - maybe integrating widgets into them, or adding ways to portray more info, it could really become the "staple" of the company instead of a gimmick. I feel it has a lot of potential, but just needs to be improved upon. Take the dynamic island for example, I'm not a big fan of apple, but that is a neat way of showing software with hardware. If nothing can achieve something more interconnected - more whole and congruent, then they may really be onto something.
@@Farrcast7 tech moved fast like 6-7 years ago these days we could ( and it's been done) line up phones from the past 3-4 years and you couldn't tell which is which
The use case for the glyphs is pretty narrow, but I fall into this group. When I'm at my desk, I always have my phone on mute and the screen facing down. I even did this with my previous phones. With the Phone (1) I now don't miss important calls anymore and don't feel distracted all the time. And I use a case which raises the screen a bit from the surface beneath it. And I also like this feature for social gatherings. If I leave the phone in my pockets, I get the urge to check it from time to time, to make sure that I don't miss anything. Now with the phone (1) I can put it face down on the table and see, in an unintrusive way, if somebody calls me or if I get a message. So for me personally, the glyphs are second nature now.
i've switched from android to iphone for the first time this year and i've just loved the symmetrical bezels. The fact that nothing has this is amazing. I hate curved screens, and the pixel 7's flat screen is nice, but then it's not symmetrical. I just love the flat screen symmetrical bezel design, and It is so important to me that I might just consider a nothing phone in the future for that reason.
This is the first nothing phone review that is not sucking off Carl. You are the only tech reviewer to actually talk about the phones issues and probably puts you are a brand risk with them, but this felt like an actual review. Everyone praised this phone from the big main tech phone reviewers, but much respect for the review and actually talking about your thoughts about the phone and be a realist with the gliph functionality.
His review is really in dept but like he has said, it's great phone. I own one and use daily. Cameras have to be improved and yes Glyph are gimmicky but they are also here to make those recognizable. At the end, good design, good Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 experience with Power and Battery efficiency and cool Nothing OS 2.0 features. On Android market, you don't have any other smartphone like this one, with no bloatware too. Pixel are for Cameras but Tensor is not better for Battery Life ans Gaming than 8+ Gen 1.
@@iAfroTech I got the pixel 8 pro for $399.99 through my carrier. After the first few weeks of updates the phone is more smooth and apps don't stutter as much anymore. I get about two days with this phone with my use case.
@@doomy_doomy2225 How much do you pay for Calling and 4G/5G datas ? I’m asking this question because the way you write it sounds like a good deal but living in France, we don’t do that. People mostly may in 1-6 times with no fees on Amazon or mainstream tech stores. We also change carriers often because there are a lot of special offers and we don’t like to take long term subscription through carriers anymore.
You need to get hands-on Phone 2 to understand it truly. Haptics were good, so are the speakers unlike the rant by these youtubers. But oh my! The software experience and the sheer kick you get out of it. That itself deserves all the applause and no joke pls don't compare with Oneplus' ColorOS
@@tomhaerinck9604 I'd say the cameras were decent. Do the cameras justify the price- No FOR NOW. Are they bad?- No. I'm sure team Nothing will provide necessary updates to polish the cameras for better
I feel its obvious that Nothing is trying to be the iPhone Status or Level phone for Android, even the Camera UI looks very very similar to the iPhone, which is not bad, I really like it, and like that approach too, because its not imitating everything, its enhancing it and being unique at the same time, great video Sam, it's always nice to see your top notch quality videos !
I'm glad someone finally said it. The glyph interface is a useless gimmick that adds nothing of value to the phone. No sane person would put their phone face down and try to decipher the glyphs to see what notifications they have, instead of using the always-on display (AOD) and risking scratching the screen. While the phone is decent overall, there are many better options on the market that offer a better value for your money.
I understand your point, but I can't really agree on not putting phones upside down. I'm doing it, well, actually my phone is lying screen right now on my desk, although I'm not using NP2 nor NP1. It's 50/50 for me how I put my phone down. Obviously no one would put their phone like that on grass or rocks, but why not when you're home on table. Or restaurant, where you don't want to read every notification so you know if it's something important, you can just set a light to lit when you got an email or text. I don't want to justify Nothing or convince you to start liking Phone 2, I just want to share my opinion that Glyphs are not COMPLETELY useless.
Not everyone is the same, as for me, the essential notification made it not a gimmick. I always use a case, meaning the display is a bit higher than just the display laying on flat surface with a risk of damage. The phone also has no chin which makes this A CRAZY phone for the price with the android experience. I would never use a AOD as it just takes batter.
My phone is always face done when you have a nice case its not a problem and cases for nothing phone show the glyphs. I hate when people assume for everyone like they know everything. Not everyone act like you
Name a better phone for less than £600? It’s performance is near market leading for its price, other than the camera. To my knowledge, at least. The glyphs may not be useful for YOU, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be for other people. I very regularly use timers as I easily lose track of time, so the timer on the glyph would help me a lot, especially because I wouldn’t get distracted while checking it. A similar thing goes for the important notification area of the glyph, and using the whole thing as a light. All would be useful features for me and many others.
I don’t think they’d change their design so drastically; I’m intrigued by the design and that’s what’s reeling me in from being an Apple user. I don’t get why so many users of Nothing think that the second phone would derive so much from their first. It would be cool to see but typically phone companies don’t like to switch up the product too much, it’s stupidly seen through every major phone company out there. The design gets tweaks and updates from version to version, but major changes or overhauls are what new devices are for.
What I like about the design of this phone is that the camera cutout doesn’t sit on the top bar like any other android phone i’m seeing. It looks really clean.
I like the glyph on the back of my Nothing Phone 1. Like you've stated, if you're worried about scratching your screen then buy a better screen protector or just don't set it down on your display. Some cases also raise the display a little bit off the table/surface which helps keep the display looking its best. Also if you're unable to keep yourself from being on you're phone then maybe that person lacks self control. Shouldn't have to rely on a company to help us out with it. If someone is truly worried about it then buy a dumb phone. Those are my thoughts
Or maybe they have ADHD. Modern mobiles are designed to be dopamine pumps, which completely screws with our brains. The fact this company made a phone that works with my kind of brain is wonderful.
i use a clear case with a slight 'lip' to the front and so have the phone face down and its great to see the glyph flash at me at work wjen there is a notification and the front screen wont scratch either!
Solid video man, i'm glad you are adding extra character to your videos. I can tell a Sam Beckman video in just a few seconds even if there is no Sam or his voice in the video.
Wow, dude, what a video review. Loved every moment. I just bought a Samsung, but I kinda wish I had waited and got the Phone 2. I like the creativity and freshness of the software.
Gimmick is indeed right. There is no way I would bother trying to remember blinky patterns to determine a notification. I would just look at the screen on the phone, or on my watch.
Thankfully someone talks about telephoto lenses! Do you think companies only use them in higher end phones to just add something more or to make you buy the more expensive variant?
Using both the NP2 and iPhone 13PM, the NP2 is the clear winner ergonomically. In hand it is a better use/feel. For me, the NP1 was not available in the US.
I believe the best size for most ppl is the S23 6.1 or at max, the iPhone 14 6.1 (non Pro). Everything else becomes big, or mostly gigantic. Then it's not a phone, it's a mini tablet.
@@doncorleone9297 Exactly my point I personally use IP13 and it’s so convenient to use even while traveling or anywhere. Wherease I got my hands on 14PM recently and that phone is like carrying a stone along with you. It doesn’t feel’s comfortable in pocket as well
I don't agree with some takes from this video... Quick photos in sequence can be solved with burst mode, not really much of a problem there. Placing the phone screen down with a screen protector is totally fine, I've used both Phone (1) and (2), no screen problems, I don't get why it's such a big deal. The glyphs on the back are part gimmick part useful. I use the essential glyph all the time for example... it's nice to place to phone down and not worry about missing something important but staying away from your phone. This reviewer totally missed the point imo. The new UI elements on NOS 2.0 are supposed to complement and integrate better with the hardware, which they succeed at... no mention about this at all. Not a very good review unfortunately.
I think blaming Nothing for not giving a telephoto would be wrong because no one ever says that to the Z Flip or to the OnePlus 11R or the Pixel 7. Yes a telephoto lens would have been amazing but I won't criticise the brand for not including it. What I really do want is spatial audio support. Much needed. A simple software update can add that. Also I really use the Glyph Timer a lot. You can add a quick settings toggle for that. And my phone remains face down because their official case is slightly lifted and it protects the display, so Glyphs are useful to me. You can set different sounds and Glyph patterns for different apps and people.
Those other three phones you mentioned all have other, more expensive phones that have telephoto lenses. Nothing doesn't offer any phone with a telephoto lens. I would absolutely buy a more expensive phones from Nothing if it had a telephoto lens.
Great unbiased review. Love the worthwhile comparison between the Phone 1 & Phone 2. Completely agree about the Glyphs. Whilst this review hasn't given me a clear reason to pay extra on the Phone 2 over the 1, I still want one 😆. Many thanks for this review. Top job.
Love your videos! I have the Phone (2) and I absolutely love it, but also agree with your points! The haptics and speakers could definitely be better (my Oneplus 8 is better), but beyond those, I'm pretty satisfied. Pretty excited to see how Nothing matures in the smartphone industry - once they get past cementing their presence through their iconic design, R&D will surely apply in other areas we want excellence!
@@SurajThota they are pretty good to be honest! My previous phone was the OnePlus 8 which had ok camera, and it's an improvement! The selfie camera on phone 2 is amazing, so much detail!
@@Krooks522 very good still!! I'm impressed tbh haha, I still use it as a secondary phone for gaming and I kinda miss the curved screen, to my surprise. The battery drains just a bit faster. Main reason I switched was a faster processor, 120hz, better battery and software support.
I've always been team Pixel. Had the Pixel 7 but i was tired of my phone lagging and randomly rebooting. So i decided to give the nothing phone 2 a chance and in very happy with this phone. You get great software, get performance, amazing battery life (i got 9hr sot one day) and a more than good enough camera. Yes the Pixel is better. But not by a lot. Only thing i miss from tht pixel is the call screen feature. But being android. I'm sure ill get that in an update eventually. For under $600 this is a really good phone that will last you 3-4 years that anyone would be happy with.
I upgraded this xmas from OnePlus 6T - the award-winning phone from 2018, that Carl Pei worked on. I am very happy so far! I want to support the work that Carl & his team are doing as they are going in the right direction, finally. I have had Pixel 1, 2, (overheating low-battery phones), and Pixel 3 had reboot-gate which bricked MANY phones. I would never buy pixel as I can see it's just a rebranded HTC POS phone.
Great review, I've been saving from the moment of the release of phone (2) and watching every video, but you actually changed my mind about buying the phone (2) and just go with the phone (1) and upgrade it to the newer version in the future or buy another phone at the same price!
I wish there was a phone with the same button placement (vol rocker on the left, power on the right), high end hardware, nice brand, clean android, cheaper than 1000eur. But we have what we have.
it's not actually flagship (aka high-end), in the grand scheme of things. It could be considered midrange (high end within nothing ecosystem). It is not competing with Iphone pro max or the s23 ultra but it is in line with the google pixel 7 pro (Google Flagship) more or less. But given that Pixel 7 pro that is ip68. I doubt I would submerge my phone or there is an instance I am near water. but the extra dust protection would benefit me. hopefully in Nothing Phone 3 it will be there eventually.
a lot of the other reviews nailed the point of the glyphs tho, to put down your phone and only interact with it when you really need to when you set the glyphs to give you notifications you would immediately respond to, they are there so we can lessen our connection without being totally disconnected, yes i know a smart watch can do the same but it has the same pitfalls of just grabbing out attention as much as the phones themselves but the glyphs just work to tell us "Hey you need to look at this" and not "Hey look at this, and this, and this" which phones and smart watches do
I have an vivo phone. I has an AOD which shows icons (email, WhatsApp messages) if I've got any notification from them. How would that be different from this?
in my opinion the glyph interface is completely useless when you think that you can do everything and more with a similar always on display, they can simply put a virtual color indicator or something like that in the aod to replace the entire glyph interface
The point isn't to be useful. It's to make a cool looking selling point over its rivals. Sell people on it makes them look cool and not on its better than X phone. Tbh I think that's a good idea because from the midrange up barely anyone actually needs or uses the best parts but would appreciate a unique design.
Tbh it's kinda important for me, the flip to glyph helps me with work. You don't have to switch it to dnd or reduce the volume. It helps me when I'm in meetings or playing games and only paying attention to notifs if it's important via essential glyph. Although I need it for specific contacts and that'll make it more useful
Actually, it's very useful. The essential notifications are very nice because all you have to do is to glance at your phone to figure out if your phone is worth checking. You don't need to check it as often because you could've missed a notification. As somebody mentioned before, flip to glyph is also nice. It's like a vibration mode but for your eyes which is refreshing and particularly useful when you have the phone in front of you on the table. Just to inform you, initially I also thought it's just a gimmick.
Thanks you for sharing your thoughts on this phone. I’m in the market to replace mine and my wife’s old iPhones with someone totally different, and why I don’t think she would like this phone, it appeals to me. Appreciate your opinion.
My S10+ motherboard crap out , $200 for repair. After an exhaustive research and watching your video I got the Nothing 1 for $380. I’m happy as a clam. Thanks
I gave up my Pixel 7 for this. And im very impressed with this phone. You get great software, amazing performance, amazing battery life (i got 9hr SOT one day) and the camera is more than good enough for whatever i used it for. Yes the Pixel 7 camera was better. But not by miles like some TH-camrs make you believe. I didn't miss my Pixel 7 using this phone. I only missed the "call screening feature" but with this being Android. Im sure ill get that in an update eventually. This phone is a flagship for $600 a phone that will last you 3-4 years. I can recommend this to anyone that doesn't want to spend a lot of money. I've been very happy with this. I can't wait to see what Nothing does worh the nothing 3 hoping for a telephoto lens 🤞🤞🤞
A better aesthetic update would be to integrate glyphs on the sides of the phone. Much more useful for notifications. I never put my phone face down. 🤔
I usually put my phone screen down because I'm more worried about scratching the camera, or the usually huge, glossy camera bump. We need better designed camera placement in general...
I was on the brink of buying the phone 2 just when their blue bubble fiasco erupted. Their obsession with Iphone in which they are willing go go over their head to become the Androids Iphone, even if they sacrificed the one thing no one can argue - Apple does right (security) to do so. Took an Xperia 1 V instead for almost double the cost but I felt the dedication and features sony crammed inside that phone deserved my hard earned money
This was a great video and I needed to see it. I'm looking at possible future replacement phones at the moment (need to save up first) and was seriously looking at the Nothing phones. I was wondering whether the Nothing 2 was really worth the extra money. Ok here in the EU the 2 is only €100 more because it seems to be on a permanent discount. However I do like the slightly smaller size of the Nothing 1 and the darker back. The 2a is about to be released soon, so that will be interesting to see as well. I suspect no wireless charging though, and I don't like the 2 cameras in the middle placement but let's see if there's a special reason for that.
I just changed from an S22 ultra to a oneplus 11…never had a oneplus im enjoying it because its more stock android than samsung and is super fast and enough for what I need…maybe next year ill try the nothing phone 3 but Im all about the android update commitments I need at least three years
Nothing phone 2 mini with high specs and performance including all Nothing phone 2 features and of course display should be 6.1 with everlasting Battery. If these things are achieved by the company I am damn sure they rule the market 2023-2025.
Interesting fact about the chip in this phone: It's actually the snapdragon 8+ gen 1, notice the +. It actually makes a difference and it's better than the regular gen 1. I think I heard about it on one of Nothing's videos.
Glyph interface is a nice gimmick with limited functionality, I agree. It does essentially the same as a 5-year old Samsung Note device with a colored notification LED (you can customize that as well to display what kind of notification you are receiving). Yes, the LED can't display a clock timer or a charging animation but who really cares? All these are nuances. As for the comment of "I hope Nothing doesn't sacrifice R&D resources for Glyph interface", yes, they have to do that because other than the Glyph interface, this phone has ZERO differentiation factor. They have to double-down on the Glyphs.
@@arjix8738 I agree with the SW aspect. I think they are trying to bring back the good old OnePlus vibes under the Nothing brand. I am seriously considering getting a Phone (2) at this moment, regardless of the Glyph gimmick.
Thanks for noting the icon packs i really like using custom icons. A less smooth app load is decent price to pay for using an icon pack. Hope they fix it someday.
I agree. By hyping up the glyph & the ringtone composer & neglecting the all important camera quality, Nothing has made a mistake. In this price range there are a lot of other worthy contenders. Me, I'm looking forward now to the Honor 90 Pro!
I think we can get a quite accurate guesstimation about how much (or less) invested the team is to improve usability/features, when we take a moment to acknowledge that it took them over a year to equip the NP1 with the ability so actually SEE waiting/missed messages/calls on THE design feature #1 - the glyph interface. Yep. NP1 could only show arriving messages, couldn't indicate waiting ones for over a year :)
I kindve disagree with the glyph notifications not being useful. IF we are able to customize who/what we are receiving notifications from then we can decide to pick up and look at our phone or not. Yes still overally a little gimicky but i believe it does have its use cases. The glyph timer should just automatically be connected with the normal clock timer and not be a separate thing.
Hey team! Just to clarify, it is the 8+ Gen 1 chipset being used in the Phone (2) - not the 8 Gen 1; however, all thoughts remain the same. Just wanted to correct that slight error on my part!
Also, in case anyone is wondering, all camera related issues are still present on the latest 2.0.2a version of the software (I'm still using the phone as I write this).
Hope you enjoy the video!
That pop sound when you switch from silent to ring was there on my phone 1 when it ran Android 12,but isn't there now at first i thought it was a bug it isn't after watching your video. The sound is irritating, it doesn't feel pleasant at all. Shutter lag is still present on my phone 1 and it's too bad and sometimes frame drop occurs, hope they rectify this through Nothing OS 2.0.
Your wallpaper and icon packs name plzz
I seriously don't get why a lot of reviewers keep saying that it's a mid range chipset when it's an upgraded chipset from last years flagship.
@@asceticdavidi agree ahah it's irritating, the s23 ultra has it too, is that mid range? 😂
@@sebastiento9695The S23 Ultra has the 8 Gen 2 chip. I think you might mean the S22 Ultra?
Also, I never said that the 8 Gen+ 1 is a mid-range or bad chipset... only that the Nothing Phone (1)s chipset/performance was already fantastic, so I'm hoping switching to the upgraded, flagship level chipset hasn't been the cause of the phone's price increasing.
I find it so interesting that you were hoping for a matte finish back. I don't foresee Nothing ever doing something like that. Their entire design aesthetic is full transparent, with a clear view at the meticulously laid out internals. Making the back glass matte would obscure that. I wouldn't hold my breath for that in a Nothing produict anytime soon.
You can absolutely have matte transparent backing. It would just have slight frosting effect that could be very minimal
@@Arrow7700 yeah, but that would obscure the detailed interior or Nothing devices. I can’t imagine any world where they’d do that. Even a subtle amount would reduce the visibility of the intricate design work they are so proud of inside the device.
100%
I totally agree! It's such a strange comment from the reviewer. Matt finish would also blur the led lights and totally ruin that idea as well.
@@Lyrisius I just wonder what you guys are picturing as a matte finish, because you can totally do a matte finish that isn't too strong and wouldn't ruin the design language nor blur the lights a significant degree. Like, there's degrees to this.
Ï can also confirm that I've had my Phone (1) for a year now and its performing very well and better than any other phone I've owned (samsung, iPhone or Sony). Still 1,5 - 2 days of battery life and phone is still delivering that wow-factor and premium feel like it came with out of the box.
I really enjoy using the glyphs for alerts when I get a notification from a specific person. That way, I can leave my phone downwards at my desk while at work, and now that specific people in my life can still reach me, while less important notifications leave me alone till I turn the phone around. Apart from that, I agree the use cases feel quite limited for now.
It would be nice if they just expanded the current system with the "imortant glyph light" but you could just set different apps or contacts to light different glyphs, making it more useful.
I'm here just to say that I truly love the panoramic format that you record in! It fills my wide monitor perfectly so viewing your videos is just a visual pleasure!
Help me get it
It's also noticeably different when displaying in PIP on a phone
The intro ♥
the ads❗
Gimmick. Why so obsessed with useless led strips?
@@kanji.debianTo showoff on people’s face, like how Apple does with their glowing apple logo on macs back.
The whole video 🖤
@@twentyone3349do you work for free? Just asking
Nothing 2 phone has upgraded to EXACTLY the same regular and wide camera modules, and they are EXACTLY the same SONY modules as what's in the iPhone 15. But the Android/Qualcomm camera software is shit so every manufacturer enhances their camera software. Nothing software was DRASTICALLY upgraded a few months ago, AFTER this video was made.
I personally feel like the glyph needs to be integrated into the lock screen. Like re-invent the lock screen and how it functions with information that is accessible and interactive while only being on the lock screen. Even if I owned a Nothing phone, you would never ever catch me putting my front screen face down even with a screen protector.
Yeah, I feel if there was a way to mirror what was on the back with software, while getting the front of the phone to detect whether it was facing up or down (and disabling the glyphs on the back if front is up), would be a really great idea. Think about it - people who don't want to risk the screen getting scratched could have the back be "mirrored" onto the front, preferably with the always-on display. That would give users the "coolness" of the glyphs, while keeping their screens safe. It could be a bigger part of nothing's brand. If they execute the glyphs in some smarter ways - maybe integrating widgets into them, or adding ways to portray more info, it could really become the "staple" of the company instead of a gimmick. I feel it has a lot of potential, but just needs to be improved upon. Take the dynamic island for example, I'm not a big fan of apple, but that is a neat way of showing software with hardware. If nothing can achieve something more interconnected - more whole and congruent, then they may really be onto something.
Man's calling a 8+ gen 1 a midrange chipset 😅😅
Tech moves so fast. The difference between chispets gets exponentially larger with each iteration.
Although, in 2024,it can be called as Midrange soc
@@Farrcast7 tech moved fast like 6-7 years ago these days we could ( and it's been done) line up phones from the past 3-4 years and you couldn't tell which is which
It is still considered a flagship chipset, is it not?
What about 870 then ? Low end
You missed the whole point of the glyph: not using the phone and enjoying your real life, not using it like on a flip phone.
Exactly , that'll just make it like every other phone , thus losing it's specialty...
If you enable the motion photo option, it will capture fast movement pictures without blur and without the processing block!
The Nothing phone is ART! Finally,, something different and it looks fabulous! Love their watch too! Now it's the cameras turn.
The use case for the glyphs is pretty narrow, but I fall into this group. When I'm at my desk, I always have my phone on mute and the screen facing down. I even did this with my previous phones. With the Phone (1) I now don't miss important calls anymore and don't feel distracted all the time. And I use a case which raises the screen a bit from the surface beneath it.
And I also like this feature for social gatherings. If I leave the phone in my pockets, I get the urge to check it from time to time, to make sure that I don't miss anything. Now with the phone (1) I can put it face down on the table and see, in an unintrusive way, if somebody calls me or if I get a message.
So for me personally, the glyphs are second nature now.
i've switched from android to iphone for the first time this year and i've just loved the symmetrical bezels. The fact that nothing has this is amazing. I hate curved screens, and the pixel 7's flat screen is nice, but then it's not symmetrical. I just love the flat screen symmetrical bezel design, and It is so important to me that I might just consider a nothing phone in the future for that reason.
iphone users shouldnot talk about bezels
Correction: The phone is using the 8+ gen 1, not the 8 gen 1. The plus version is a HUGE improvement over the regular one, a generational improvement
Oooh
This is the first nothing phone review that is not sucking off Carl. You are the only tech reviewer to actually talk about the phones issues and probably puts you are a brand risk with them, but this felt like an actual review. Everyone praised this phone from the big main tech phone reviewers, but much respect for the review and actually talking about your thoughts about the phone and be a realist with the gliph functionality.
His review is really in dept but like he has said, it's great phone. I own one and use daily. Cameras have to be improved and yes Glyph are gimmicky but they are also here to make those recognizable.
At the end, good design, good Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 experience with Power and Battery efficiency and cool Nothing OS 2.0 features. On Android market, you don't have any other smartphone like this one, with no bloatware too. Pixel are for Cameras but Tensor is not better for Battery Life ans Gaming than 8+ Gen 1.
@@iAfroTech I got the pixel 8 pro for $399.99 through my carrier. After the first few weeks of updates the phone is more smooth and apps don't stutter as much anymore. I get about two days with this phone with my use case.
@@doomy_doomy2225 How much do you pay for Calling and 4G/5G datas ? I’m asking this question because the way you write it sounds like a good deal but living in France, we don’t do that. People mostly may in 1-6 times with no fees on Amazon or mainstream tech stores. We also change carriers often because there are a lot of special offers and we don’t like to take long term subscription through carriers anymore.
Bro every frame in your video is so beautiful, the filming/coloring you do is incomparable 👌🏻
agree
You need to get hands-on Phone 2 to understand it truly. Haptics were good, so are the speakers unlike the rant by these youtubers. But oh my! The software experience and the sheer kick you get out of it. That itself deserves all the applause and no joke pls don't compare with Oneplus' ColorOS
And the cameras?
@@tomhaerinck9604 I'd say the cameras were decent. Do the cameras justify the price- No FOR NOW. Are they bad?- No. I'm sure team Nothing will provide necessary updates to polish the cameras for better
@@tomhaerinck9604yeah we dont talk about those😭💔
I feel its obvious that Nothing is trying to be the iPhone Status or Level phone for Android, even the Camera UI looks very very similar to the iPhone, which is not bad, I really like it, and like that approach too, because its not imitating everything, its enhancing it and being unique at the same time, great video Sam, it's always nice to see your top notch quality videos !
I'm glad someone finally said it. The glyph interface is a useless gimmick that adds nothing of value to the phone. No sane person would put their phone face down and try to decipher the glyphs to see what notifications they have, instead of using the always-on display (AOD) and risking scratching the screen. While the phone is decent overall, there are many better options on the market that offer a better value for your money.
I understand your point, but I can't really agree on not putting phones upside down. I'm doing it, well, actually my phone is lying screen right now on my desk, although I'm not using NP2 nor NP1. It's 50/50 for me how I put my phone down. Obviously no one would put their phone like that on grass or rocks, but why not when you're home on table. Or restaurant, where you don't want to read every notification so you know if it's something important, you can just set a light to lit when you got an email or text. I don't want to justify Nothing or convince you to start liking Phone 2, I just want to share my opinion that Glyphs are not COMPLETELY useless.
Not everyone is the same, as for me, the essential notification made it not a gimmick. I always use a case, meaning the display is a bit higher than just the display laying on flat surface with a risk of damage. The phone also has no chin which makes this A CRAZY phone for the price with the android experience. I would never use a AOD as it just takes batter.
My phone is always face done when you have a nice case its not a problem and cases for nothing phone show the glyphs. I hate when people assume for everyone like they know everything. Not everyone act like you
Name a better phone for less than £600? It’s performance is near market leading for its price, other than the camera. To my knowledge, at least. The glyphs may not be useful for YOU, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be for other people. I very regularly use timers as I easily lose track of time, so the timer on the glyph would help me a lot, especially because I wouldn’t get distracted while checking it. A similar thing goes for the important notification area of the glyph, and using the whole thing as a light. All would be useful features for me and many others.
this is the phone for the cheater or just privacy. i know a lot of people who put there phones face down when out. the gimmick would be helpful
I don’t think they’d change their design so drastically; I’m intrigued by the design and that’s what’s reeling me in from being an Apple user. I don’t get why so many users of Nothing think that the second phone would derive so much from their first. It would be cool to see but typically phone companies don’t like to switch up the product too much, it’s stupidly seen through every major phone company out there. The design gets tweaks and updates from version to version, but major changes or overhauls are what new devices are for.
Their goal is to copy everything Apple does well, and when they are done with that, add innovations. I think they are doing a great job so far ...
What I like about the design of this phone is that the camera cutout doesn’t sit on the top bar like any other android phone i’m seeing. It looks really clean.
I like the glyph on the back of my Nothing Phone 1. Like you've stated, if you're worried about scratching your screen then buy a better screen protector or just don't set it down on your display. Some cases also raise the display a little bit off the table/surface which helps keep the display looking its best. Also if you're unable to keep yourself from being on you're phone then maybe that person lacks self control. Shouldn't have to rely on a company to help us out with it. If someone is truly worried about it then buy a dumb phone. Those are my thoughts
Or maybe they have ADHD. Modern mobiles are designed to be dopamine pumps, which completely screws with our brains. The fact this company made a phone that works with my kind of brain is wonderful.
i use a clear case with a slight 'lip' to the front and so have the phone face down and its great to see the glyph flash at me at work wjen there is a notification and the front screen wont scratch either!
Solid video man, i'm glad you are adding extra character to your videos. I can tell a Sam Beckman video in just a few seconds even if there is no Sam or his voice in the video.
Wow, dude, what a video review. Loved every moment. I just bought a Samsung, but I kinda wish I had waited and got the Phone 2. I like the creativity and freshness of the software.
You're probably the only person to question whether moving to the 8 gen chipset is worth the price increase over a high end 7 chipset.
Gimmick is indeed right.
There is no way I would bother trying to remember blinky patterns to determine a notification. I would just look at the screen on the phone, or on my watch.
Such an incredible phone. Loving it.
So much better and faster than my Pixel 6 Pro even.
Thankfully someone talks about telephoto lenses! Do you think companies only use them in higher end phones to just add something more or to make you buy the more expensive variant?
I will say, having a matte back would be very cool. Maybe even some translucent colors to go with it
Using both the NP2 and iPhone 13PM, the NP2 is the clear winner ergonomically. In hand it is a better use/feel. For me, the NP1 was not available in the US.
I have used both and NP2 is massive in almost everyone held that phone. Meanwhile IP 13 is more comfortable and feels good
@@amansharma4684 He said 13 Pro Max. Not the regular one.
@@doncorleone9297 my bad didn’t saw the PM but if compared with 13PM nothing feels light but both are huge I believe (Personal Preference)
I believe the best size for most ppl is the S23 6.1 or at max, the iPhone 14 6.1 (non Pro).
Everything else becomes big, or mostly gigantic. Then it's not a phone, it's a mini tablet.
@@doncorleone9297 Exactly my point I personally use IP13 and it’s so convenient to use even while traveling or anywhere. Wherease I got my hands on 14PM recently and that phone is like carrying a stone along with you. It doesn’t feel’s comfortable in pocket as well
I don't agree with some takes from this video... Quick photos in sequence can be solved with burst mode, not really much of a problem there. Placing the phone screen down with a screen protector is totally fine, I've used both Phone (1) and (2), no screen problems, I don't get why it's such a big deal. The glyphs on the back are part gimmick part useful. I use the essential glyph all the time for example... it's nice to place to phone down and not worry about missing something important but staying away from your phone. This reviewer totally missed the point imo. The new UI elements on NOS 2.0 are supposed to complement and integrate better with the hardware, which they succeed at... no mention about this at all. Not a very good review unfortunately.
I think blaming Nothing for not giving a telephoto would be wrong because no one ever says that to the Z Flip or to the OnePlus 11R or the Pixel 7. Yes a telephoto lens would have been amazing but I won't criticise the brand for not including it. What I really do want is spatial audio support. Much needed. A simple software update can add that.
Also I really use the Glyph Timer a lot. You can add a quick settings toggle for that. And my phone remains face down because their official case is slightly lifted and it protects the display, so Glyphs are useful to me. You can set different sounds and Glyph patterns for different apps and people.
Those other three phones you mentioned all have other, more expensive phones that have telephoto lenses. Nothing doesn't offer any phone with a telephoto lens. I would absolutely buy a more expensive phones from Nothing if it had a telephoto lens.
@@sambeckman valid point. But we can't criticise it for not offering it "in the price range"
Great unbiased review. Love the worthwhile comparison between the Phone 1 & Phone 2. Completely agree about the Glyphs. Whilst this review hasn't given me a clear reason to pay extra on the Phone 2 over the 1, I still want one 😆.
Many thanks for this review. Top job.
Love your videos! I have the Phone (2) and I absolutely love it, but also agree with your points! The haptics and speakers could definitely be better (my Oneplus 8 is better), but beyond those, I'm pretty satisfied. Pretty excited to see how Nothing matures in the smartphone industry - once they get past cementing their presence through their iconic design, R&D will surely apply in other areas we want excellence!
are photos coming out good?
no issues about HDR and low light?
@@SurajThota they are pretty good to be honest! My previous phone was the OnePlus 8 which had ok camera, and it's an improvement! The selfie camera on phone 2 is amazing, so much detail!
How is that OnePlus 8 holding up?
@@Krooks522 very good still!! I'm impressed tbh haha, I still use it as a secondary phone for gaming and I kinda miss the curved screen, to my surprise. The battery drains just a bit faster. Main reason I switched was a faster processor, 120hz, better battery and software support.
@@sebastiento9695 I have the 7 pro alongside my NP2. The device is still good enough for my day to day jobs but the UI stinks
I've always been team Pixel. Had the Pixel 7 but i was tired of my phone lagging and randomly rebooting. So i decided to give the nothing phone 2 a chance and in very happy with this phone. You get great software, get performance, amazing battery life (i got 9hr sot one day) and a more than good enough camera. Yes the Pixel is better. But not by a lot. Only thing i miss from tht pixel is the call screen feature. But being android. I'm sure ill get that in an update eventually. For under $600 this is a really good phone that will last you 3-4 years that anyone would be happy with.
Do you recommend it over a nothing phone 1 at 350 dollars while this one costs 600 dollars?
Pixel is overall better or just i terms of camera? Have pixel 7 as well and think of change same reasons as you
@@michalbodzioch139 Just buy a poco f5 pro, largely best value out there in this price range even f5 is better than pixel 7
I upgraded this xmas from OnePlus 6T - the award-winning phone from 2018, that Carl Pei worked on. I am very happy so far! I want to support the work that Carl & his team are doing as they are going in the right direction, finally. I have had Pixel 1, 2, (overheating low-battery phones), and Pixel 3 had reboot-gate which bricked MANY phones. I would never buy pixel as I can see it's just a rebranded HTC POS phone.
I am an iPhone user wanting to get out of the walled garden and waiting desperately for the nothing phone 3. So looking forward to their next release.
15:50 - you could put a case on the phone to avoid getting imperfections on the screen from having it face down
Great review, I've been saving from the moment of the release of phone (2) and watching every video, but you actually changed my mind about buying the phone (2) and just go with the phone (1) and upgrade it to the newer version in the future or buy another phone at the same price!
I wish there was a phone with the same button placement (vol rocker on the left, power on the right), high end hardware, nice brand, clean android, cheaper than 1000eur. But we have what we have.
It actually has the 8+ Gen 1 chip which is more efficient than the 8 Gen 1.
yes
it's basically a gen 1 made by tsmc instead of Samsung. no other differences.
@@thesigma8508it doesn't have any heating issues
@@thesigma8508 that's the good thing about it
they used some inefficient cores too but it's fine
@@starktechnology4416 coz it uses tsmc and not Samsung's
The only thing I am worried about Nothing Phone (2) is the IP54 rating instead of IP68 which most flagship phones have these days.
Yes same if it would be wather resistant i would buy it the same was with the nothing phone 1
This isn’t really a flagship phone. Maybe for Nothing, but in terms of the mobile market, no.
@@KriticullCTRL dude, its like 750$, its expensive
it's not actually flagship (aka high-end), in the grand scheme of things. It could be considered midrange (high end within nothing ecosystem). It is not competing with Iphone pro max or the s23 ultra but it is in line with the google pixel 7 pro (Google Flagship) more or less. But given that Pixel 7 pro that is ip68. I doubt I would submerge my phone or there is an instance I am near water. but the extra dust protection would benefit me. hopefully in Nothing Phone 3 it will be there eventually.
@@dyzzyize I agree, I just hope that nothing phone 3 comes with better cameras, because 2 lenses aint cutting it
a lot of the other reviews nailed the point of the glyphs tho, to put down your phone and only interact with it when you really need to when you set the glyphs to give you notifications you would immediately respond to, they are there so we can lessen our connection without being totally disconnected, yes i know a smart watch can do the same but it has the same pitfalls of just grabbing out attention as much as the phones themselves but the glyphs just work to tell us "Hey you need to look at this" and not "Hey look at this, and this, and this" which phones and smart watches do
I wish I could get it I tried to get nothing phone since they launched nothing phone 1
I have an vivo phone. I has an AOD which shows icons (email, WhatsApp messages) if I've got any notification from them. How would that be different from this?
in my opinion the glyph interface is completely useless when you think that you can do everything and more with a similar always on display, they can simply put a virtual color indicator or something like that in the aod to replace the entire glyph interface
But it's cool and cyberpunkish
Exactly
The point isn't to be useful. It's to make a cool looking selling point over its rivals. Sell people on it makes them look cool and not on its better than X phone. Tbh I think that's a good idea because from the midrange up barely anyone actually needs or uses the best parts but would appreciate a unique design.
Tbh it's kinda important for me, the flip to glyph helps me with work. You don't have to switch it to dnd or reduce the volume. It helps me when I'm in meetings or playing games and only paying attention to notifs if it's important via essential glyph. Although I need it for specific contacts and that'll make it more useful
Actually, it's very useful. The essential notifications are very nice because all you have to do is to glance at your phone to figure out if your phone is worth checking. You don't need to check it as often because you could've missed a notification. As somebody mentioned before, flip to glyph is also nice. It's like a vibration mode but for your eyes which is refreshing and particularly useful when you have the phone in front of you on the table.
Just to inform you, initially I also thought it's just a gimmick.
Video quality is top notch👌👌 Subscribed
Watching on my nothing phone 2 ❤
Thinking about new phone. Would you spend those money again on NP2, wait till price drops a little or buy sth different?
Got myself the white NP2 last week, it's a real beast!
Hws the camera after updates?
Your videos are such a treat to watch. The aesthetics 🤩🖤
Those are some beautiful wallpapers. Could u pls share where we can get them?
Absolute banger of a video. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
That "glyph" interface could be an AOD version maybe. 🤷🤷 That could be more usefull.
So what exactly DIDN'T they tell us?
Where can i get that wallpaper which is on the thumbnail
Thanks you for sharing your thoughts on this phone. I’m in the market to replace mine and my wife’s old iPhones with someone totally different, and why I don’t think she would like this phone, it appeals to me. Appreciate your opinion.
What about the wallpapers? Need new ones from you!
Your videos are beautiful. It's a relaxing and an enriching experience. Thank you
As a person who places my phone face down everytime, glyph lighting is a god sent to me and is not a gimmick at all.
My S10+ motherboard crap out , $200 for repair. After an exhaustive research and watching your video I got the Nothing 1 for $380. I’m happy as a clam. Thanks
"Battery life is good" wow thanks for this deeps dive into battery screen on time and tests.
And playing subway surfers while talking about the chip 😂😂😂
I gave up my Pixel 7 for this. And im very impressed with this phone. You get great software, amazing performance, amazing battery life (i got 9hr SOT one day) and the camera is more than good enough for whatever i used it for. Yes the Pixel 7 camera was better. But not by miles like some TH-camrs make you believe. I didn't miss my Pixel 7 using this phone. I only missed the "call screening feature" but with this being Android. Im sure ill get that in an update eventually. This phone is a flagship for $600 a phone that will last you 3-4 years. I can recommend this to anyone that doesn't want to spend a lot of money. I've been very happy with this. I can't wait to see what Nothing does worh the nothing 3 hoping for a telephoto lens 🤞🤞🤞
Bro your editing level is so good
The production quality of your videos ...wow..❤🔥❤🔥
A better aesthetic update would be to integrate glyphs on the sides of the phone. Much more useful for notifications. I never put my phone face down. 🤔
You are great Mr Beckman.. It will be a pleasure to follow you and your successful work.
I usually put my phone screen down because I'm more worried about scratching the camera, or the usually huge, glossy camera bump. We need better designed camera placement in general...
I don't use the camera much so having a 2 camera phone is a must for me 😂 Because anything more than 2 is a big no for me.
Thanks for this video. I was skeptic about this phone at first.
May I know the source for those wallpapers , please!
Camera cut out moved to the middle is the only reason I don't buy this phone
Opposite for me haha, I get annoyed with these floating camera cuts atleast this one is in the middle and balanced
I was on the brink of buying the phone 2 just when their blue bubble fiasco erupted. Their obsession with Iphone in which they are willing go go over their head to become the Androids Iphone, even if they sacrificed the one thing no one can argue - Apple does right (security) to do so. Took an Xperia 1 V instead for almost double the cost but I felt the dedication and features sony crammed inside that phone deserved my hard earned money
That's some quality video editing. Had to sub!
This was a great video and I needed to see it.
I'm looking at possible future replacement phones at the moment (need to save up first) and was seriously looking at the Nothing phones.
I was wondering whether the Nothing 2 was really worth the extra money. Ok here in the EU the 2 is only €100 more because it seems to be on a permanent discount.
However I do like the slightly smaller size of the Nothing 1 and the darker back.
The 2a is about to be released soon, so that will be interesting to see as well. I suspect no wireless charging though, and I don't like the 2 cameras in the middle placement but let's see if there's a special reason for that.
A wonderful review covering all aspects of this phone.
only thing I'd change about this phone is the accent color from grey to black
5:18 oh my god this is so true not enough people are complaining about this
The haptics are a deal breaker for me. Ugh I like the design so much but I need good haptics
mate, I love your cinematography.
Really considering upgrading from my Samsung S20, just want a larger screen!
I just changed from an S22 ultra to a oneplus 11…never had a oneplus im enjoying it because its more stock android than samsung and is super fast and enough for what I need…maybe next year ill try the nothing phone 3 but Im all about the android update commitments I need at least three years
Nothing phone 2 mini with high specs and performance including all Nothing phone 2 features and of course display should be 6.1 with everlasting Battery. If these things are achieved by the company I am damn sure they rule the market 2023-2025.
Interesting fact about the chip in this phone: It's actually the snapdragon 8+ gen 1, notice the +. It actually makes a difference and it's better than the regular gen 1. I think I heard about it on one of Nothing's videos.
I have installed a screen protector glass on NP1 and am always putting it face down, no scratches so far.
Glyph interface is a nice gimmick with limited functionality, I agree. It does essentially the same as a 5-year old Samsung Note device with a colored notification LED (you can customize that as well to display what kind of notification you are receiving). Yes, the LED can't display a clock timer or a charging animation but who really cares? All these are nuances. As for the comment of "I hope Nothing doesn't sacrifice R&D resources for Glyph interface", yes, they have to do that because other than the Glyph interface, this phone has ZERO differentiation factor. They have to double-down on the Glyphs.
I mean...their software also stands out...
@@arjix8738 I agree with the SW aspect. I think they are trying to bring back the good old OnePlus vibes under the Nothing brand. I am seriously considering getting a Phone (2) at this moment, regardless of the Glyph gimmick.
Love the aspect-ratio on this vid!!
i just wish samsung had the widget system of nothing! really like the unique lock screens they can provide
Thanks for noting the icon packs i really like using custom icons. A less smooth app load is decent price to pay for using an icon pack. Hope they fix it someday.
Fingerprint sensor postition seems intentional as the software uses the lower half of screen to display notifications on lock screen
I wish I could get nothing phone and I have no means to it
@@LovePeace-ku6jx "no means to it" as in?
Great video. Picking one up this week :D
You are hidden gem reviewer. What a wonderful review.. definitly the best and I have watched a lot.
Thank you so much!!
Looks like they fixed the haptics on the 2.0.3 update
this is a peak production quality!
i think they should replace the glyphs with a e ink display on the back.
it would use very little power and gives better info
The production quality of this video 😍👌
I agree.
By hyping up the glyph & the ringtone composer & neglecting the all important camera quality, Nothing has made a mistake.
In this price range there are a lot of other worthy contenders.
Me, I'm looking forward now to the Honor 90 Pro!
I think we can get a quite accurate guesstimation about how much (or less) invested the team is to improve usability/features, when we take a moment to acknowledge that it took them over a year to equip the NP1 with the ability so actually SEE waiting/missed messages/calls on THE design feature #1 - the glyph interface. Yep. NP1 could only show arriving messages, couldn't indicate waiting ones for over a year :)
My Nothing 2 just got delivered 😌
I kindve disagree with the glyph notifications not being useful. IF we are able to customize who/what we are receiving notifications from then we can decide to pick up and look at our phone or not. Yes still overally a little gimicky but i believe it does have its use cases. The glyph timer should just automatically be connected with the normal clock timer and not be a separate thing.
The Intro was hype.