Uswitch comments on the launch of the Nothing Phone (1)

Ru Bhikha, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “There’s been plenty of fuss over Nothing in the run-up to the company’s first smartphone launch — and it’s fully justified.

“The Nothing Phone (1) has buckets of wow factor, delivering cutting-edge design at a price that should help it muscle in on the crowded mid-range market.

“Nothing boss Carl Pei, who claims smartphones have become boring, has made bold choices to try to charm consumers away from Apple and Samsung.

“Ironically, the device’s striking see-through back feels like it owes a debt to Steve Jobs, whose translucent iMacs in the 90s shifted the dial on style and made hardware trendy. Together with the Glyph Interface - embedded LED strips that light up for message alerts and in sync with your ringtones - this gives the Phone (1) a fresh look straight out of the box. 

“The 5G handset also has substance in spades. A 50MP primary rear camera promises great pictures, while another 50MP ultra-wide lens and a 16MP selfie camera place its snapper alongside other mid-range phones.

“While its Snapdragon 778G+ processor is not the most powerful, it does support both wireless and reverse charging - usually reserved for flagship mobiles - allowing you to use the phone to power up other devices. Its 4500 mAh battery is also designed to last for more than a day on a single charge.

“The6.55-inch AMOLED screen is noticeably bigger than rivals like the Pixel 6a, Samsung Galaxy S21 FE and iPhone SE. This might not be ideal for people with small hands but it does feel like you’re getting a lot of phone for your money. The handset is also surprisingly light due to its recycled aluminium frame. 

“Starting at £399 for 128GB storage and 8GB of RAM, it is competitively priced. While it is only available on O2 in the UK, this exclusivity could add to the phone’s allure.  

“Pei should be praised for not playing it safe. The Phone (1) is an exciting new smartphone, and with its transparent back, you don't need X-ray specs to see it's got great specs.”