Nothing Phone 1

pros and cons

• Transparent design is edgy but practical
• Well-rounded smartphone with tactical compromises
• Competitively priced at 399 GBP
• Up to four years of software updates

• Battery life is underwhelming
• Ultra-wide camera is notthe most reliable
• Not available in the US

If you're reading this review, chances are you're either 1) heavily invested in the smartphone industry, 2) wondering why a company would name itself "Nothing," or 3) engaged in all of the above.

The Nothing Phone 1, as the name implies, is the first smartphone from the UK-based startup, Nothing. Through cheeky marketing strategies and a pledge to make technology fun again (was technology evernot fun?), the company has built a cult following since its debut nearly one year ago, securing more than$70 million in Series B funding, and has clearly turned Nothing into something. 

I've reviewed numerous smartphones at , and I have purchased far too many to count in previous years, but there's an excitement to the Nothing Phone 1 that I haven't felt in a while. Having used the handset for the past three weeks, here's an account of my overall experience.

Specifications

Pricing and availability

I should first mention that the Nothing Phone 1 starts at 399 GBP and is not available in the US. While currency conversions are not the most reliable metric for predicting domestic costs, that puts the Phone 1 at around 479 USD, which would have made it a very appealing handset in a market that's primarily dominated by the Apple iPhone SE and Samsung Galaxy A Series . Still, I would not recommend folks in the US to import the phone given the lack of LTE and 5G band support.  

Note: Nothing has hinted that a US-supported smartphone is on the product roadmap, as reported by PCMag.   

Design

There's a lot to unravel with the Nothing Phone 1, but it's the design that consumers -- enthusiasts or not -- will care the most about, so let's break it down. 

Without a doubt, the Phone 1 looks, feels, and functions like a lighter, flashieriPhone 13 Pro Max . I've lost count of the number of times a family member, friend, or coworker asked if the Phone 1 was just an iPhone in an edgy, glow-up case. From the symmetrical bezel rounding out the corners to the button placements, the similarities are uncanny -- and I'm not complaining. 

The Phone 1 in White has a calming sophistication to it. 

Nothing's industrial design team did a commendable job of polishing the phone with aluminum and glass to make it feel more expensive than it is. Teenage Engineering, who Nothing has partnered with to spearhead the design of its products, has embedded a series of quirky, playful touches to the body of the phone, from the subdued "Nothing" branding to the various components and coils that are exposed in the back. The Phone 1 is very much a device that you wouldn't want to put a case on immediately. 

More: Nothing Phone 1's transparent design is more than just flashy

My only callout with the design is the conservative IP53 rating that makes the Phone 1 splash resistant but nothing more. That means you won't be insured for any water-soaked damages and should keep the device far away from bathrooms, pools, etc.

Display

At the front is a 6.55-inch OLED display that's flat and accented with a hole-punch camera on the top-left corner. Had I not seen the backside of the phone, I would've associated the device with every other modern-day, large-screen Android. Take a closer look at the way colors and visuals are reproduced on the Nothing display and you'll realize that this is a different beast.

For