This is the Nothing Phone (2), which has got its hardware and software revamped. But what are these changes, and doesn’t it look the same?
Unboxing
So, the new experience starts with the unboxing process. While you still need to tear off the tab instead of slotting the phone into pockets in the box previously, there’s another white box that reveals everything in a nicely arranged manner. And yes, it did satisfy the mid-level OCD part of me.
And here’s the brand new USB-C to USB-C Nothing braided cable. And yes, this is a similar Nothing cable that Carl Pei and the team have previously teased. Then, as the unique SIM ejector tool, the safety and the warranty information booklet, and the phone itself.
Design
Now, speaking of the design, the significant changes of the hardware are at the back. There’s a subtle curve at the top of each side, which is an adjustment that seems minor but, in reality, it changes the way the phone feels in your hand.
Now, it does feel like it’s literally blending in your hands, which Nothing calls the pillow glass. And yes, it does feel like a pillow for your hands as it makes it feel like your phone and your hand were meant for each other. And it doesn’t wobble when typing the phone on a surface.
So yes, overall, it does feel better than holding the previous iteration. And it doesn’t give that sharp edge feeling like I’m being stabbed by my phone, like how an iPhone could feel without a phone case. And I’m so glad that Nothing didn’t make the whole phone curved, as how the rumors mentioned. So phew, thank God for that.
Then, the Glyph Lighting has been upgraded to a total of 33 individual zones. And while some may argue that this is not so important, well, besides making the Nothing Phone unique, Nothing is encouraging us to communicate with the phone with the screen down. And to be honest, at first, I felt like that was something that I couldn’t get used to. But after using this daily, I could dig this.
So, the newly added features for the Glyph Lighting are the Glyph Timer to easily visualize the timer countdown with the face down.
Then, there’s the Glyph Composer to create your very own glyph animations and sound, where there are a total of 10 brand new ringtones and notification sounds.
Then there are new essential Glyph Notifications like other third-party integrations like ride-hailing, food delivery, and more coming soon. Then there’s the Glyph Torch, which is an easier way to turn on the glyph lights without opening the camera app, which you can find by touching and holding the Torch button.
Then, the lighting is more diffused in the glass to ensure that it doesn’t blind you when you gaze at the lights.
So yeah, there are a lot of newly added features where overall it feels like a secret language, but only cooler.
Display
Next, the display is a bigger 6.7” flexible LTPO OLED with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate.
Now, since it is an LTPO panel, so it goes from 1Hz to 120Hz dynamically based on what exactly you’re doing on your phone screen to save on battery and also for the overall daily scrolling.
And if you’re wondering why in the hell it needs a flexible OLED screen, well, because Nothing wants to create uniform bezels which other Android smartphones didn’t even bother doing so because of its higher cost to achieve that.
Now, on to the punch-hole camera. It has taken a vacation from the side of the screen and decided to camp right in the middle. Now, this minor tweak significantly enhanced the video viewing experience and makes daily phone usage a pleasure. And yes, it qualifies to be one of the finest smartphone screens in the league.
I did play several games just to test this out further, and I experienced no screen tearing or any other screen issues because the high refresh rate has made the whole entire experience smooth sailing all the way.
Cameras
Continuing to the hardware, the cameras have been improved with a 50-megapixel F1.88 aperture that uses an IMX 890 sensor with OIS and another 50-megapixel F2.2 aperture JN1 sensor ultra-wide lens.
Based on some of my camera sample shots, I can already see huge improvements on these lenses.


Selfie photos were also really great thanks to its 32-megapixel F2.45 aperture IMX615 sensor.
And it can record up to 4K 60 frames per second for the rear, but unfortunately, it can only record up to 1080p 60 frames per second for the front camera. And stay tuned for my in-depth review to test these cameras out further.
Battery
Then, the battery capacity has been increased to 4700 mAh
with a 45W wired charging, 15W Qi wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging.
Now, battery life has been great so far, but allow me to fully experience the battery consumption and, of course, the screen-on time further, which I’ll report back in my full video review.
Software
Since Carl Pei and the entire Nothing team have always prioritized the software experience, well, the new Nothing Phone (2) has plenty of software upgrades on its Nothing OS 2.0.
Now, firstly, the phone is more optimized for a faster and smoother user experience. Opening apps are faster, and even the camera shutter button is significantly quick too.
Now, besides the hardware and the software experience of the Glyph Interface, as mentioned earlier, there’s a brand new Nothing Widget System, which is fully customizable and fully interactive as well. So, whether or not it’s for the weather widget, a favorite photo widget, or a media player, you can fully interact with them.
And the monochrome theme is so aesthetically pleasing, it practically screams “Adam Lobo”! Yes, I know the phone is not specifically built for me, but if you have a soft spot for this kind of color theme, prepare to get your heart to skip a beat.
And also worth mentioning is that Nothing guarantees 3 years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security patches. So, that was really great to know.
Other Specs
Now, looking at the other specs, it uses the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. And if you’re wondering why it’s not using Gen 2 instead of Gen 1, well, Nothing and Carl Pei have always prioritized software stability, hence using the Gen 1 instead of Gen 2.
And it is also the best in class when it comes to power consumption and heat management. And overall, a way better price point. Because keep in mind that compared to last year’s model and most mid-range Android smartphones, this is indeed a huge upgrade.
It is also IP54 rated, has dual SIM card slots, great pair of stereo speakers, and 3 high-definition mics when calling because ultimately, that is important, right? Because at the end of the day, this is still a phone, right?
Now, stay tuned for the variants and price announcements here in Malaysia, as it’s going to be launched officially on the 14th of July. And there’ll also be a drop at Crossover in Mid Valley.
So, check out that info below, especially on how you can get a complimentary 5G SIM card from Yes. And yes, the Nothing Phone (2) has 5G connectivity as well.

But as of now, the price in the US for the 8GB+128GB will be at US$599, the 12GB+256GB variant at US$699, and the 12GB+512GB variant will be priced at US$799. So, could the Malaysian price beat the US price or even globally? Well, we have to wait and see.
Drop at Crossover Mid Valley begins at 11am.
Be the first 100 Phone (2) customers in Malaysia to enjoy an Exclusive Nothing Merchandise set and complimentary 5G sim cards powered by Malaysia’s fastest network @yes.5g. Exclusive Nothing Merchandize set will be available in limited quantities with the labeling of Edition 001 to 100. What else? All 100 customers will also stand a chance to win Nothing accessories or earbuds via the giveaway program at Crossover Mid Valley on July 15, 2023.If you’re up for a new colorway of Ear (2) in black variant, they are also dropping limited quantities there.
All are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
More details at @crossoverconceptstore
Open Sale: 22 July (Store/Channel availability + price to be announced until at Event on 14 July at 9pm