Nothing Phone (2) vs Nothing Phone (1): Worth the upgrade?

The tech world is eagerly anticipating the July 11 launch of Nothing's newest smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2). Expected enhancements in performance, display, camera quality, and battery life coupled with a strong commitment to sustainability herald a significant step forward from the initial iteration, the Nothing Phone (1). But how do the two phones stack up? Is it worth getting an upgrade?

Nothing Phone (2) vs Nothing Phone (1)

While it is essential to note that complete details of Nothing Phone (2) are not yet officially released, leaks give us a preliminary understanding of the significant changes and improvements expected in the latest iteration of Nothing's smartphone line.

First and foremost, the Nothing Phone (2) is expected to come with the more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which should deliver superior performance in comparison to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778+ processor found in its predecessor. The Nothing Phone (2) is also expected to run on Android 13 with Nothing OS 2.0, which will feature a redesigned user interface.

In terms of display, Nothing Phone (2) is speculated to sport a 6.7" FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is a noticeable upgrade from the predecessor's 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh, promising clearer, more vibrant visuals and smoother scrolling.

Camera specifications also seem to be a significant improvement with a 50MP primary and ultra-wide camera and a 32MP selfie camera. This is expected to offer better image quality, more detail, and improved low-light performance than the predecessor.

Another notable update is the battery capacity, with Nothing Phone (2) housing a 4,700mAh battery with fast charging capabilities compared to a 4500mAh battery in Nothing Phone (1). This should result in longer usage times and less time spent tethered to a charger. 

Nothing Phone (2) already sold out 

Nothing Phone (2) has been sold out on the e-commerce platform Flipkart, even before its official launch. The pre-orders for the Nothing Phone (2) began on June 29, and eager customers were quick to secure their units. The pre-order process involved a refundable deposit of Rs 2,000, with the remaining balance payable between July 11 and July 21. 

Pre-booking came with various offers including discounts, accessories, and reduced prices for the Ear (Stick).

While Nothing has generated tremendous interest in its smartphone, with its unique open-back LED design and performance, it should be noted that the sold out status could also be part of a marketing strategy to build anticipation for the new launch. The upcoming smartphone is also going to be available offline through Nothing’s pop-up stores called Nothing Drops that are set to go up in Bengaluru.