Nothing announced that it had ambitions to launch a smartphone during its event on 23 March 2022. We say event, it was more of a soliloquy from Carl Pei – Nothing’s founder – outlining how tech had become stale and it was time for a change.
Nothing’s second product will be the Nothing phone (1) and here’s everything we know about it.
Release date and price
12 July announcement21 July on sale suggested21 June StockX auction
The Nothing phone (1) will be announced at an event on Tuesday 12 July called Return to Instinct. Nothing has promised that all the details of the device will be confirmed on that date, although it’s been releasing information to tease fans in the run up to the event.
Rumours have suggested that the launch date will be Thursday 21 July 2022 and that might be when the phone actually goes on sale, if you can get one.
Nothing also auctioned off the first 100 phone (1) models via StockX, part of the hype-building process and it has opened a waitlist – asking for a small deposit. OnePlus Nothing says that this will help get the device to community members first and make sure they’re matching output with demand. The OnePlus One launched the same way and it was a successful hype-building process for that device.
Nothing has confirmed that it will be selling the phone through O2, Telekom Deutschland and Flipkart – so those are exclusive network retailers for UK, Germany and India. It’s also been confirmed that Nothing won’t be launching the phone (1) in the US initially.
Flipkart has listed a device with the model number A063 which is thought to be the Nothing phone (1), as has BIS India – an Indian standards agency, and NBTC.
In terms of price, thanks to an untimely listing on Amazon, the prices for the Nothing Phone (1) in Europe have been leaked. The Nothing phone (1) will retail for €469.99 for the 8/128GB version according to the leak, while the 12/256GB version will cost €549.99.
Design and build
Translucent rear designRear LED systemFlat aluminium edges
Nothing has now fully revealed the rear of the Nothing phone (1), giving us a good look at how this phone is going to try and stand out. We knew there would be some element of translucency – to match the Nothing ear (1) – and that’s given us something of a textured back on the phone (1).
While you can’t view geeky components like we’ve seen from HTC or Xiaomi in the past, it does look a little different. There are elements that are illuminated by LEDs. Known as the Glyph Interface, you’ll be able to assign actions to these, like colours for particular callers, while it can also provide a visual notifications system and visual charging status.
Weltpremiere in Basel. @nothing zeigt erstmals das #NothingPhone1 ein aussergewöhnliches, transparentes Design. @getpeid pic.twitter.com/jqafhzRifJ
— Lorenz Keller (@Lorenz_Keller) June 15, 2022
The phone overall looks a lot like the iPhone, with those flattened edges reminiscent of the design that was ushered in with the iPhone 12, although there are only two camera lenses on the rear.
collection:Evan Blass renders
The front of the phone houses a flat display with a punch hole for the camera. Much of this detail was revealed in an early hands-on with tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, AKA MKBHD. Evan Blass then tweeted some press renders of the device showing off the design in full.
We’ve seen that there will be a black model as well as a white model, and we’re expecting Gorilla Glass front and back.
Hardware specs
Snapdragon 778+ 5G, 8GB RAMWireless charging6.55in OLED display, 120Hz
Nothing announced it was partnering with Qualcomm and we know that’s going to provide the heart for the Nothing phone (1). Speculation was that we’d see the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, but instead it’s confirmed to be Snapdragon 778+ and it could come with 8GB RAM. That’s going to see this phone sitting in the mid-range and likely designed to keep it affordable.
Exclusive :
Nothing Phone 1 specifications.
– 6.55″ OLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate
– Gorilla glass protection on front & back
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+
– 50MP dual rear camera with f/1.8
4K video recording 60fps
– Android 12#Nothing #NothingPhone1
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/UNjqgkQfSf
— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) June 30, 2022
It’s rumoured there will be a 45W charger with the Nothing phone and a big part of the design is the wireless charging loop on the rear; we’re expecting to see reverse wireless charging too, so it can charge other accessories.
The Nothing phone (1) is said to come with a 6.55-inch OLED display, sporting a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. There’s was first though to be a central punch hole and a minimal bezel across the flat display, though recent images from Evan Blass show the punch hole camera positioned in the top left corner instead.
Cameras
50MP, f/1.8 main camera
There are two cameras on the rear of the Nothing phone (1) and thanks to what looks like a leaked description from Amazon, it looks like there will be a 50-megapixel main camera, with an f/1.8 aperture.
Exactly what the second lens offers we don’t know, but it’s likely to be ultrawide. Dual image stabilisation is listed, scene detection and night mode are also highlighted.
On the video front, we’re expecting 4K 60fps with Live HDR.
Nothing tweeted some sample images from the Nothing Phone (1)’s dual rear camera, though it didn’t reveal the specs in the images.
Phone (1) has 2 exceptional cameras.
But it’s better to show you what it can do. So we gave Phone (1) to the team here.
See the results for yourself here: https://t.co/wxgEVyxeYG pic.twitter.com/jBEF5uwEa5
— Nothing (@nothing) July 8, 2022
Software
AndroidNothing OS
On the software front we know a little more. We know it’s going to be an Android phone and we know it’s not going to duplicate Google’s apps, suggesting it’s going to be fairly close to stock.
We know it’s going to run Nothing OS and you can sample that experience thanks to the Android launcher that Nothing has made available. As we mentioned, there’s also going to be the Glyph Interface so you can control what those LEDs on the back will show you.
But beyond that, Nothing has broad ambitions for what it wants to achieve, talking about ecosystem more than anything else – so it’s likely to be here that Nothing wants to differentiate, offering a smoother experience interacting with other devices.
All the leaks and rumours so far?
Here’s a timeline of everything that’s happened in the runup to the launch of the Nothing phone (1).
9 July 2022: Stunning Nothing Phone (1) images leak ahead of launch
Evan Blass revealed several stunning image renders of the Nothing Phone (1) ahead of the launch.
collection:Evan Blass renders
8 July 2022: Camera capabilities detailed in tweet
Nothing tweeted some images showing off the Nothing Phone (1)’s dual camera capabilities.
Phone (1) has 2 exceptional cameras.
But it’s better to show you what it can do. So we gave Phone (1) to the team here.
See the results for yourself here: https://t.co/wxgEVyxeYG pic.twitter.com/jBEF5uwEa5
— Nothing (@nothing) July 8, 2022
7 July 2022: Nothing Ear (1) Stick earbuds to launch alongside phone
A leak has suggested the Nothing Phone (1) will launch alongside the Nothing ear (1) Stick, a new version of the earbuds that launched the Nothing brand back in mid-2021.
30 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) prices leak, painting a surprisingly affordable picture
According to a leak shared via Reddit, the Nothing phone (1) will retail for €469.99 for the 8/128GB version, while the 12/256GB version will cost €549.9
30 June 2022: Specs leaked for Nothing phone (1)
Purported specs from what looks like an Amazon listing have leaked on Twitter.
29 June 2022: Black version of the Nothing phone (1) leaks, Snapdragon 778+ confirmed
We’ve now seen images of a black version of the Nothing phone one – as well as official confirmation that it will be powered by Snapdragon 778+.
24 June 2022: Nothing opens the waitlist for the Nothing phone (1)
Nothing has opened the invite and waitlist for the Nothing phone, aimed to ensure that the community gets access to devices first and to ensure that stock control remains tight.
23 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) benchmark suggests Snapdragon 778+ processor
Benchmarks suggest that the Snapdragon 778+ will power the Nothing phone (1).
21 June 2022: Marques Brownlee shows off the Nothing phone (1) in a YouTube hands-on
You can have a good look at the Nothing phone (1) in an early hands-on with MKBHD.
18 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) won’t launch in the US
Nothing has confirmed that the phone (1) won’t be sold in the US.
16 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) shows off its flashing rear in new videos
Nothing held an event in Basel, where the Nothing phone (1) was shown off, with some video showing the rear LEDs in action.
15 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) gets a proper design reveal: This is no longer a tease
Nothing has now fully shown off the rear of the Nothing phone (1) so you can see exactly what this phone looks like.
14 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) revealed in behind-the-scenes video
Carl Pei is seen using the phone in a video, as the hype building continues.
14 June 2022: Nothing hints at an announcement coming on 15 June
Nothing has hinted that an announcement will be made on 15 June, which we think might be related to waitlist or early access orders.
13 June 2022: Nothing starts properly teasing the phone (1)
Nothing has taken to social channels with its pre-launch tease campaign.
10 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) to come with a 45W charger?
A Nothing-branded 45W charger has appeared on TUV standards agency, suggesting the Nothing Phone 1 will come with this charger.
8 June 2022: Return to Instinct event scheduled for 12 July
Nothing has confirmed that it will announce the Nothing phone (1) on 12 July 2022 at an event called Return to Instinct.
6 June 2022: Nothing phone (1) display specs revealed in leak
Details of the Nothing phone (1) display have been reported.
24 May 2022: Nothing could launch on 21 July
There’s been a rumour suggesting the Nothing phone(1) will launch on 21 July.
24 May 2022: Some design details get revealed
As the hype machine spins up, it’s confirmed that a translucent design is planned.
13 May 2022: Nothing phone(1) reveals model number
Listing at BIS India and Flipkart reveals the A063 model nubmer and suggests a launch is imminent.
10 May 2022: Nothing confirms retail partners for phone(1) launch
Nothing has confirmed that it will be retailing its phone through O2, Telekom Deutschland and Flipkart.
28 April 2022: Nothing Launcher beta is now available for download
The Nothing Launcher has been made available on the Play Store so you can sample it now.
23 March 2022: Nothing confirms Nothing phone (1) will be its first smartphone
In an event called The Truth, Carl Pei confirms that a smartphone is incoming, due to launch in summer 2022.
7 March 2022: Nothing Phone leaks in Carl Pei hands-on with Qualcomm CEO
In what looks like a planted leak, an image of Carl Pei showing a handset to Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm CEO, at MWC 2022 has surfaced online.
3 March 2022: It looks like Carl Pei’s Nothing brand will launch its first phone very soon
Rumours suggest that Carl Pei showed a prototype device to company execs at MWC 2022.
2 March 2022: Carl Pei on Nothing, ecosystems and those smartphone rumours
In an interview with Pocket-lint, Carl Pei refuses to confirm a smartphone launch, but does outline his ambitions for a better technology experience.
16 February 2022: Carl Pei teases Nothing’s upcoming Android smartphone
Speculation started with Carl Pei sharing that he had moved back into Android on Twitter – to which the Android account favourably responded.