After months of hype and marketing, the Nothing Phone 1 is finally on sale – this is the first Android phone from a company called – oddly – Nothing, and it’s been a modest success among reviewers.
In our own review, we said that it “was made using more than just a ‘me too’ checklist of features; with a rear design unlike any other on the market, features – such as the Glyph interface lighting on the back – that offer intrigue and whimsy, and a complete and capable set of features and hardware,” and awarded it four out of five stars.
Well, the device is already on sale – you can buy it at amazon (opens in new tab). It costs £399 / €469 / AU$749, so it’s pretty affordable as far as smartphones go, although note that it’s not for sale in the US.
The phone has some high-end specs that make this price pretty amazing – it has an FHD+ 120Hz display and dual 50MP rear cameras, for example. However, it does have some cut corners to justify this lower cost, such as its midrange chipset and smaller battery.
Review: An iPhone 14 for those who can’t wait
If you’re interested in buying the new iPhone 14 but don’t want to wait too long until it launches (or want an Android equivalent), the Nothing Phone 1 might be a good alternative.
The device has a similar design to Apple’s recent cellphones, with flat angled edges, and offers a somewhat comparable shooting experience, with a prime and ultra-wide angle at the rear.
Of course, the Nothing device runs Android while the iPhone has iOS, and this will probably be the most noticeable difference for most people.
But we also imagine that the iPhone’s starting price will be much higher than that of the Nothing Phone 1, which could sway some buyers.
We don’t know much about the iPhone 14 yet, because it’s due out in mid-September and we can’t properly compare the phones until then. But we can compare the Nothing Phone 1 with the iPhone 13, and they have a lot in common.