The Nothing Phone 2 – Great or Nothing to Talk About?
Robert Cerff / 24-03-2023 / Tech
The Nothing Phone 2 is making waves in the tech world, and with good reason. As the follow-up to the highly acclaimed Nothing Phone 1, expectations for the device are through the roof. While the phone's official release date and specs have yet to be announced, rumours and leaks have given us a glimpse of what we can expect from the highly anticipated new Nothing smartphone.
Nothing's got juice!
The Nothing Phone 2 looks likely to sport a 5000mAh battery, a bump from its predecessor’s 4500mAh cell. A battery of this size is seen in most flagships on the market right now. If these rumours are true, users will benefit from a longer battery life, allowing them to use the phone for extended periods without worrying about running out of power.
Powered by a top-tier Snapdragon processor
Thanks to Carl Pei, Nothing's co-founder, we know a little more about the chipset than any other feature on the new device. At the Mobile World Congress, Carl revealed that the Nothing Phone 2 would feature top-tier Snapdragon 8 series hardware. He didn’t elaborate on the specific 8 series chip, but rumours are swirling after one of Qualcomm's executives reportedly suggested that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 will power the new device. Although there is no confirmation, it’s a relief that the chipset will be an upgrade from its predecessor’s mid-tier Snapdragon.
The Nothing Phone 2 goes big with 12GB RAM
On the storage front, reports claim that the Nothing Phone 2 will boast 12GB RAM and have two storage options, 128GB and 256GB. It is also rumoured to have a unique operating system, running on a modified version of Android developed by the Nothing team.
Nothing but better shots
At this point, the cameras on the new Nothing are tightly under wraps, but if we expect a bigger, better phone than its predecessor, we will likely see the current setup drastically improved. Plus, with a more powerful chipset and the likelihood of a faster ISP and optimised image processing, the Nothing Phone 2 should capture notably better photos.
The Glyph Interface lives on
Although it's yet to be confirmed if the Nothing Phone 2 will retain its iconic transparent rear, which allows us to see the phone’s inner workings, we expect the Glyph Interface to remain with its functionality expanded. We also expect other designs from its predecessor to carry over, like the aluminium frame and at least an IP53 water and dust resistance.
On the display front, the Nothing Phone 2 is rumoured to have a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate for a smooth and responsive user experience.
How much for Nothing?
Of course, with all these bells and whistles, you might be wondering how much the Nothing Phone 2 costs. While we don't have an official price tag yet, rumours suggest that it will range from $800 to $1,000. In South African currency, this roughly translates to between R14 500 and R18 000. At this price, the Nothing Phone 2 will be positioned as a premium device, which is unsurprising since the company’s vision is to create high-quality, ground-breaking products.
Set to launch in the second half of 2022?
Carl Pei announced during a Q&A session that the phone would launch in the second half of 2022. However, this is subject to change as the company has not given any official word on the release date.
Will the Nothing Phone 2 live up to the hype?
The Nothing Phone 2 looks set to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor with its pioneering design and exceptional build quality. But will it improve its performance and camera capabilities? Seems so! Nothing has been receptive to critique and has stated that it will incorporate feedback into the development of the Nothing Phone 2.
As we wait for the official announcement from Nothing, it will be interesting to see how these rumours will hold up and whether the Nothing Phone 2 will live up to the hype.
