Nothing Phone 2 Review: Lighting Up The Competition
Nothing Phone (2) Software And User Experience
Nothing’s approach to software is to keep things simple, intentional,
and beautiful. To this end, Phone (2) runs Nothing OS 2.0, which is based
on Android 13. It’s a clean and responsive skin that doesn’t deviate far
from stock Android, but delivers a handful of useful customizations and
cool design touches, like a monochrome icon theme and a bunch of
handy widgets available on both the home and lock screens.
 Nothing Phone (2) Lock Screen Widgets |
 Nothing Phone (2) Quick Settings Tesla Integration |
Everything’s tastefully done and includes a liberal sprinkling of Nothing’s
signature dot-matrix branding. But it’s not all style over
substance. Support for the company’s earbuds and Apple’s AirPods (beyond the
standard Bluetooth functionality) is baked into the OS. You can even control
your Tesla without installing the Tesla app thanks to a panel in the quick
settings. We tested this and it worked like a charm.
While several of these helpful UI tweaks can be achieved by installing third party launchers, Nothing’s tight integration between the hardware and the software makes for a wonderful user experience – and that’s before getting into the Glyph Interface. Before we do, it’s worth noting that Nothing promises three years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates, and that our Phone (2) review unit was free of bloatware.
While several of these helpful UI tweaks can be achieved by installing third party launchers, Nothing’s tight integration between the hardware and the software makes for a wonderful user experience – and that’s before getting into the Glyph Interface. Before we do, it’s worth noting that Nothing promises three years of OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates, and that our Phone (2) review unit was free of bloatware.
Nothing Phone (2) Glyph Interface
After using Phone (1) for a week last year, we found the Glyph
Interface to be cool, but also a bit gimmicky – like the decorative
icing on an already tasty cake. Phone (2) is trying to change this by
taking the Glyph Interface to the next level. On the hardware front, this
means there are now eleven LED strips vs. four previously, and 33
addressable zones vs. twelve. This provides finer control, and enables new
features.
For example, the Glyph Interface can now show a progress bar for delivery,
ride hailing, and other services thanks to an API that Nothing is making
available to developers. The first app to support this feature is Uber, and
it works as advertised. Glyph timer lets you set a timer that displays its
progress with the Glyph Interface – perfect for Pomodoro timers. The Glyph
Interface can also double a volume indicator, when enabled. Nothing Phone (2) Glyph Interface Settings |
 Nothing Phone (2) Glyph Interface Uber Integration |
You can now assign Glyphs (light patterns with matching sounds and haptics) to individual contacts and notification types, and even set up persistent Glyphs that light up until you dismiss them. In other words, the good ole notification LED is back. Finally, there’s Glyph composer, which lets you create and save your own Glyphs as if you were programming a sequencer or drum machine. It’s a lot of fun and it's going to be interesting to see what users come up with once the Phone (2) is out in the wild.
Overall, Phone (2)’s new Glyph Interface is clearly more useful, and Nothing makes a compelling argument that it can help you reduce screen time, stay focused, and be more intentional. Whether it’s worth your while really depends on how you use your phone.
Nothing Phone (2) Price And Competition
Phone (2) is now available for pre-order on Nothing’s website –
unlocked, in white or dark gray – with general sales beginning on July 17.
Three variants are available: 8/128GB ($599), 12/256GB ($699), and
12/512GB ($799). If you are in NYC tonight (July 13, 7-10PM ET), you’ll be
able to purchase Phone (2) in person at Nothing’s popup store (69 Gansevoort St. New York, NY 10014) on a first-come, first-served basis.
In terms of US competition, you have Google's Pixel 7a ($449) and Pixel 7 ($499) which both feature slightly better cameras, but a less efficient processor (Tensor G2). Then there’s the OnePlus 10T ($399) and OnePlus11 5G ($599), which both lack wireless charging but charge faster and include a brick in the box. With the OnePlus 11 5G, you also get a faster chip (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), a telephoto shooter, and a QHD+ display.
Nothing Phone (2) Final Verdict
We could be cynical and dismiss Phone (2) as a well rounded, pseudo-iPhone clone running Android, with a decent price tag, a fancy design, and a light
show in the back. But that would be lazy. When you consider that
Nothing is a three year-old startup that isn’t backed by an existing
handset manufacturer, Phone (2) is truly a remarkable achievement. Carl
Pei and the rest of the team should be proud.
Ultimately, Nothing Phone (2) is an affordable flagship that ticks all the right boxes. It brings a ton of fun and personality to the traditional smartphone form factor without sacrificing performance or value. The hardware is polished and refined, the software is clean and responsive, and the Glyph Interface is more useful than ever – even if it’s still just icing on the proverbial cake. At $599, you just can’t go wrong.
