The Nothing Phone (2) is coming this year, as the company’s second smartphone. The Nothing Phone (1) has proven to be quite a success for Nothing, thanks to all the hype, eye-catching design, and a solid job Nothing did with the software. It turned out to be quite an interesting product in the end. Well, the Nothing Phone (2) is coming. It is expected to bring a number of improvements, which we’ll try to predict in this preview. You’ll see a mix of rumors, leaks, and educated guesses down below.
Nothing will likely want to keep the momentum going with its unique design. So you can still expect all the major design features to be included in the Nothing Phone (2). It will be interesting to see how will it differentiate. It will also be more powerful than its predecessor, by the way.
This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Nothing Phone (2) (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on March 27 (initial publishing date).
When will the Nothing Phone (2) be released?
The Nothing Phone (2) is expected to arrive in Q3 2023. The first smartphone the company ever launched, the Nothing Phone (1), arrived in mid-July 2022. So, it makes sense to launch its successor around the same time. The rumors have been pointing in the same direction, by the way. So, unless Nothing shares some other info, you can expect the phone to drop in Q3 this year, most likely in July.
What models are coming?
Nothing is expected to announce a single Nothing Phone (2) model. Well, unless you count different RAM + storage, variants, of course. The point is, we won’t see any ‘Pro’ or ‘Ultra’ models, at least they’re not expected. Nothing is expected to stick to a single model with its second smartphone as well. This was not specifically mentioned. Nothing did, however refer to its launch as the Nothing Phone (2) launch. There was no mention of the Nothing Phone (2) ‘series’ or anything of the sort.
How much will the Nothing Phone (2) cost?
The Nothing Phone (1) launched at €490/£399 last year. Nothing probably won’t be able to keep the same price tag for its second-gen product, though. No specific information surfaced thus far, but the company will move to a Snapdragon 8 series processor this time around (the first-gen model includes the Snapdragon 778G SoC). It would be great to see the same price tag, but we’ll more likely see an increase of €50- €100. That’s just a guess at this point, though. The phone will be coming to the US this time around. The Nothing Phone (1) did not launch in the US at all. Nothing is planning to change that this time around.
What will the Nothing Phone (2) look like?
At the time of writing this article, the Nothing Phone (2) design didn’t leak just yet. We’ve seen quite a few concept images of the phone, and the same goes for videos, but none of those were actual leaks. It’s safe to say that the device will retain a similar design language to the first-gen model. Nothing is sticking with that see-through design, and the ‘Glyph’ lights will also be a part of the package. The Nothing Ear (2) earphones did launch recently, and they’re sticking with the same design as the first-gen model, though they are smaller.
The Nothing Phone (2) will likely retain a similar size to its predecessor, though we’ll likely see some differences on the back. Nothing will likely change some things around to make this phone differ from the first-gen model. We may, however, see the same layout for its LED lights on the back. The phone is also expected to retain a flat display on the front, with a display camera hole. The camera hole sits in the top-left corner on the first-gen Nothing Phone, though that may change with the second-gen model. It will either be placed in the top-left corner, or centered at the top. It will be there, though.
What will be interesting to see is whether Nothing will opt to keep the flat sides on the Nothing Phone (2). That is one of the defining features of the first-gen model, its aluminum frame that keeps things flat all around. We would guess that Nothing will retain that design, with slight changes, possibly, but it remains to be seen.
What specs will the Nothing Phone (2) have?
The Nothing Phone (1) was a mid-range phone, based on its specs. Well, its successor is looking to turn up the heat, but it still won’t be bleeding edge in terms of its internals. Nothing has to think of the price tag. The company already confirmed that the phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 series SoC. That leaves us with two options, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Well, thanks to a slip from a Qualcomm exec, it seems like Nothing will use the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. That’s a good thing, as it will allow the company to keep the price tag down, and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an excellent SoC.
What about the rest of its specs? Well, based on some rumors, the phone will feature a 5,000mAh battery, and supports fast charging. Its predecessor offered 33W charging, though the Nothing Phone (1) may push that to 67W, we’ll see. Wireless charging will be supported too, though it will likely stay at 15W. You’ll also get reverse wireless charging, the ability to change your truly wireless earbuds, or something of the sort.
We do know that Nothing will utilize an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, but we don’t have the specifics yet. It will probably be a 6.67-inch fullHD+ display, though, and it will be flat. The phone is tipped to offer up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. The cameras are still a mystery at this point, but the company is expected to make changes compared to the first-gen model. It remains to be seen if Nothing will stick with two cameras, or move to a triple camera setup on the back. Android 13 will come pre-installed, with Nothing’s UI, while we’ll also get some type of water resistance.
Should you wait to buy the Nothing Phone (2)?
This all depends on what you’re looking for, of course. If you’re thinking of getting the first-gen model, as you really want it for its unique looks or some other reason, then yes, waiting would probably be the best option. Why? Well, because the Nothing Phone (2) launch is not that far away at this point, presuming that it will arrive in early Q3. The Nothing Phone (2) will pack in a considerably more powerful processor, and hopefully various other improvements that will make all the waiting worth it. If the company manages to keep the price in check, well, then it’s a no-brainer. There are a lot of other phones available in the market at this price tag, and considering how affordable both the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 have been lately, thanks to discounts, that’s always an option. Those are just some examples, as there are various options at this price tag, though they vary depending on where you live, of course.
2023-03-27 15:08:58