The Nothing Phone (1) launched in India in July 2022 at Rs 32,999 for 8 GB plus 128 GB, and its arrival was one of the most hyped launches of the year. Carl Pei's new company built the phone around a transparent back with Glyph Interface LED strips that light up for calls, notifications and charging status, a design that genuinely looked unlike anything else on sale.
Beneath the lights is a solid mid-range package. The 6.55-inch flexible OLED has uniform bezels and runs at 120Hz, and the Snapdragon 778G+ provides good everyday performance, though behind the Snapdragon 870 in rivals like the iQOO Neo 6. Nothing OS 1.0 is a clean, quick skin over Android 12 with custom widgets and a dot-matrix font.
The dual 50 MP cameras, a Sony IMX766 main with OIS and a Samsung JN1 ultrawide, deliver pleasant results in daylight but are ordinary at night. The 4500 mAh battery gives a day of use, with 33W wired, 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging. Against the OnePlus Nord 2T it offered a far more distinctive design and wireless charging, though early software bugs hurt its reputation.
Key specifications
| Launch price (India) | Rs 32,999 (base variant) |
|---|---|
| India launch | July 2022 |
| Segment | Mid-range |
| Display | 6.55-inch, Flexible OLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 778G+ |
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | No |
| Rear cameras | 50 MP main (OIS) + 50 MP ultrawide |
| Front camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired, wireless |
| Software at launch | Android 12, Nothing OS 1.0 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Water/dust rating | IP53 |
| Headphone jack | No |
| Weight | 193.5 g |
| Colours | White, Black |
What we like
- Unique transparent design with Glyph lights
- Uniform bezels on a 120Hz OLED
- Wireless charging at this price
- Clean Nothing OS
What could be better
- Average low-light camera
- Early software bugs
- No charger in the box
Who should buy it
Buyers who want a mid-ranger that looks completely different from the crowd while still offering clean, fast software.
Specifications and price are as at the India launch (July 2022). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.