Tag: Nothing Phone 1

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Here’s what it’s like to use the Nothing Phone (1) in Canada

Carl Pei’s Nothing recently launched a U.S. beta test for the Nothing Phone (1), giving people in North America a way to try out the new device that made waves across Asia and Europe with its flamboyant look.

The device was released in select parts of Asia and Europe in early 2022, with Canadians and Americans blatantly left out of the picture. According to the company, a lack of partnerships, paired with a lack of carrier coverage, was the reason for the phone not arriving here. “Nothing phone (1) is not fully supported in North America. Functionality may be impacted depending on your carrier, coverage, speed and/or reliability; or it may not function at all,” reads a disclaimer for a Nothing Phone (1) auction page.

Now, with the new U.S.-based Beta, Nothing is allowing interested customers to pay $299 USD (roughly $404 CAD) in exchange for a black version of the smartphone with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage to test. The beta program is set to end on June 30th, 2023, with testers allowed to retain their devices thereafter.

If you’re looking to get your hands on the device via a relative in the States, or trying to buy a device from the likes of Facebook Marketplace, Ebay or Kijiji, you should note that the device isn’t fully supported by all Canadian carriers, but you should still be able to get by. I’m not going to talk about the phone, since it is already pretty well covered. Rather, this is more about the experience of using the device in Canada, and the issues that come with it.

The Nothing Phone (1) does not support all of the frequencies used by Canadian networks, but it does support a majority of them. Rogers-owned Fido offers the 1,700MHz and 2,000MHz Band 4 spectrum, 2,600MHz Band 7 spectrum and 700MHz Band 17 spectrum, all of which are 4G bands supported by the device. On the other hand, Rogers’ 5G bands, including the 1,700MHz n66 frequency and 600MHz n71 frequency bands, are not supported by the device.

Check below for a table of Canadian carrier bands and frequencies supported by the device:

Check below for a list of Canadian carrier bands and frequencies not supported by the device:

Data for both the tables above was found on kimovil.com.

As evident in the tables above, network coverage for the Nothing Phone (1) isn’t necessarily spotty, though to offer optimal coverage, the device needs to support all frequencies for all networks used in Canada. Network coverage might be limited in certain areas, though I haven’t had a problem with coverage anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Even with a SIM as obscure as Eastlink in the GTA, the device provides reliable 4G coverage, though with slower download and higher upload speeds when compared to my daily driver iPhone. This might not be the same for you, depending on where you live.

For me, the iPhone always seemed to offer faster download speeds, even when both devices were tested with the same exact SIM card. However, the lower mobile data speed wasn’t very noticeable in daily use with the Nothing Phone (1), and shouldn’t be an issue for a majority of Canadians interested in the smartphone.

Telus, Bell, Rogers or Koodo are the best networks to use with the Nothing Phone (1), as the device supports 5G frequencies provided by the mentioned carriers, along with support for the most 4G and 3G bands.

Canadian weather and the Nothing Phone (1)

There have been mixed reports about the Nothing Phone (1) being sensitive to cold temperatures. Considering weather in Canada is not just cold, but, in peak winters, numbingly cold, is the device’s reported sensitivity to sub-zero temperatures a cause of concern?

It’s worth noting that in general, phone batteries do deplete faster in cold weather, but reports have suggested that the Phone (1) even performs worse when exposed to sub-zero temperatures.

According to Reddit user ‘u/TheLucas777‘ on the ‘Phone (1)’ subreddit, the Nothing Phone (1) performs worse in weather below Zero-degree Celsius. “The battery drains like 20% in 45 min SOT [screen on time], and this even with the dimmest extradim and battery saving mode.”

Another user that goes by the name ‘Crappyuserrnamee‘ added that they are an international student and brought the Nothing Phone (1) along with them when coming to Canada, and the device does not like negative temperatures.

Others have had differing views. ‘Momo8969‘ said that “I do snow removal in an unheated tractor for hours. My phone’s in my jacket breast pocket and it works no problem even when it’s an ice block.”

‘KailiTheThechie‘ added that they went skiing in -9 degree Celsius weather and their device and its battery was fine. While ‘the-mighty-taco’ said that their device performs without any issues, even in -10 to -15 Fahrenheit (-23 Celsius to -26 Celsius).

In my experience using the device, I wasn’t able to go skiing with it, or take it out in -20 or colder weather. However, being out and about in -10 to -15 celsius temperature had no noticeable effect on the device’s normal performance. The battery did seem to drain comparatively faster, but the 4,500mAh cell’s normal screen time offering is higher than roughly eight hours, which is already more than what I’m used to with the iPhone 12 Pro, so the difference felt negligible.

Repairability

Canadians can easily get in touch with Nothing customer support via phone or live chat for basic support, troubleshooting, and to request help, but what about repairability?

Since the device isn’t officially available in Canada, Nothing wouldn’t be able to provide warranty repairs for the Phone (1). However, you can pay the company to fix your device, roughly 170 Euros for a screen repair + shipping costs ( roughly $244.84 CAD).

I called Canadian phone repair services to check if they’ll be able to fix the device, but since the parts for the Nothing Phone (1) aren’t available in Canada, you’ll find it impossible to get the phone repaired from a third-party repair shop.

We know that the Nothing Phone (2) will launch in the U.S. later this year. In an interview with Inverse, Pei said that the device will come later this year and that they’re “developing a smartphone that’s more premium than the Nothing Phone (1).” In such a scenario, we can likely expect the device to be available in Canada as well, alongside greater support for repairs and warranty.

The device is expected to release sometime in the second half of 2023, and is likely to be named model A065. For reference, the Nothing Phone (1) is model A063.

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Mobile Syrup

The Nothing Phone (2) will feature a flagship Qualcomm chip

The Nothing Phone (2) is likely a flagship device, unlike its predecessor, which is mid-range at best.

The Nothing Phone (1) featured a mid-range Snapdragon 778G+ chipset. The upcoming device, however, will sport a flagship Qualcomm chipset, as shared by the company at the MWC event in Barcelona, Spain (via Android Police).

The company did not specify which chip exactly, but it will likely be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 2 chipset powering the Nothing Phone (2). This adds credence to a previous leak by MySmartPrice that suggested that the device will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series chipset “which is yet to be announced.”

It is also very likely that the Nothing Phone (2) will cost more than its predecessor. At launch in July 2022, the device cost £399 (roughly $656.12 CAD)

Other reported leaks about the upcoming phone indicate that it will feature a slightly larger 5,000mAh battery, in comparison to the 4,500mAh battery in the Nothing Phone (1), along with 12GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage.

We know that the Nothing Phone (2) will launch in the U.S. later this year. In an interview with Inverse, Pei said that the device will arrive later this year and that the company is “developing a smartphone that’s more premium than the Nothing Phone (1).” If the device is coming to the United States, we can expect it to likely be available in Canada as well.

The Nothing Phone (2) is expected to be released sometime in the second half of 2023.

Source: Android Police

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Nothing Phone (2) reported to run on yet to be announced Snapdragon chip

Carl Pei’s Nothing Phone (1) failed to make its way to Canada and the U.S. when it launched. The company recently started a U.S. Beta test, and we hope that means the device would make its way to Canada as well, at least some time in the near future.

We know that the Nothing Phone (2) will launch in the U.S. later this year. In an interview with Inverse, Pei said that the device will come later this year and that they’re “developing a smartphone that’s more premium than the Nothing Phone (1).”

Now, thanks to a new leak by MySmartPrice (via Android Police), we know a bit more about the upcoming device. The Nothing Phone (2) will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series chipset which is yet to be announced. The device is also expected to feature a slightly larger 5000mAh battery, in comparison to the 4500mAh battery in the Nothing Phone (1), along with 12GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage.

Just like the first-gen device, the Nothing Phone (2) would also feature a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, though it is currently unknown if the display would adapt between 60Hz and 120Hz or 1Hz to 120Hz.

Further, the Nothing Phone (2) is reported to feature virtual RAM, which will allow a portion of the device’s storage disk that double as RAM, similar to Samsung’s RAM Plus feature.

MySmartPrice says that the device would release sometime in the second half of 2023, and will be named model A065.

Source: MySmartPrice Via: Android Police

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A week with the Nothing Phone 1: Style and substance make a splash

The Nothing Phone’s fair price, ambitious design and incredible price-to-performance ratio make it one of the most appealing devices I’ve used in a long time.

The phone isn’t officially available in Canada, but with Nothing’s recent launch of a U.S. beta test, there’s hope it might soon be available here. If you manage to import one, I can confirm it worked well on Bell’s and Telus’ networks in Ontario.

How it felt to use

Nothing’s collaboration with Teenage Engineering leads to incredible-looking products.

The model Nothing sent us features 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and while it isn’t the top spec, it felt good to use and, in most cases, is snappy enough. What is immediately noticeable is the Nothing Phone’s great size-to-weight ratio. At 193.5g, it clocks in at slightly lighter than the iPhone 14 Plus (203g) with a very similar in-hand feel. I found it a pretty appealing screen for watching videos or reading social media feeds on the couch, but it was big in my pocket.

For its price, there’s nothing out there like it. The company is smartly giving everything it’s got with its first phone to make a good impression, and it’s working. Coming from the mind of Carl Pei, it’s not surprising that the Nothing Phone is running the same playbook as OnePlus. It’s a good strategy, and if Google weren’t constantly discounting the Pixel 7, it would likely be the best deal in phones.

The metal sides are premium, the design is stellar (if you’re into sci-fi), and there’s a capable chipset under the hood. The phone also has good haptics, which can be hit-and-miss in the mid-range space, so it’s nice to see here.

The other standout feature is the Glyph light, which is fun to use and cool to show off, but beyond being a notification light, there isn’t much to do with it in normal use. It’s the first thing people noticed in many cases, so it helps the phone make a splash in a crowded phone market. It can also be used as a sizable flashlight for videos, and it’s fun to customize to give contacts special light patterns, but at the end of the day, I don’t like putting phones face down since it runs a risk of getting a scratch on the screen.

A phone built with the right tradeoffs?

Before I get into the cons, I should clarify (if it’s not already clear) that I love this phone.

My main pain points with the phone stem from a few personal issues and the fact that Nothing is a new entry into the handset market. For instance, the Nothing Launcher is super minimal to the point where the Nothing (1) feels like a Pixel with a custom weather app. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but temper your expectations accordingly.

Other design inconsistencies include the device’s use of greys throughout. For instance, the Nothing widgets in dark mode are dark grey, while the folders and other dark aspects of Android are light grey. As a design nerd, I was hoping small visual issues like this wouldn’t be a problem, but instead, it still feels a little fractured. It’s not bad since it’s basically the same great-looking version of Android as Pixel phones, but don’t expect the software to match the cyber-punk aesthetic of the hardware without a lot of modding.

The other issue several other reviewers have already touched on is the Nothing Phone’s camera. Under perfect lighting conditions scenarios, it’s great, but as with other phones in this price range, it’s slower than the flagships I’m used to. With this in mind, catching fast-moving subjects like cars and people walking can be a problem in auto mode. As a photographer, I enjoy the colour science, which is a nice base for editing, and the fact that the video has a fun red light on the rear to show people when you’re recording like a real camera is a fun touch. The video mode also seemed decent in the few instances I tried it.

The last thing I wish the Nothing (1) featured was some level of water resistance. Since many phones sport at least IP67 in 2023, this isn’t a piece of mind I like sacrificing.

Where that leaves me

After walking away from the Nothing Phone 1, I miss it. The phone felt like it was made for me. The size and design are perfect, and my love for Teenage Engineering makes the design side of me drool over this device. The reviewer inside of me feels really happy with the price/performance ratio of this phone. If I were a gamer, maybe I’d be tempted to get the 12GB RAM model, but for me and my standard social media habits, the 8GB version works just fine.

If you can get your hands on a Nothing Phone and you don’t think you’ll need to ride it for more than two years, then I think this is a stellar device. If you do want to buy a phone to invest three years or more into, then the Pixel 7 still feels like a safer choice if you can get it on sale.

Regardless, I know I’m waiting for this phone to become available in Canada because our market is ripe for disruption from a new contender. I also hope that the next Nothing phone can build on this aggressive ‘style and substance’ approach and not give in and chase the flagship crown like OnePlus did years ago.

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Mobile Syrup

Nothing is hinting at a new product announcement ‘coming soon’

Carl Pei’s Nothing is doing well in the countries it launched the Nothing Phone (1) in. The company revealed that it has sold over 100,000 phones in India in the first 20 days of sale, with over 10 million signing up for notifications about the phone’s launch at Indian e-commerce retailer Flipkart (owned by Walmart).

Part of the reason why the phone is doing well is the way Nothing promoted it prior to its launch. Behind-the-scene videos, teaser trailers and constant hints on its social media were a good way for the company to garner potential customer attention, and it seems like the company is doing it again.

Nothing had been holding off on such cryptic teasers since the release of the Nothing Phone 1. However, on Thursday, September 15th, it shared a photo of a butterfly on Twitter, with the caption, “Sublime. Coming soon.”

Parrots were an integral part of Nothing Phone (1)’s teasers, and it looks like, whatever this new device is, will have butterflies in its promotional material. The new device could very well be a second-gen version of Nothing’s Ear (1) or a new red colourway for the Nothing Phone (1), judging by the butterfly’s red and transparent body. On the other hand, it could be a new product all together, like a smartwatch.

The company first teased the Nothing Phone 1 in March, and it wasn’t until July that the device was fully revealed. If Nothing is on a similar roadmap, it wouldn’t be before January that we get a full look at what the company’s new product is.

Source: @nothing

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Here’s how you can watch Carl Pei unveil the Nothing Phone (1) today

Nothing is ready to drop its Nothing Phone (1) today at its event titled Nothing (event): Return to Instinct. While the device isn’t releasing in Canada or the United States, we thought some of you might still be interested in following along with the event and the new device, in case a future iteration of it is compatible with North American carriers.

From what we know so far, the upcoming device will run on a “custom-tuned” Snapdragon 778G+ chip with support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It features rear light-up strips and is expected to sport a 6.55-inch 120Hz OLED display.

Nothing founder Carl Pei will unveil the device today in London at 4pm BST, which is 11am ET/8am PT, and share some unknowns about the device, including pricing and availability.

The event is titled Nothing (event): Return to Instinct, and will be available to stream on Nothing’s website and its YouTube channel. You can also tune in to the event directly from the embedded feed below today at 11am ET/8am PT, or keep an eye on the MobileSyrup home page, Twitter and/or Facebook for all the latest news from the event.

Image credit: Nothing

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Nothing releases Phone (1) camera samples

 

Nothing unveils camera samples for the Nothing Phone (1) reveals its camera quality and capabilities through camera samples.

In an announcement, Nothing released its camera capabilities as well as samples taken from the Phone (1)’s dual cameras.  The Nothing Phone (1)’s dual camera lenses are backed by the 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 flagship.  Prominent leaker @evleaks revealed images of the Phone (1) and its camera display features.

Other camera notable features include an aperture of f/1.88, a 1/1.56″ sensor size, 10-bit colour video, OIS and EIS stabilization, 114-degree field of view, as well as ‘Night Mode’ and ‘Scene Detection’ capabilities.

However, it’s a shame the Nothing Phone (1) will not arrive in Canada as the camera features look pretty good with only two cameras.

There will be more information on the Nothing Phone (1) on July 12th when it will be finally unveiled at the launch event.

Image Credit: @evleaks

Sources: Nothing, @evleaks

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Nothing Phone (1) will launch on July 12

Nothing will hold an event in London, alongside a simultaneous live stream at 11am ET, to launch the anticipated device.

Nothing is calling this event ‘Return to Instinct.’

Funny enough, there seems to have been an issue with the Nothing Twitter account this past week. On June 6th, Nothing tweeted “this week,” and yesterday, the company tweeted “Tomorrow.”

This got met with a reply from Carl Pei that said, “wtf who posted this.”

It’s unsure if this was a joke, or by ‘Tomorrow,’ the tweet just meant that Nothing would tell us about the July 12th event. Either way, Nothing teasing about this device is getting out of hand.

Previously, the phone was rumoured to launch on July 21st, so it looks like we’ll see the handset a bit sooner than expected.

So far, we’ve seen the Nothing OS launcher, which runs on top of Android 11, and we know that the phone will sport transparent elements like the ear (1) and the HTC U11+. 

Source: Nothing