Nothing’s advertising and marketing blitz is operating at full velocity forward of the Phone (1) announcement subsequent month. The firm unveiled the again of the telephone throughout an occasion in Switzerland final week, and now it continues to indicate the world what the facet of the smartphone that no one ought to care about will do on its handset. More essential than the rear-facing gimmicks are the Phone (1)’s display design and software program options, areas the place Nothing isn’t able to reveal something.
But the primary hands-on preview of the Phone (1) really reveals the display in motion, and it’s precisely what you anticipate. And it’s equal elements each good and unhealthy.
What does the Nothing Phone (1) appear like
Last week’s Nothing Phone (1) rear design reveal confirmed the telephone would appear like an iPhone 12. Why not iPhone 13? Well, the digicam placement is totally different on the most recent iPhones.
At the time, I speculated that the entrance would in all probability appear like an iPhone display as properly. But Nothing would use a hole-punch show as a substitute of a display with a notch. That’s as a result of 3D face authentication like Face ID might be too costly for the startup. And putting the selfie digicam below the display for an ideal show expertise could be too dangerous.
It seems that anybody anticipating the Phone (1) to characteristic a daily hole-punch show design was proper. Marques Brownlee provided a hands-on video specializing in the rear facet of the handset. He explicitly mentioned that he’s solely allowed to speak in regards to the again of the telephone.
But within the means of exhibiting the gimmicky characteristic of the again of the handset, the YouTuber additionally gave us a take a look at the entrance of the telephone with the display turned on.
The Nothing Phone (1) display will remind you instantly of the iPhone, because of what seems to be a wonderfully symmetrical bezel. The Galaxy S22 is one other instance. But the S22 itself resembles the iPhone 12.
Put in a different way, the primary iPhone that may characteristic a hole-punch show will look so much like these Android handsets, Nothing Phone (1) included. And we do know that Apple is heading in that route. The iPhone 14 will carry over a pill-and-hole design for the Pro fashions. In a few years, the Face ID elements within the tablet cutout ought to go below the display.
What does the again do?
Brownlee didn’t talk about the show, specs, software program expertise, or person interface in his Nothing Phone (1) hands-on preview. Aside from the glimpses on the telephone’s display, he centered on what the rear facet may do.
We already noticed final week that the clear Phone (1) won’t get you a take a look at the precise elements of the handset. Everything is roofed up, so we’re solely pretending we’re trying on the telephone’s elements. Moreover, the Phone (1) options a number of strips manufactured from over 900 LEDs, which have totally different functions.
That’s what the YouTuber confirmed within the hands-on video. And primarily based on what I’ve seen, we’ll have two varieties of individuals with regards to liking the Phone (1) design: those that need nothing to do with the lights and people who like them.
I’ve already hinted that I’m not a fan of this gimmicky method of promoting telephones. The display design and software program expertise ought to matter probably the most when going for a tool just like the Nothing Phone (1). The rear methods must be an afterthought.
Hands-on video reveals the lighting patterns
That mentioned, we all know how the LED lights work. First of all, you possibly can mild all of them as much as act as a flash whereas utilizing the digicam. Also, there’s an LED indicator on the again that lights up whenever you file video. The telephone additionally contains a common flash that works as a flash.
Then, the LED strip on the underside will act as a progress bar for the battery. Just transfer the telephone round whereas it’s charging, and that strip lights as much as inform you how far alongside you’re. Well, assuming you’re holding the telephone on a desk face down.
The bigger LED strip surrounding the wi-fi charging coil will mild up throughout wi-fi energy switch.
Finally, you possibly can customise the LED strips to mild up in varied methods for notifications. Not solely that, however the LED lighting system will match varied ringtones. This explains why Brownlee gave us a take a look at the Nothing Phone (1) display throughout the hands-on. We needed to see each the ringtone interface and the rear conduct of the lights. You want two Nothing telephones for that.
These options will likely be ineffective more often than not, and particularly should you don’t need a clear case for the handset.
There’s one key element that the hands-on video doesn’t cowl. It’s unclear what the Nothing Phone (1)’s rear panel is manufactured from. Plastic and glass are the plain decisions. Hopefully, it’s the latter, as plastic isn’t that nice of a cloth for an Android flagship. And we do anticipate the Phone (1) to be a high-end handset.
Source: bgr.com