On the back of the Nothing Phone 1 is a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), electronic image stabilization (EIS), and an f/1.88 aperture. It bodes well for the company’s future in design. It’s fascinating to see, and very few brands start out with such a clear design vision in place, let alone after just two products. Whether you like or loathe the look, it’s already immediately recognizable. What we’re seeing is Nothing continue to build its brand identity, which started with the Nothing Ear 1 true wireless headphones. Reducing the Phone 1’s design to little more than a collection of flashing lights for people attracted by such things, or simply dismissing it as an iPhone clone, misses the point. The past year has seen many good-looking smartphones emerge, yet Nothing still managed to come up with something fun and unusual. There are some who question why the Phone 1’s looks have caused a furor and dismiss it all as hype, but this is cynical and myopic. Considering this is the debut phone from a modestly sized startup, it feels incredibly substantial and well-made. Nothing has designed a phone that doesn’t look like any other, and has a unique element that genuinely catches the eye when it’s activated. Covering them up with different-shaped panels under the glass gives the Nothing Phone 1 a cool, sci-fi look. Components are usually ugly, and aesthetics aren’t taken into account when laying out the inside of a phone. That may disappoint some folks at first, but in reality, it’s a good thing. All the phone’s guts are actually covered up, leaving the wireless charging coil as the only naked component on show.

The transparent back of the Nothing Phone 1 looks ace. I was sent a transparent case for the Nothing Phone 1, which I’ve found reduces the way the phone digs into your palm. The phone’s 193-gram weight is just right, though, making it pocketable and never fatiguing to hold. There is a hint of a chamfered edge, but it’s not enough to make the phone as comfortable to hold as the Xiaomi 12 Lite, which shares a similar design. The flat-sided metal body looks very slick, but it’s not that comfortable to hold for extended periods, much like the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 it’s so clearly imitating. It’s sensible to use with one hand, it’s not too bulky or thick, and slips into most pockets and bags without a fuss.

The phone comes in black or white color schemes, is 8.3mm thick, and weighs 193 grams. Ignore the naysayers - it’s fun, special, and downright cool. Because of this, it shows the internal components and is lit up by Nothing’s fancy Glyph LED lights. Sure, glass on the front and back sandwiches a metal chassis, but the rear of the phone is transparent. The Nothing Phone 1 looks nothing like any other phone available at the moment. Pushing all this aside, what’s the Nothing Phone 1 actually like? It’s good, but not because of the LED light show on the back.

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