
Nothing’s first smartphone is lastly official, and much more inexpensive than many had been anticipating. However there’s no scarcity of cut-price competitors on the market – how does it stack as much as large hitters from extra established manufacturers?
There’s no higher strategy to discover out than trying on the newest handset from Nothing founder Carl Pei’s earlier firm. The OnePlus Nord 2T sits on the high of that agency’s wallet-friendly line-up, however beneath the principle OnePlus fashions – placing it in direct competitors with Telephone 1.
Which handset is the one price spending your money on proper now? Right here’s what we predict.
Nothing Telephone 1 vs OnePlus Nord 2T: value & launch date
The OnePlus Nord 2T is that can be purchased now. The vary begins at £369 for an 8GB/128GB mannequin, rising to £469 for the 12GB/256GB mannequin.
The Nothing Telephone 1 will go on normal sale on the twenty first of July. The entry-level 8GB/128GB variant will value £399, with 8GB/256GB setting you again £449 and 12GB/256GB costing £499.
Nothing Telephone 1 vs OnePlus Nord 2T: tech specs
Nothing Telephone 1 | OnePlus Nord 2T | |
Show | 6.55in OLED 2400×1080, 120Hz | 6.43in OLED 1080×2400, 90Hz |
Rear Cameras | 50MP (predominant) 50MP (ultrawide) | 50MP (huge), 8MP (ultra-wide) 2MP (macro) |
Entrance digicam | 16MP | 32MP |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ | MediaTek Dimensity 1300 |
RAM | 8/12GB | 8/12GB |
Storage | 128/256GB | 128/256GB |
Battery | 4500mAh | 4500Ah |
Dimensions | 159x76x8.3mm | 159x73x8.2mm |
Weight | 194g | 190g |
Design: see-through vs staid
From the entrance, there’s not a lot to separate the Nord 2T and Telephone 1. Each go for the acquainted hole-punch digicam cutout within the upper-left nook, and each have skinny bezels – though Nothing’s are even on all 4 sides, whereas the Nord 2T has a bit little bit of a chin the place the underside bezel is barely thicker.
There are huge variations once you flip them over, although. The Nord 2T makes use of a tried-and-tested price range association of plastic body and glass entrance and rear, with barely curved edges and a alternative of two colors. Nothing has doubled down on its clear aesthetic, with a metallic body (produced from 100% recycled aluminium) and see-through rear, which reveals inner parts just like the wi-fi charging coil.
It additionally comprises the glyph interface, a novel set of 900 white LEDs that illuminate to let you realize about incoming messages and calls, present the remaining battery, and when the cellphone is reverse wi-fi charging one other gadget. A single pink LED lights up when recording movies, and the remainder of the LEDs can act as a fill mild for close-up pictures.
Regardless of the general form having an actual iPhone vibe, the clear tech makes the Telephone 1 one thing actually distinctive and makes far more of a press release than the by-the-numbers Nord 2T.
Verdict: Nothing Telephone 1
Display screen: Easy or smoother
AMOLED screens are just about the usual for all telephones above a sure value now, and each firms ship. The Nord 2T’s barely smaller 6.43in panel has a barely increased pixel density, however you’re unlikely to note with no microscope. Each ought to ship crisp, detailed photographs with loads of color. Some might choose the OnePlus’ barely smaller show,
The primary useful distinction is refresh price. The Nord 2T tops out at 90Hz, whereas the Nothing Telephone 1 climbs as much as a fair smoother 120Hz. You’d want a side-by-side comparability to identify the distinction in common use, however Nothing takes the slight benefit.
Verdict: Nothing Telephone 1
Digicam: Two beats three
The Nord 2T takes an important daylight snap from its predominant digicam, however OnePlus’ method of “extra” somewhat than “higher” leaves it at a drawback on the pictures entrance. Its ultrawide digicam tops out at 8MP, and the 2MP macro is barely price bothering with.
Nothing has as an alternative caught with two lenses, and gone large on each, with 50MP sensors for the principle and ultrawide. The latter ought to on paper ship much more element, and each get pleasure from the glyph lighting results being usable as a fill mild for close-up photographs. Nothing’s ultrawide isn’t fairly as crisp and clear as its predominant snapper in observe, however it nonetheless wins out over the Nord’s effort.
Finally picture processing is what makes or breaks any smartphone digicam. Each can take wonderful pictures in good mild, and do an alright job at night time too. You might choose one cellphone’s therapy over the opposite, however we predict Nothing has the sting.
Verdict: Nothing Telephone 1
Efficiency: pulls one again
The Nothing Telephone 1 is not any slouch, even with a decidedly mid-tier Snapdragon 778G+ CPU operating the present. There’s loads of energy from the eight-core chip to run Android 12 easily, and most video games ought to run nicely on the handset’s Full HD+ decision – albeit with a number of element settings dialled again.
On the subject of benchmark assessments, although, the OnePlus Nord 2T wins out with its MediaTek silicon. This could translate into sooner app opening occasions, higher multitasking and better recreation body charges – though it’s not like it is a flagship chip. Efficiency remains to be on par for the worth, it’s simply you’re getting a bit extra of it right here than you’ll with the Nothing cellphone.
The 2 telephones are tied on reminiscence and storage, with each providing a alternative of 8GB and 12GB, and 128GB and 256GB respectively.
Verdict: OnePlus Nord 2T
Battery and perks: Decide your energy
The Telephone 1’s 4500mAh battery ought to have a slight edge over the OnePlus Nord 2’s identically-sized cell. That’s as a result of Qualcomm’s CPU is rather less power-hungry than MediaTek’s, primarily based on telephones we’ve examined beforehand with comparable {hardware}. In testing that didn’t fairly pan out, with Telephone 1 being thirstier than we anticipated. It usually lasts from morning to early night in common use, however is not any stamina champ. That will change over time with software program updates, however proper now the OnePlus lasts longer.
The Nord 2T has the advantage of sooner charging, with assist for 80W wired top-ups, whereas the Nothing Telephone 1 tops out at 50W. Each ought to nonetheless handle an entire refuel in round an hour. Importantly, with the Nord 2T you get a appropriate charger within the field – Nothing solely provides a USB-C cable in its field, leaving you to provide your personal charger.
Then again, Nothing claws issues again with wi-fi charging and reverse wi-fi charging – one thing you received’t discover on any similarly-priced telephones. Qualcomm needed to bake assist for these options into its CPU particularly for the agency.
Verdict: OnePlus Nord 2T
Preliminary verdict: Nothing seals the deal
The Nord 2T is a well-rounded and keenly-priced cellphone that lacks any type of wow issue. Put facet by facet with the eye-catching Telephone 1 and it was inevitable Nothing would take a powerful victory. We’d a lot somewhat have that cellphone’s glyph lighting, clear design and minimal UI, even when it carries a slight value premium.
The Nord might have an additional rear digicam, however we don’t assume the 2MP macro is price your time, and Nothing’s high-resolution ultrawide is a step above OnePlus’ 8MP wide-angle shooter. The OnePlus does last more, although, and costs sooner in addition – even when it does with out wi-fi charging.
Until you’re on a very tight price range, or don’t fancy ready to get your arms on the Telephone 1, we predict Nothing’s handset is totally the one to go for.
Winner: Nothing Telephone 1