I have been a Nothing Phone (2) user for about a year and a half and have witnessed its evolution in the photography department thanks to multiple updates that have improved color interpretation, processing speed, and low-light quality. Despite these advances, it is still not a photography benchmark, but it performs solidly in most situations.
In this review, we’ll look at how the Nothing Phone (2)'s camera has improved, what aspects are still its weak points, and whether it’s worth it for those looking for a good photography experience.
📷 Camera Evolution: Improvements and Changes
Since its launch, Nothing has worked on optimizing the Phone (2)'s camera with various software updates. Among the most important improvements is the arrival of Nothing OS 2.0, which optimized performance in low-light scenarios, improved contrast management in portrait mode, and increased facial sharpness.
The Nothing Phone (2)'s camera system consists of a 50 MP Sony IMX890 main sensor and a 50 MP Samsung JN1 ultra-wide sensor. These sensors have received software improvements, such as the implementation of True Lens, which allows capturing images with more detail and better balance. Additionally, processing time has been reduced, which was notably slow in previous versions. Now, photos save about three times faster than at launch, offering a smoother experience.
The 50 MP ultra-wide sensor provides very decent quality, surpassing many competitors who opt for lower resolution or quality sensors. Chromatic aberration is minimal, and colors are represented quite faithfully without generating exaggerated purple edges in high-contrast areas. Overall, the results with this sensor are good, although there is still a noticeable loss of detail at the edges of the image, which is common with this type of lens.
🎨 Color, Portrait Mode, and HDR
One of the most obvious changes has been the improvement in color interpretation. Initially, the Phone (2) offered overly saturated images, giving them an unnatural look. Now, the calibration is more precise, though some red tones still get overly dark, and HDR doesn’t always balance the bright lights well, causing overexposure in certain areas.
Portrait mode is one of the better-executed aspects. Subject cropping is precise, with no major errors, and the bokeh effect looks quite natural. In some cases, the blur may be a bit excessive, but overall, the result is realistic and competent.
Regarding HDR, its implementation has improved, but in some scenes, it may exaggerate the effect. That’s why I recommend taking the same photo with HDR on and off to compare which style you prefer, as in some cases, the non-HDR version may look more natural. If, after taking the photo, you notice that the colors are not entirely accurate or the image has too much contrast, you can make small adjustments with an editing app like Snapseed, which allows you to quickly correct lighting and color details.
🤳 Front Camera: Solid Performance with Room for Improvement
The Nothing Phone (2) has a 32 MP front camera, offering solid performance, especially with good lighting. The level of detail is notable, and dynamic range and colors are represented fairly accurately. In some situations, the tones may be slightly saturated, but overall, the balance is correct.
HDR in selfies does its job, but in backlighting, it can overly process the image, resulting in an exaggeratedly blue sky and overexposing faces and bodies, which can make the photo seem unrealistic or even like a fake. Still, in optimal conditions, the results are good and offer more than enough quality. In the following images, I show you a couple of unedited selfies. The first one is in a well-lit environment, and the second one is in the worst possible conditions, against the light.
🔍 Macro Mode: Is It Worth Using?
The Nothing Phone (2) features a macro mode that lets you capture images from a distance of 4 to 5 cm from the object. It works well in terms of detail but has the problem that, being so close, the perspective distorts: the front of the object appears exaggeratedly large, while the background becomes too small.
To avoid this effect, it’s better to use the main sensor with a 2x zoom, which allows you to back up a little more and get an image with a more realistic proportion. This way, you achieve better image balance without the distortion caused by the macro mode.
📷 Advanced Photography: RAW Mode and Pro Mode
The Nothing Phone (2) includes a RAW mode, ideal for those who want to edit their photos without losing quality. It also has a Pro mode that allows you to manually adjust settings such as ISO, shutter speed, exposure, and white balance, giving more control to advanced users.
📌 Do I Recommend the Nothing Phone (2) Camera Now?
The Nothing Phone (2) is not a phone for those looking for the best camera on the market, but it offers solid performance in most situations.
Its camera is versatile, functional, and can adapt well to different scenarios, especially with good lighting, where it can deliver remarkable and well-balanced results. Plus, it has improved over time, both in image processing and color interpretation.
If you need an all-around camera that works well in general and comes with software that continues to evolve, the Nothing Phone (2) is still a very valid option today.
Note: All the photos attached in this article were taken in auto shooting mode with the Nothing Phone (2) and were later retouched using the Snapseed app in a few seconds.
Source: Nothingtec (That’s me 😛) @ruudhesp
