Nothing Phone (1) – A Long-Term Review from a Day-One Indian User

paavamrony · 2025-06-21T09:41:34+00:00

When Nothing Phone (1) was announced in July 2022, it wasn’t just another smartphone launch. It felt like the beginning of something refreshing. A startup led by Carl Pei – the man who helped shape OnePlus – set out to break the monotony of today’s smartphone world. And they weren’t just promising specs. They were promising character, design, and something personal. I bought the Nothing Phone (1) on its **first sale in India** – a 256 GB Black variant. July 20th, 2022. I still remember the excitement as the Flipkart delivery arrived. I was betting on a brand-new company with no track record, but something about the confidence and clarity in their vision spoke to me. Now, nearly **three years later** (1,067 days to be exact), I’m still using the same device. No regrets. No replacement. Here’s the honest truth about what it’s been like living with the Nothing Phone (1). --- ### A Phone with an Identity Let’s start with the design. It still turns heads. The transparent back, the Glyph interface, the symmetry – it’s not just another rectangle. Three years in, and people still ask, “Which phone is that?” That’s rare. The Glyph lights may seem gimmicky at first, but they’ve actually become subtly useful. In meetings, I leave the phone face-down and rely on the silent light cues. No buzzing, no distractions. Just a quiet notification dance of white LEDs. The build? Premium. Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 front and back. After years of use, it’s held up remarkably well. No major scratches, no looseness in buttons, no frame bends. Nothing cut no corners here. --- ### Performance & Daily Use The Snapdragon 778G+ wasn’t the fastest chip on paper, but paired with Nothing OS, it has aged like fine wine. The software is close to stock Android, with some minimal, tasteful tweaks. The animations are smooth. Multitasking works well. I’m not a mobile gamer, so I can’t speak for PUBG frames, but for daily tasks – messaging, photos, browsing, productivity – it’s been rock solid. Battery life was great in the beginning. I easily got a full day with 6+ hours of screen time. Over the last two months, I’ve noticed it draining a bit faster. Still, I get through a full day on moderate use. That’s impressive for a 3-year-old device. --- ### Camera: Good Enough The camera system is clean: a 50MP main and a 50MP ultra-wide. No useless macro lenses or depth sensors. It delivers natural-looking photos, especially in daylight. Low light could be better, and the ultra-wide struggles at night. But for someone who takes everyday photos – kids, pets, trips, documents – it’s more than enough. Video recording has been stable and smooth. The red LED light that switches on when filming? A neat privacy-focused touch. --- ### Glyph Lights: More Than a Gimmick At first, I thought I’d forget about the Glyphs. But they stuck around. They’ve become a part of my silent alert routine. The LED patterns are customizable now – thanks to updates – and even act as a mini flashlight, charging indicator, and ringtone composer. It’s just fun. It gives personality to the device. --- ### Software Journey: Better Over Time This phone launched with Android 12 and Nothing OS 1.0. Since then, it’s been updated regularly – Android 13, then 14, and now Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.0. With each update, the phone felt newer. The UI got smoother, features like lock screen widgets, better Glyph controls, and even a new gallery app arrived. It’s rare to see a new brand support a device this well. Nothing also kept the UI clean. No ads, no bloat. Just a slick, responsive, fuss-free experience. --- ### The Verdict After Nearly 3 Years I never upgraded to Phone (2). It didn’t feel like a big enough leap. But Phone (3)? That looks interesting. Still, the Phone (1) has set a high bar. Here’s where it stands today: #### Pros: * Gorgeous design that still feels futuristic * Excellent build quality * Clean, fluid software * Useful Glyph interface * Decent camera for most needs * Wireless charging in a mid-range device * Solid battery performance (even after 3 years) #### Cons: * Low-light photography could be better * Speaker audio lacks bass * No charger included in box * Midrange chip limits gaming potential * IP53 rating means no full waterproofing --- ### Final Thoughts The Nothing Phone (1) is more than a tech product. It’s a statement. Three years later, it still delivers. It proved that a new brand can not only stand out – but also **stay** relevant with consistency, updates, and community love. As someone who took a leap of faith on day one, I can say this phone didn’t just meet expectations – it matured with time. And if Nothing Phone (3) carries that same spirit forward, I’m ready for round two. **Still Nothing. Still Something.** **And now, I'm just waiting for Phone (3). Let’s see what’s next** [upl-image-preview uuid=5dc4db8c-11a1-49ac-8b29-a4c2dfb060ab url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-06-21/1750498880-273101-img-20220720-160147.jpg alt={TEXT?}]

PhengSophal

That’s why I always believe in Carl since my old friend, 1+5. Now I’m using 2a. 2a and 1+5 still are staying with me. I’m sure that they are really premium.

PawanKumar_v6F7b3DVfi

WTF is that review? I have 2 Phone (1) and i can say this had shit battery backup ever since it got OS 2.0.

TanmayKatoch

The only issue im facing is the battery backup . It has reduced significantly.

Wolverine

Really? Camera and battery are just about worse.

farhanqazi123

Hey Carl, Phone (1) users backed Nothing from day one. Don’t let us feel forgotten. Push Android 16 to NP1 and show value to your early supporters. 💥

JoyDey

Hah! Bought the same phone on 3rd sale Aug 2022. Had to replace due to green tint issue and from there I lost confidence in nothing. I have a wearOS based watch and when I connect that with this phone the battery simply drains out in2-3 hours with light usage. Coming from a xiaomi device the backup is unacceptable.

DevanshSinghal

paavamrony beautifully described: A fellow nothing phone 1 user (white lol)

_JeeT_

Hi, there I bought my NP1 in July at its released

Now after 3yrs .in 2025

OTG is not found in setting option.

If some one has same issues please rply how to solve

PinoLY

_JeeT_ If you insert a pen drive into the NP1, you’ll see it in the Google Files app.

MurodRuzmetov

paavamrony haha same here. Loved your post! 😊

ArjunPrasad_9IMg5KzZfj

Gud