X

See the Nothing Phone 1's Transparent Back, Flashing Glyph

A close up look at the quirky, flashing Nothing Phone 1.

Andrew Lanxon
Andrew is CNET's go-to guy for product coverage and lead photographer for Europe. When not testing the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
Andrew Lanxon
nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-20
1 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The Nothing Phone 1 is the first phone launched by UK-based startup Nothing. It's an Android-based handset, with some decent specs and a quirky design featuring a transparent back panel and LED lights that flash when you have incoming notifications.

But the most exciting thing is its affordable £399 price tag. It's on sale in the UK and Europe now. There's currently no firm plans for a US launch for the phone, but it will likely reach the US eventually. For now, that £399 price converts to roughly $470 or AU$700.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review
2 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The back panel is transparent, allowing you to see the different interconnected pieces.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-10
3 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The only Nothing branding is this subtle logo in the corner.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-11
4 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

It's certainly an unusual design and it might not be to everyone's tastes. 

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-12
5 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The edge is made from aluminum, giving the phone a premium feeling when you hold it.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-13
6 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Considering the design and the LEDs, finding good case options might be tricky.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-14
7 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Nothing calls this set of LEDs the "glyph."

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-15
8 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

They light up when you have incoming notifications like calls or emails, but they can also be used as an LED light when recording videos.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-16
9 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

It's a dramatic look that I haven't seen on any other phone.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-17
10 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The phone charges over USB-C.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-18
11 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The company was founded by Carl Pei, one of the co-founders of OnePlus.    

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-19
12 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The phone's 6.55-inch display makes it feel large.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-2
13 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The display uses OLED technology and is bright and vibrant.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-3
14 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The screen fills the front of the phone.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-4
15 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The Nothing 1 uses Android 12 at its core.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-5
16 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The interface has been kept intentionally clean, with no preloaded apps.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-8
17 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

There's a dual camera on the back.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-7
18 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

It offers a standard view and an ultrawide view, both of which have 50-megapixel resolutions.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-9
19 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

The exposed screw heads give it an almost industrial feel.

nothing-phone-1-cnet-review-6
20 of 20 Andrew Lanxon/CNET

How it performs against similarly priced phones remains to be seen.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos