Phone (1)
| Source | Nothing |
|---|---|
| Released | 21 July 2022 |
| Factory Firmware | Nothing OS 1.0 (Android 12) |
| Availability | Discontinued |
| Successor | Nothing Phone (2) |
| Website | nothing.tech/products/phone-1 |
| Resources | Phone (1) user guide |
Unique this month: 26
Published: 13 May 2026 15:39
Updated: 15 May 2026 12:47
The Nothing Phone (1) is the first smartphone developed & released by Nothing, marking the company’s debut in the mobile industry. Announced in July 2022, the device introduced Nothing’s distinctive design philosophy, centred around transparency, minimalism and visual communication, through its now infamous Glyph Interface.
Positioned in the upper mid-range market, the Phone (1) combined premium build quality and unique aesthetics, with a clean Android experience based on Nothing OS.
The Phone (1) tagline was “Return to Instinct.”
History & Launch
A limited StockX drop of 100 laser engraved units was the first place users could purchase Phone (1) between 21 - 23 June 2022.[1] Community members that held a Black Dot NFT were able to RSVP to attend the launch event in London, which was held at Nothing’s design office on 12 July 2022.[2,3] Pre-orders began shortly after launch, with the device becoming available for purchase from 21 July in select regions including the UK, Europe, India and Japan.
At launch, pricing started at £399 / €469 / ₹32,999 for the base 8 GB RAM / 128 GB model, £449 / €499 / ₹35,999 for the 8 GB / 256 GB variant, and £499 / €549 / ₹38,999 for the top 12 GB / 256 GB configuration.[4,5]
The Phone (1) was not initially released in the United States, though Nothing later opened limited U.S. availability through its Beta Membership Program in early 2023 for $299.[6]
In September 2022, Nothing Phone (1) and Ear (stick) featured in London’s Fashion Week through a collaboration with Chet Lo.[7]
Design & Display
Colour Options: Phone (1) was released in White and Black colour variants.
Back Design: Featuring Nothing’s now-iconic transparent back panel, the Phone (1) introduced the first iteration of the Glyph Interface - a set of 900 individual LED lights arranged in 5 zones. The Glyphs could be used for notifications, charging indicators, ringtones, and as a camera fill light.[8] There was an easter egg for enabling music visualisation, which was not a default option at the time.[9]
Front Display: A 6.55-inch OLED display with 1080 x 2400 resolution, 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and 10-bit colour depth supporting HDR10+ with a beak brightness of 1200 nits. It has a centered punch-hole cutout for the front camera.
Build: Constructed with an aluminium frame, Gorilla Glass 5 front and back. It’s IP53 dust protected and splash resistant and weighs 194g.[8]
Hardware & Performance
Processor: Phone (1) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G, and an Adreno 642L GPU.
Memory: Available in configurations of 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM / 256 GB, and 12 GB RAM / 256 GB.
Connectivity: Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Dual nano SIM, USB-C 2.0, LTE and 5G support.[8]
Cameras
Rear Camera: A dual-camera setup featuring a 50 MP main (wide, OIS) sensor and a 50 MP ultra-wide. Supports video up to 4K@30fps.
Front Camera: A 16 MP, wide selfie camera, capable of 1080p@30fps video.
Speakers: Stereo output (no 3.5 mm jack).[8]
Battery & Charging
Battery: A 4,500 mAh battery.
Charging: 33 W wired, 15W wireless & 5W reverse wireless charging.[8]
Software & Support
OS: Phone (1) launched with Nothing OS 1.0 based on Android 12 and guarantees 3 years of major Android updates up to Nothing OS 3.0 / Android 15.[10,8]
Features:
- Glyph Interface - debuted with the Phone (1), a series of 5 LED strips composed of 972 individual LEDs.[8,11]
- A hidden easter egg for enabling Glyph music visualisation, which was not a default option at the time.[9]
- Nothing OS 1.1.0 brought an experimental Tesla integration, which allowed users to control their Tesla from the phone’s quick settings menu.[12] This experimental feature was removed in a later version of Nothing OS.[13]