What the reviewers said
The Guardian UK
No scoreMay 18, 2026A slick, striking mid-range Android with a solid aluminium body and eye-catching dot-matrix display, but pricey for its performance; the cheaper Phone 4a offers better value.
- Premium solid aluminium body feels expensive
- Huge, vibrant 6.83in 144Hz OLED screen
- Eye-catching dot-matrix LED display on back
- Strong main and 3.5x telephoto cameras in good light
- Two-plus days of battery life
- Only three years of Android updates
- Ultrawide camera weak on detail
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 performance is merely adequate
- Expensive for a mid-range phone
- Some AI features slow and still in progress
An affordable, stylish Android phone with strong cameras and a distinctive rear Glyph Matrix, though software support trails rivals like the Pixel 10A.
- Affordable price matching the Pixel 10A
- Attractive pink design with aluminum back
- Strong camera performance across main and telephoto lenses
- Glyph Matrix display adds personality and useful glanceable info
- Smooth everyday performance with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
- Fewer years of software support than rivals
- Battery life could be better
- Benchmarks slightly below Pixel 10A
- Ultrawide color shifts noticeably from main camera
- IP65 rating rather than IP68
Not the best $499 phone, but a strong, unique midrange option with a useful telephoto camera, held back by weak low-light photos, IP65 rating, and short update support.
- Good performance for midrange price
- Nice screen with up to 144 Hz refresh
- Reliable battery life, lasts a full day
- Triple camera with 3.5X telephoto zoom
- Distinctive design and Glyph Matrix display
- Weak low-light camera performance and shutter delay
- Only IP65 rated, not IP68
- No wireless charging
- Three OS upgrades and six years of security updates
- Possible network compatibility issues with Verizon and AT&T
Android Central US
4.5/5Apr 13, 2026The best phone at $499 right now, led by build quality, design, display, battery life and software support, though cameras and lack of wireless charging hold it back.
- Bright OLED display with high-frequency PWM dimming
- Six years of software support and no bloatware
- Stand-out metal build quality and design
- Essential Key and Nothing Playground features are useful
- Strong everyday performance and sustained heat handling
- Cameras lack the punch of Pixel cameras
- No wireless charging due to metal unibody
- Peak performance trails the Pixel 10a
- Display lacks anti-reflective coating and flickers somewhat
Android Police US
7.5/10Apr 11, 2026A great mid-range phone with real character, a versatile camera and useful Glyph Matrix, held back by battery life and weak outdoor screen brightness.
- Distinctive, well-built design with excellent ergonomics
- Very fast wired charging, about 50% in 20 minutes
- Versatile camera with usable 3.5x periscope zoom
- Useful customizable Glyph Matrix and notification sounds
- Available in the US through Amazon at $599
- Battery life disappoints, often needs top-up on day two
- Screen lacks brightness and vibrancy in sunlight
- Video stabilization not very effective; large 4K files
- No wireless charging
Stylish mid-range phone with a strong display and versatile cameras, but pricey versus the standard Phone (4a), which is the better deal.
- Distinctive metal unibody design with transparent camera module
- Large, bright 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED display
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 with solid CPU and AI gains
- Versatile camera system with telephoto
- Unique, independent software interface
- Costs noticeably more than the standard Phone (4a)
- Glyph Matrix feels like a gimmick for daily use
- Software support lags behind Google and Samsung
- IP65 rating and no wireless charging
- LTPS panel lacks LTPO power-saving
Tech Advisor UK
4/5Mar 23, 2026A distinctive, well-rounded mid-range phone with a strong display and flexible cameras, but its price is hard to justify over the standard Phone (4a).
- Stylish metal unibody design with distinctive camera module
- Excellent bright 1.5K 144Hz display
- Unique Nothing UI and Glyph Matrix
- Versatile camera system with telephoto lens
- Strong performance gains over predecessor
- Far more expensive than the regular Phone (4a)
- Glyph Matrix useful only in limited cases
- Only three years of Android updates
- Lacks wireless charging and IP68-level water resistance
- Plastic barrier strip looks cheap
Phonandroid FR
No scoreMar 19, 2026A solid premium-leaning midrange phone with a metal frame and strong software, though it feels too close to the Phone (4a) for its price.
- Metal unibody design, light at 210 g and thin at 8 mm
- Large 6.83-inch flat AMOLED display with 144Hz in gaming mode
- Polished Nothing OS with long update promise
- Glyph Matrix adds notification and selfie-flash features
- Good call and video audio, with Bluetooth mic options
- Bass is weak and nearly absent below 90 Hz
- No equalizer in Nothing OS
- Ultra-wide video is soft and dim
- Performance, battery and connectivity barely differ from the Phone (4a)
- IP65 only, no upgrade over cheaper sibling
Trusted Reviews UK
4/5Mar 19, 2026A unique all-metal Nothing phone with strong software, a bright big display and good battery life, suited to non-demanding users who want something different.
- Unique all-metal design feels solid and secure
- Glyph Matrix display can be genuinely useful
- Strong battery life
- Brilliant, big 144Hz display
- Visually appealing, lightweight-on-bloat Nothing OS
- Glyph Toys are no longer interactive
- Camera stabilisation performance is inconsistent
- Not the fastest phone available
- Only IP65 splash resistance
- Heavy and not palm-friendly
Pocket-lint UK
4.5/5Editor's ChoiceMar 19, 2026A well-built, distinctive mid-ranger with a superb 144Hz display and light software; compromises on wireless charging and processing power are reasonable at $500.
- Distinctive design with transparent camera section
- Bright, smooth 144Hz HDR display with high-frequency PWM dimming
- Lightweight Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- Relocated Essential Key reduces accidental presses
- Periscope telephoto lens offers 3.5x optical zoom
- No Glyph Toys support on the Glyph Matrix
- No wireless charging
- Mid-range processor is adequate but not strong
- AI features feel under-baked
- Optical fingerprint sensor slower than ultrasonic units
SmartWorld IT
No scoreMar 19, 2026A stylish mid-range phone with a unique aluminum unibody and strong display, but the Pro upgrade over the base model feels overpriced.
- Premium-feeling aluminum unibody design
- Bright, smooth display with high peak brightness
- Clean, bloat-free NothingOS software
- Good performance for a mid-range chip
- Good main and zoom camera quality
- No wireless charging
- Ultrawide camera is only 8MP and underwhelming
- Little advantage over the non-Pro model
- High price for the storage tiers
The Verge US
6/10Mar 19, 2026A striking, metal-bodied midrange phone with a big, bright display and flagship-looking design, but weaker cameras, no wireless charging, and only three years of OS updates.
- Slim, metal unibody design that feels high-end
- Unique Nothing styling and fun Glyph Matrix
- Large, very bright 144Hz display
- Fast 50W wired charging
- Six years of security patches
- Camera quality is mixed, especially in low light
- Only three years of OS updates
- No wireless charging
- IP65 rating, weaker than rivals' IP68
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 lags behind iPhone 17E
TechRadar UK
4.5/5Mar 19, 2026A stylish, bright mid-range phone with fun, useful Glyph Matrix features and solid performance; the camera and battery life fall a bit short.
- Gorgeous, slim aluminum design with distinctive camera module
- Bright 6.8-inch display with 5000-nit peak brightness
- Fun and functional Glyph Matrix features
- Very solid performance for a mid-range chipset
- Clean, streamlined Nothing OS 4.1
- Camera results slightly inconsistent in exposure
- Colors less rich than flagship displays
- Battery lasted about 13 hours versus claimed 21
- Some fans may expect more transparent industrial design
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
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