Nothing Phone 2 comes to the US on July 17th for $599

Nothing in the end a statement The Phone 2 is after a lot of teasing, and it’s probably what you’re looking for if you thought the Phone 1 was underpowered — or if you can’t afford the previous model where you live. The new device offers much closer performance to the flagship thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip versus the mid-range 778G+ of last year’s devices. Although this is still not cutting edge, the company claims it is 80 percent faster. It enables 4K video at 60 frames per second, too, and RAW HDR photography captures eight frames (thus more extensive scene detail) instead of three like its predecessor.

Accordingly, nothing says it upgraded the Phone 2’s camera quality. The updated 50MP primary and rear 50MP ultra-wide cameras now have “ultra-resolution” 2X digital zoom, object tracking, and other imaging updates. Meanwhile, the front camera moves from a 16MP sensor to a 32MP one. As with some competitors, there is now Motion Mode to offer steadier video recording.

There are some more noticeable changes. You can expect a larger 6.7-inch, 120Hz LTPO OLED display (if it’s still 1080p) with a higher 1,600 nits brightness and thinner bezels. There is a 2.5D tapered rear glass. And yes, Glyph’s signature lighting on the back is more advanced. In addition to more LED strips, you can create different lighting sequences for each connection type and notification. You also get static lights for must-see notifications, and some lights now double as progress trackers for delivery and ride services like Uber.

Software plays a much more important role. Where the first model had only a few modest customizations, Nothing OS 2.0 on Phone 2 lets you tweak a lot more. You can now have multiple home screens with custom color themes, grid sizes, and app labels. You’ll also find customizable folders, and a more advanced toolkit includes shortcuts to quick settings. These widgets are also available on the lock screen.

The Phone 2 is billed to last longer thanks to its 4,700mAh battery, and you’ll get a full charge in 55 minutes. 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging aren’t surprising, but they aren’t always present in the upper-midrange phone segment.

Crucially, Nothing Phone 2 will be priced right when it arrives in North America. It will be available in the US and Canada on July 17th at 4AM ET starting at $599 (and $929 CAD oddly enough) for the version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Pay $699 (CAD$999) and you get 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, while the higher-end 12GB/512GB configuration sells for $799 (CAD$1099). Pre-orders are live now, and there will be early sales on July 13 through Nothing Falls in New York City (69 Gansevoort Street) and London (4 Peter Street).

There’s no mention of North American carrier deals as of this writing, so finding this sequel might not be as easy as more mainstream offerings. However, launching in the region is still very problematic. The Phone 2 greatly expands Nothing’s phone audience, providing new competition to affordable phones like Google’s Pixel 7.