The newest Android device in town has a design that is both distinctive and recognizable. The Nothing Phone 1 boasts an eye-catching transparent back plate that reveals some flashing light strips, but it also resembles the iPhone 13 series in terms of overall form. We contrast the two today.
It’s important to note that the two phones cost almost $300 different, but since the iPhone 13 is the most widely used and well-liked iPhone, we believe that a comparison is still appropriate.
Nothing Phone 1 vs Apple iPhone 13: Specifications
| Specification | Nothing Phone 1 | Apple iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass backMetallic frame | Aluminum mid-frameGlass front and back“Ceramic Shield” for front glass |
| Dimensions & Weight | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3mm193.5g | 146.7mm x 71.5mm x 7.65mm174g |
| Display | 6.55-inch OLEDGorilla Glass (did not specify which version)2400 x 1080120Hz1,200nits peak brightnessHDR10+ | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED2,340 x 1,080 resolution60Hz refresh rate120Hz touch sampling rate1300nits peak brightnessHDR10True tone display |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus | Apple A15 Bionic |
| RAM & Storage | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage | 4GB RAM128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Battery & Charging | 4,500mAh33W wired fast charging support15W wireless fast charging supportCharger not include | 3,240 mAhWired charging up to 20WWireless charging up to 7.5WMagSafe charging up to 15W |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner | Face ID |
| Rear Camera(s) | Primary: 50MP IMX766, f/1.9, 1/1.56-inchUltra-wide: 50MP JN1, f/2.2, 114-degree field-of-view | Primary: 12MP wide, f/1.6 aperture, 1.6μmSecondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4 aperture |
| Front Camera(s) | 16MP, f/2.4 | 12MP TrueDepth camera system |
| Port(s) | USB Type-C | Lightning |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Stereo speakers |
| Connectivity | 5GLTEWi-Fi 6Bluetooth 5.1 | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave)Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAAWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMOBluetooth 5.0 |
| Software | NothingOS based on Android 12 | iOS 15 |
| Other Features | Glyph lighting interface | MagSafe |
Nothing Phone 1 vs Apple iPhone 13: Design and Hardware
The Nothing Phone 1 has a 6.5-inch OLED screen, making it slightly bigger than the iPhone 13 (in terms of size, it is actually closer to the iPhone 13 Pro Max), yet it feels just as rough in the hand. The aluminum frame of the Nothing Phone 1 is flat on all four sides and features a glass back. Comparable to how an iPhone’s corners are rounded, this device feels remarkably similar in the hand. (Note: The image below shows the Nothing Phone 1 using an iPhone 13 Pro Max rather than the ordinary iPhone 13, but it still provides a useful illustration because the iPhone 13 is really a scaled-down version of the Pro Max.)
The rear of the Nothing Phone 1 is, of course, the translucent glass that reveals the phone’s “guts,” although much of what you see is just for aesthetic purposes. They are beautifully crafted, modular parts that are meant to resemble old-school electronic devices from the 1980s. Four LED light strips on the backside are said to contain over 700 lights. These lights are primarily decorative, but they also have certain useful functions, such as flashing a particular pattern in response to calls from a predetermined list of contacts or acting as a fill light when snapping pictures.
In contrast, the iPhone 13 is more understatedly styled, especially the basic white one I tried. It weighs 174g less than the Nothing Phone 1, which has a 6.1-inch OLED screen, making it smaller and lighter.
Display
The Nothing Phone 1 has a screen that is unquestionably more appealing when you turn these phones about. It has symmetrical bezels around all four sides and only a small hole punch in the upper right corner. The infamous notch on the iPhone 13 compromises a significant amount of screen real estate. Although one might easily claim that Face ID, a more advanced biometric security system, is brought by the notch. The optical in-display scanner used by the Nothing Phone 1 is a little sluggish in comparison to Android competitors. The iPhone 13 is simpler for me to unlock when I’m not wearing a mask than the Nothing Phone 1.
The display on the Nothing Phone 1 refreshes at up to 120Hz, but the panel in the iPhone 13 only does so at 60Hz. There is no disputing that a 60Hz display is a little out of date in the mobile sector as we reach the second half of 2022.
SoC
The A15 Bionic chip used by the iPhone 13 is significantly more potent than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus chip used by the Nothing Phone 1, giving the iPhone 13 an obvious advantage in computing capability. These power disparities, however, will only become apparent when performing extremely time-consuming tasks, such as editing and exporting 4K videos, or when performing various iPhone machine learning tasks, such as adding artificial bokeh to videos or quickly erasing the background from still images with a few taps and swipes.
However, I contend that they are more specialized responsibilities for particular creative types. The typical person won’t notice the difference in power because they only need a phone to send emails, read webpages, view videos, and scroll through social media. Read Also; Nothing Phone (1) — Everything We Know So Far
Cameras
Both the iPhone 13 and the Nothing Phone 1 have two camera systems on the back and a front-facing selfie camera. The Nothing Phone 1 has a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera, compared to the iPhone’s dual 12MP sensors.
The main cameras on both phones generally produce excellent pictures. The iPhone has a quicker shutter and typically gets better white balance, but the Nothing Phone 1’s pictures have stronger bokeh because of its larger sensor and are somewhat crisper if you pixel peek.
The iPhone 13’s ultra-wide camera is competent but unspectacular, while the Nothing Phone 1’s is subpar. That is, they both work well during the day, but while shooting at night, you notice a significant loss of image detail on both phones, more so on the Nothing Phone 1.
The iPhone clearly outperforms the competition in terms of video performance. The iPhone’s films have greater stability, better exposure, and better colors, the latter of which is made worse by an early glitch that gives Nothing’s videos an excessively warm hue. I’m sure a software update will remedy this, but for now, I have to judge these phones based on how well they work in my hands.
Memory, Haptics, Speakers
The Nothing Phone 1 has more RAM, but it doesn’t really matter because iOS has always run just as well with less RAM than Android. Each phone has 128GB of RAM as standard. Although the haptics and speakers on the Nothing Phone 1 are quite impressive, they are somewhat surpassed by those on the iPhone 13. Both the haptics and the audio are slightly more accurate. The offering from Nothing, however, is greater than what some other manufacturers would provide at the same price point when you consider that there is a $300 price difference between the two phones. Read More; REVIEW: Apple iPhone 13 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Nothing Phone 1 vs Apple iPhone 13: Software
The Nothing Phone utilizes Nothing OS, a thinly skinned variation of Android 12. Except for a tiny number of customization options, such as the ability to adjust the aforementioned LED light strips (which the business refers to as Glyph Interface) and the choice to make app icons on the homescreen enormous, it’s almost like pure vanilla Android. Some innovative software features, such as the ability to connect to a Tesla car, are not yet ready for testing (so the phone can unlock the car doors directly). However, ultimately, the experience is very much like Android, it’s simply more streamlined.
The phone has “almost no bloatware,” which is largely true, according to Nothing representatives. Only the Google app suite and two “Nothing” apps—a camera app and a recorder app—are included with the phone when it is first released. I’m done now. The quantity of apps that come pre-installed on a phone is actually the lowest I’ve ever seen.
While iOS 15 is used by the iPhone 13, it should be very recognizable to most users. It is the classic iPhone. Although the software appears to be best suited for this 6.1-inch iPhone size, I have issues with Apple not optimizing or distinguishing it to account for varied screen sizes. The software behaves exactly the same whether you’re using a 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini or a 6.5-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Another Android vs. iOS argument isn’t really necessary because most people are already aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each program. The iPhone 13 is obviously well-suited to iOS, but the Nothing OS that powers the Nothing Phone is also very responsive. I’ve used both phones a lot, and I haven’t run into any significant issues or program crashes.
Nothing Phone 1 vs Apple iPhone 13: Performance and Battery Life
The iPhone 13 is just a more capable phone, as evidenced by the Geekbench score below, as the Apple A15 Bionic is substantially more powerful than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus. The Nothing Phone 1 is more than capable for usage as a casual smartphone, nevertheless. The Nothing Phone 1 really feels faster than the iPhone 13 due to its screen’s quicker refresh rate.
Because the screen is less disrupted, I greatly prefer the Nothing Phone 1 as a media consumption device. The two phones also have speakers of nearly the same quality.
The Nothing Phone 1 can last slightly longer and has a much bigger battery in terms of endurance. According to my own experience, the iPhone 13 can run for about 12 to 13 hours whereas the Nothing Phone 1 can last for about 14 hours. Remember that I’m a heavy user and frequently use the camera. I’m sure both phones can last all day for less intensive users.
Which phone is for you?
Okay, taking into account the $300 price difference, your budget might be a major consideration. The Nothing Phone 1 is a better deal in my perspective, even though I think the iPhone 13 is a little bit more capable. The Nothing Phone 1 has a better screen and longer battery life, but the iPhone 13 has a more powerful processor (if you perform strenuous tasks). iOS is also surrounded by a better software and hardware ecosystem.
The Nothing Phone 1 is without a doubt among your greatest options if you’re looking for a phone and don’t want to spend more than $500. Are there any more words I need to say about the iPhone 13? The iPhone 13 will satisfy those who have a little extra cash to spend or who want to fully immerse themselves in Apple’s ecosystem because it is the most widely used iPhone.
