Nothing Phone (1) is unique but misses out on this key feature at Rs 30,000

Here’s a quick run-through of the Nothing Phone (1)’s specifications. You get a 6.55-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC, two 50MP rear cameras, and 33W fast charging support. It’s the last feature that looks out of place in what is otherwise a decent set of hardware.

Not the fastest charging phone around

The Nothing Phone (1) features 33W fast charging, which, if we’re being totally honest here, is not impressive given how fast charging speeds have evolved in recent years. At Rs 30,000 or less, there are plenty of phones that offer fast charging speeds of around 65W or higher.

The Realme GT Master Edition supports 65W charging at Rs 29,999. The phone also features the Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC, a 120Hz AMOLED display, and 64MP triple cameras, among other things. From Xiaomi, we have the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge that touts a blazing fast 120W fast charging support at a much lower price point of Rs 26,999. In fact, the Xiaomi phone also packs a 108MP camera, 120Hz AMOLED display, and MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, making it an attractive option in the mid-range segment.

The reviews are in

We recently reviewed the Nothing Phone (1) and here’s what we had to say about the phone’s charging speed: “the device’s charging speed tops out at 33W, which means you’ll have to stay tethered to an outlet much longer than if you had say, the OnePlus 10R (review). To give you a better picture, the Phone (1) takes around one hour and fifteen minutes for a full charge.”

What’s more, the brand does not provide a wall charger in the box, which is a questionable move. Several competing devices that support faster-charging speeds in this price segment ship with fast-charging bricks in the box.

So, while the Nothing Phone (1) has a lot going for it in terms of offering a unique design, clean software, and a good primary camera, its 33W charging support leaves you wanting more.