Nothing Phone (1) vs OnePlus Nord 2T: How do the two arch-rivals compare on design, specs, price and more – Times of India

Carl Pei’s startup Nothing has announced a new smartphone – the Nothing Phone (1) — after months of speculation and hype. If you are unaware of Pei’s history, he was the co-founder of OnePlus. Well, it has been two years since Pei left OnePlus and started his new venture, but we can still see the reflection of the early stage of OnePlus in today’s Nothing.
The last OnePlus smartphone under Pei’s leadership was the OnePlus Nord – which has become a lineup of its own – with the Nord 2T its current torchbearer. And the Nothing Phone (1) and Nord 2T fall in the same territory, so let us compare the two and find out how Pei’s new smartphone compares to the legacy he left behind.
Nothing Phone (1) offers a unique design vs all Android phones
The striking difference one would find between the Phone (1) and Nord 2T or any other Android smartphone would be its design. While the Nord 2T has a standard industrial design, the Phone (1) comes with a transparent rear filled with LED lights, known as Glyph Interface. The front is pretty much the same. Also, the Nothing Phone (1) has iPhone-like flat edges, while the Nord 2T is just how every other Android smartphone looks.
Both Phone (1) and Nord 2T come with a 120Hz AMOLED display
Now coming to the display, both the smartphones feature a 120Hz AMOLED panel. The display on the Phone (1) measures 6.55-inch, while the Nord 2T’s display is a bit smaller at 6.43-inch. And you get the HDR10+ support and Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both.
The chipset inside: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ vs Dimensity 1300
Under the hood, the two smartphones are powered by mid-range chipsets from two different silicon makers. The Phone (1) comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G+ – a year-old mid-range chipset. Meanwhile, the Nord 2T is powered by the Dimensity 1300 – a refreshed variant of a year-old chipset.
The Dimensity 1300 offers a 25 percent higher clock speed than the Snapdragon 778G+, giving Nord 2T an edge above the Phone (1). But, Snapdragon 778G+ enables wireless charging and reverse wireless charging on the Nothing Phone (1), which is missing from the Nord 2T.
A pair of 50MP cameras on Phone (1) vs a 50MP+8MP+2MP setup on Nord 2T
Coming to cameras, the Nothing Phone (1) offers a set of two cameras on the back, both being 50MP sensors – a primary IMX766 sensor and an ultrawide unit capable of shooting macros. The OnePlus Nord 2T comes with a 50MP primary sensor, a lower resolution 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP monochrome unit.
However, the Nord 2T has the edge over the Phone (1) when it comes to the front cameras. The Phone (1) features a 16MP IMX766 sensor, while the Nord 2T comes with a higher resolution 32MP IMX615 unit on the front.
No charger with the Nothing Phone (1) while Nord 2T comes with an 80W charger inside the box
As for the battery, the Phone (1) and Nord 2T have a 4,500mAh battery. But, the Nord 2T comes with a much faster 80W charging support while the Phone (1) just supports 33W charging. And you don’t get a charger inside the box with the Nothing Phone (1), but the OnePlus gives you an 80W charger in the box.
Nothing Phone (1) costs more than Nord 2T
The Nothing Phone (1) and OnePlus Nord 2T are two mid-range smartphones, but there is a little price difference between them. The Nothing Phone (1) starts at Rs 32,999 for the 8GB+128GB storage variant, while the same configuration of the Nord 2T costs Rs 28,999. And don’t forget the charger you may have to buy for Nothing Phone (1), which costs Rs 2,500.
Nothing Phone (1) vs OnePlus Nord 2T: Which one should you choose?
It is up to you if you want to spend extra for a striking design, balanced performance and clean UI, then Nothing Phone (1) could be a great choice for you. Nord 2T will save you some money, and the phone offers faster performance, charging, and maybe better after-sales support as OnePlus has established a network for quite some time now.