Apple's 2022 iPhone SE Has 5G and a New Chip. But We Wanted These Features, Too

Apple's 2022 iPhone SE Has 5G and a New Chip. But We Wanted These Features, Too

Apple's 2022 iPhone SE represents a notable upgrade over its predecessor: It has 5G support, the same processor as the iPhone 13 and longer battery life compared to the 2020 model. But there are still some features we hoped to see that didn't make it into the third-generation iPhone SE.

Apple announced the new iPhone SE during its first product launch event of the year on March 8. It hits stores on March 18 and starts at $429, making it slightly more expensive than the 2020 version. 

The iPhone SE hasn't become part of Apple's annual product cycle yet, but the company is closing the gap between release dates. Apple introduced its original iPhone SE in 2016 as a low-cost alternative to its marquee iPhone, but didn't release a new version until 2020. Now, the newest model has arrived just two years after that, in 2022. It's the latest sign that smartphone-makers like Apple are increasingly catering to budget-conscious customers. 

While it's a shame the iPhone SE is missing the features below, Apple's new phone does include other upgrades that were on my wishlist like 5G support and longer battery life.

More storage in the base model

The 2022 iPhone SE got its debut at Apple's Peek Performance event.

screenshot/Apple

Apple increased the iPhone 13 lineup's base storage capacity up to 128GB from 64GB. Unfortunately, that approach didn't trickle down to the new iPhone SE, which starts at 64GB of storage. You could argue that the 128GB iPhone SE, which costs $479, is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the base iPhone 13. But Apple is still behind its competitors in this regard: Samsung's $400 Galaxy A42 5G, comes with 128GB of internal storage, as does Google's $449 Pixel 5A with 5G. 

A sharper front camera for selfies and FaceTime calls

FaceTime gets a bunch of significant upgrades in iOS 15, such as a Portrait Mode.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Like its predecessor, the new iPhone SE has a 7-megapixel front camera. Apple's new A15 Bionic processor will bring some improvements to the selfie camera, like the addition of Deep Fusion, which processes individual pixels to improve detail and reduce noise. But still, it would have been nice to see a bump in resolution to go along with these improvements. 

Read more: Best Apple SE Case for 2022

Samsung's phones that come close to the iPhone SE's price range have Apple beat when it comes to resolution. The $500 Galaxy A52 5G has a 32-megapixel front camera, while the $400 Galaxy A42 5G has a 13-megapixel front camera. Apple introduced several new FaceTime features last year in its iOS 15 update, so it's surprising that the front-facing camera wasn't a bigger area of focus for the new iPhone SE. 

Night Mode for taking better photos in the dark

Night Mode on the iPhone 11.

Apple

Given the iPhone SE's cheap price, I wouldn't expect it to have a camera that's on par with the iPhone 13 or even the iPhone 12. But if there's one feature I would have appreciated, it's Night Mode. Across the industry, smartphone cameras have gotten a lot better at taking photos in the dark. I hoped Apple's low-cost iPhone would reflect this progress, too. 

It's possible that it would have been too challenging in terms of size and cost to include the iPhone 11's upgraded wide camera sensor in the new SE. (The iPhone 11 family was the first of Apple's phones to get Night Mode.) But Google has found a way to bring Night Sight to its similarly priced Pixel 5A with 5G... and considering the iPhone SE lacks a secondary ultrawide lens, the quality of the standard wide-angle camera is more important than ever. 

That said, Apple says the iPhone SE should be able to take better videos in low light thanks to the A15 Bionic's newer image signal processor. And the camera is getting other upgrades, such as the pixel-by-pixel Deep Fusion processing technique.

Overall, the new iPhone SE reiterates the different ways Apple and Samsung view what matters most in a budget smartphone. Samsung's cheaper phones usually have more camera lenses, sharper selfie cameras and larger screens. Instead of those, Apple's iPhone SE gets the latest mobile processor, which should hopefully keep the phone feeling relatively fast for years to come.

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The iPhone at 15: How Apple's Phone Became the Center of Your Life

The iPhone at 15: How Apple's Phone Became the Center of Your Life

This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET's collection of news, tips and advice around Apple's most popular product.

What's happening

On June 29, 2007, the first iPhone went on sale. A decade and a half later what defines the iPhone has shifted away from just design and hardware specs to dozens of Apple-centric features and services.

Why it matters

For better or worse, the iPhone has become home to our photos, music, conversations, ideas, games, identity, work, social media, shopping, keys and money. It will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Today marks 15 years since the first iPhone went on sale. When Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone he wryly hyped it as three revolutionary products: an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator. The first iPhone only came in one size and the only decision you had was whether to get 4GB of storage or 8GB. As far as carriers, only AT&T supported Apple's first phone in the US.

At the time, the idea of carrying an iPhone instead of a flip phone and an iPod was enough to convince some people to buy one. For others like me, the iPhone's main appeal was the touchscreen, which seemed unreal and futuristic. 

"From the very beginning, one of the unique things about [the] iPhone was that we wanted to fuse together software, services and hardware to create a simple, powerful kind of magical experience," said Bob Borchers, Apple's vice president for product marketing. "And with the original iPhone, it was that interaction of multitouch and pinch to zoom, where you started to see that come together."

Fifteen years later, Apple sells eight different models of iPhone, five of which have launched in the past 10 months. There is at least one version that works with pretty much every major phone carrier in the world. The iPhone is available in an array of colors, finishes, sizes and storage options that now top out at 1TB. And while the screen is where most of the magic happens, it's no longer the main appeal of the iPhone.

Over the past decade and a half, what defines the iPhone has shifted away from just design and hardware specs. Instead, the iPhone and iOS have become a gateway into Apple services and features like iMessage, FaceTime, Siri, Apple Music, Apple Pay, top-of-the-line cameras and apps like Uber, TikTok, Twitter and WhatsApp. For better or worse, the iPhone has become home to our photos, music, conversations, ideas, games, identity, work, social media, shopping, keys and money.

In 2022, the iPhone continues to extend beyond its svelte metal-and-glass chassis into the world around us. It's the backbone for products like the Apple Watch and AirPods, and will likely play a role in future Apple products like rumored AR glasses.

It also serves as the foundation for Apple's digital services, which have become an increasingly important factor to differentiate the iPhone from competing mobile devices. These services have evolved rapidly in recent years along with the iPhone.

Find My, which started as a tool in 2010 for locating a lost iPhone, has grown into a network for finding Apple devices and pretty much anything you can attach one of Apple's tiny AirTag trackers to. Some products, like VanMoof's S3 bike, even have built-in Find My support, eliminating the need to add an AirTag entirely. As of 2021, Apple's Find My network had hundreds of millions of devices, most of which were iPhones.

Just weeks ago at WWDC, Apple's annual software developers conference, the company announced iOS 16 with expansions to its nearly decade-old Wallet app and Apple Pay service. Essentially, Apple wants to make your physical wallet obsolete. There's also a new feature called Apple Pay Later that lets you split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees. It's done entirely through your iPhone.

The 2022 iPhone SE is nearly identical to the 2020 version but gets more durable glass, 5G and the A15 Bionic chip that debuted in the iPhone 13.

Kevin Heinz/CNET

In fact, you need an iPhone to access or use most of these services. Keep in mind that, for years, the iPhone's premium price made it inaccessible to many, and that's still true of Apple's top-of-the-line iPhone Pro models. The recently upgraded iPhone SE gives Apple the opportunity to expand the iPhone's reach even further. It's the purest example of what defines an iPhone in 2022. The SE blends the body of an iPhone 8 with the glass and processor from the iPhone 13. At $429, it's currently the most affordable way to get people into Apple experiences.

I spoke with Borchers ahead of the iPhone SE launch in March about the phone and why Apple added an A15 Bionic chip to it.

"It's actually a really easy decision to put as much capability as we can in today, in order to invest in and create opportunities for those future experiences. It's something that distinguishes us from others," said Borchers.

No other phone maker takes this approach. It would be like Samsung using the body of its Galaxy S8 and putting the Galaxy S22's processing power inside. The upcoming Pixel 6A will be the first budget Android phone that uses the same processor, Google's Tensor chip, as the flagship Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Of course, Google isn't putting it into the body of Pixel 2 and instead is introducing a new design.

It makes sense that Apple's cheapest phone has the same processor as its most expensive: It's all about giving people access to Apple experiences. For example, if you buy an iPhone SE, you can use the Live Text feature in iOS 15 to grab text with your camera or copy it from a photo. And while the 2016 and 2020 versions of the iPhone SE sold well, it seems the 2022 version isn't breaking any sales records yet. Apple doesn't disclose a specific model breakdown of how many iPhones it sells, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo lowered his shipping estimates for the iPhone SE (2022) by 10 million. The lower demand could be an effect of rising inflation and the fact that the 2022 and 2020 versions of the iPhone SE look identical.

The SE showcases how iOS and Apple Silicon become the bedrock for everything you do on your iPhone. Obviously, not every model in Apple's iPhone lineup is equal. More expensive phones like the iPhone 13 Pro come with a contemporary design, high refresh-rate screens, larger camera sensors and tools like the U1 ultrawideband chip and lidar.

These extra perks mean you can use your iPhone in more ways. For example, if you've got the right car, you can unlock it and start it with your iPhone. Borscher describes moments like these as "automagic," meaning it just works. The same way a pair of AirPods can switch from your iPhone to your Mac for watching a video, or the way you can unlock your Mac using your Apple Watch.

Apple first introduced AirPods in 2017 with the release of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, which lacked a physical headphone jack. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Such growth has consequences. Antitrust concerns over the app store and mobile payments, debates about screen time, Apple's contentious dealings with the FBI, criticism that all these services are part of a strategy to lock people into Apple's ecosystem and, more recently, privacy questions over AirTags are just some of the concerns that have grown alongside the iPhone's meteoric success. There are even questions as to whether Apple can launch another product line that is even half as successful as the iPhone. My CNET colleague and Apple reporter Ian Sherr points out that products like the Apple Watch and AirPods are lucrative lar gely because of their connection to the iPhone.

Over 15 years, the iPhone has become ubiquitous and helped Apple become a nearly $3 trillion company. The next iteration of the phone, likely called the iPhone 14, is expected to launch this September. It will no doubt run on iOS 16 and have the newest version of Apple's A-series processor and will continue to support the Apple experience. As for the long-term, my colleague Lisa Eadicicco thinks the most important part of future iPhones will be how it works with everything around it.

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The Next Apple Watch SE Could Be the Most Exciting Apple Watch for 2022

The Next Apple Watch SE Could Be the Most Exciting Apple Watch for 2022

This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET's collection of news, tips and advice around Apple's most popular product.

With a blood oxygen monitor, the ability to record an ECG from your wrist and plenty of exercise-logging options, the Apple Watch Series 7 is already a capable health tracker. But Apple might expand its wellness ambitions by adding a temperature sensor to the Series 8, according to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. Apple might even be readying a Pro version of the Apple Watch Series 8 as well, with a possible debut at Apple's Sept. 7 event.

However, I'm much more excited about the idea of a new Apple Watch SE, which Bloomberg says could be coming in 2022. Apple's simpler and cheaper device has everything most people want in a smartwatch, from tracking workouts to enabling Apple Pay transactions and displaying iPhone alerts. 

Apple's newer wellness features are a step forward for consumer health monitoring and show promise. There are also plenty of stories indicating the Apple Watch has helped save lives. But the Apple Watch Series 6 and Series 7 already provide more information than I personally know what to do with. A Series 8 with even more health metrics might be too complex for some people.

That's why I'm more interested in seeing what's next for Apple's more wallet-friendly option. The current Apple Watch SE debuted in 2020, and it's time for an update. 

Read more: What Google's Pixel Watch Can Learn From Its Phones

Get ready for Apple's next event

The Apple Watch SE has most of the Series 7's best features

The $399 Apple Watch Series 7, compared with the $279 SE, is packed with extra health features and other refinements, such as blood oxygen readings, the ability to take an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) from your wrist, a larger screen and faster charging. 

Those qualities make the Series 7 a more comprehensive health tracker, a better communication tool and a more useful sleep tracker. The Series 7's more spacious screen means it can fit a full QWERTY keyboard for responding to text messages, and the speedier charging makes it easier to top off your watch after a night of sleep tracking.

The Series 8 is expected to take a similar trajectory, and it could include a skin temperature sensor for fertility planning and potentially other applications, according to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.

These perks may not be necessary for everyone, hence the SE's more focused appeal. Those who just want to close their Activity Rings and make sure they don't miss text messages while away from their phone can probably do without blood oxygen readings, a larger screen and faster charging. The Apple Watch Series 7 and its predecessor feel targeted toward those looking to keep a closer eye on their wellbeing, especially when it comes to cardiac health. 

The Apple Watch SE has many of Apple's most important health and safety features even though it's not as advanced as its pricier siblings. Although you can't take an ECG from your wrist using the SE, Apple's cheaper watch can still deliver high and low heart rate notifications, notice irregular heart rhythms, detect hard falls and provide access to emergency services. If you're buying a watch for an elderly family member who may be prone to falling, that might be enough. 

Newer metrics such as blood oxygen readings don't always feel helpful. Although Apple says measurements from the Apple Watch's blood oxygen app can provide you with "insights into your overall wellness," I'm not sure what to do with these readings. Since the Apple Watch isn't intended for medical purposes, it's unclear whether I should be alarmed if my readings are too low. 

That's not to say there isn't potential. When the Series 6 was unveiled in 2020, Apple announced plans to work with researchers on three separate health studies to examine how blood oxygen readings and other metrics can help with managing asthma and heart rate failure in addition to detecting respiratory conditions like COVID-19. But for now, the blood oxygen reader on the Series 6 and 7 doesn't feel necessary. Similarly, other wearables such as those from Garmin, Fitbit and Samsung offer blood oxygen readings that rely on the wearer having to interpret them.

While I appreciate the SE's simpler approach to health tools, I'd like to see Apple add at least one feature that's currently exclusive to more expensive models: an always-on display. New Apple Watches starting with the Series 5 and later (except for the SE) can keep their screens on even when the watch is idle. This makes the Apple Watch better at its most basic job -- telling the time. 

It might not seem like a huge deal, but I appreciate being able to glance down at the time and my activity progress on a Series 7 without needing to move my wrist or touch the watch the way you do on the SE. It's not as exciting or meaningful as health-related updates in the long term, but it's handy for everyday use, and I'm hoping to see it on the next Apple Watch SE.

Read more: Smartwatches Have Measured Blood Oxygen for Years. But Is This Useful?

The Apple Watch has matured, just like the iPhone

The Apple Watch has evolved to the point where annual upgrades aren't always a major step forward, much like the iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 7, for example, felt like a more refined version of the Series 6. Aside from blood oxygen measurements, the Series 6 also didn't feel that different from the Series 5. 

That makes the case for cheaper models like the Apple Watch SE all the more compelling, especially as WatchOS updates bring new features to older models. WatchOS 9, which launches this fall, will bring more detailed sleep tracking, a new app for logging medications, fresh watch faces and other updates to the Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

The Apple Watch SE holds its own in terms of performance and feels just as responsive as the latest model when running the same software. You don't need the most expensive or newest version to get a full experience, which is why Apple has kept the Series 3 in its lineup for so long. 

But the Apple Watch Series 3 won't support WatchOS 9 and has become difficult to update since it doesn't have much internal storage. With that in mind, it seems like the Apple Watch Series 3's days are numbered, a prediction analyst Ming-Chi Kuo made back in March. That also makes the Apple Watch SE much more important since it will likely replace the Series 3 as the most affordable Apple Watch option. 

Overall, the current SE provides the right middle ground between the Series 3 and Series 7. As Apple's high-end watches have become more sophisticated health tracking devices, the SE has increasingly felt like the better option for everyday users with tighter budgets. Now that the Apple Watch SE is almost two years old, I'm ready for a new one.

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New and Rumored AT&T Phones in 2022: iPhone SE, Galaxy S22, Pixel 6A and More

New and Rumored AT&T Phones in 2022: iPhone SE, Galaxy S22, Pixel 6A and More

Choosing a new phone upgrade is hardly ever simple. In the world of technology there is always something new around the corner, and with Verizon and AT&T embracing 36-month installment plans, the phone you upgrade to will likely be the one you use for the next several years. So, trying to figure out when is the "best time" to upgrade can be tricky. 

Here are some of the phones you'll want to keep an eye out for this year and when we think they might arrive based on past trends and rumors. 

Read more: What To Know About Switching Carriers In 2022

A note about why you should buy a 2022 phone if you have AT&T

Before we get into the actual devices, it's worth mentioning quickly why with AT&T in particular you should be looking for a 2022 device: 5G support and those long installment terms. 

AT&T is prepping for a big 5G upgrade towards the back half of the year that should significantly enhance its service using what is known as midband spectrum. The carrier plans to cover 200 million people with its midband networks by the end of next year, and download speeds are expected to routinely hit several hundred megabits per second, with peaks of 1 gigabit per second.

There are two flavors of midband spectrum AT&T is focusing on, known as C-band and 3.45GHz. The former is what Verizon and AT&T have already started to deploy and is often used for 5G internationally, making it easy to find and enable in a number of already available phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 and Google's Pixel 6. The carrier already has a list of devices that support C-band.

The 3.45GHz spectrum, however, is not as common in phones today and AT&T has not committed to upgrading earlier devices to support this network. (Making matters a bit more confusing is AT&T is branding both midband flavors, as well as its millimeter-wave network, as "5G Plus.")

Future flagship phones, starting with the Galaxy S22 line (and likely including many of the phones below), are expected to work with all flavors of AT&T's 5G. Since you may be locking yourself into a 36-month commitment when you upgrade, getting a phone that works with all of AT&T's 5G variations should be worth keeping in mind. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra, left, S22 Plus and S22.

Richard Peterson/CNET

Samsung Galaxy S22

Samsung's latest Galaxy S phones are usually the first major phones of the year, and for the US this trend continues to hold true. The latest Galaxy phones boast the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, improved cameras and, at least on the S22 Ultra, a slot for Samsung's S Pen stylus. All three phones will also work with all of AT&T's 5G networks. 

When are they coming out? The new Galaxy phones hit stores on Feb. 25. Prices start at $800 for the regular Galaxy S22, $1,000 for the S22 Plus and $1,200 for the S22 Ultra. 

The new iPhone SE is expected to keep a similar design to the current iPhone SE, above. 

Angela Lang/CNET

Apple iPhone SE 3 

Apple's budget iPhone has received a fresh 2022 upgrade. Well, kind of fresh. The new model features a nearly identical design to the second-generation iPhone SE (which itself is similar to the iPhone 8) -- which means yes to a home button and big bezels, but no to Face ID or a larger screen -- but now packs in support for low-band and midband 5G networks. The new SE also runs on Apple's A15 processor, the same chip found in the iPhone 13, and has better battery life.

AT&T confirmed that the new iPhone SE will not work with its forthcoming 3.45GHz midband 5G network. It also lacks support for AT&T's millimeter-wave 5G network. You can read more about the different names and flavors of 5G here.

When is it coming out? Apple's newest iPhone SE is available for preorder on March 11 and will go on sale on March 18. Prices start at $429 for a 64GB model.

The rumored Pixel 6A. 

OnLeaks/91Mobiles

Google Pixel 6A

Like Apple, Google also is rumored to be working on a new, more affordable version of its Pixel line. A successor to last year's Pixel 5A, according to 9to5Google, the Pixel 6A will include Google's Tensor chip and two rear cameras: a 12.2-megapixel main shooter and 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. An 8-megapixel camera will be found on the front. 

A report from OnLeaks and 91Mobiles revealed that design-wise the phone will feature a similar look to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, including the camera bar along the top of the back of the phone. The screen will be 6.2 inches across, with a fingerprint reader inside the display. 

When is it coming out? Google generally does its Pixel A-series updates in the summer, with the Pixel 5A announced in August last year and the Pixel 4A line announced the same time the previous year. That said, it is possible the phone might show up at the company's annual Google I/O developer event, which is where the Pixel 3A made its debut back in 2019. 

Samsung's Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3. 

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Z Fold 4

Samsung has been consistent in updating its foldable phones every summer. While rumors are pretty thin on what to expect for 2022, if you are a fan of foldable devices these are two to keep an eye on. Korean news site The Elec reports that the Z Fold 4 will follow the S22 Ultra's lead and include a slot for an S Pen stylus.

When are they coming out? Samsung has used its end-of-summer launch to roll out updates to its Z line of phones in the past, so if that trend holds true these could arrive in August or September. Last year's Z series was announced in August. 

An early iPhone 14 render from Jon Prosser, designed by Ian Zelbo.

Jon Prosser

Apple iPhone 14

Whereas the iPhone SE 3 is seemingly imminent, the next major iPhone update isn't slated to hit until the fall. Among the many rumored changes and improvements for this year's flagship line of iPhones include the regular upgrades to the processor and camera, with the Pro and Pro Max possibly getting 48-megapixel rear shooters, up from the 12 megapixels that have been found on previous iPhones. 

Potentially the biggest change in the iPhone 14, however, could be in the front camera placement for the 14 Pro and Pro Max. Rumors suggest Apple might finally ditch the notch and go with a hole or pill-shaped cutout instead. 

When are they coming out? Apple generally announces its major iPhone upgrades in September. 

Google's rumored Pixel foldable is rumored to be similar in design to Oppo's Find N, above. 

Eli Blumenthal/CNET

Google Pixel 7, 7 Pro and Pixel Notepad

Google is rumored to be working on a few big Pixel upgrades this year, including successors to the Pixel 6 line and a new foldable Pixel. According to 9to5Google, the Pixel 7 line will sport a second-generation version of Google's custom Tensor processor as well as an updated Samsung modem for connecting to cellular networks. A recent leak from OnLeaks and SmartPrix appears to show the design of the 7 Pro, which is similar to last year's Pixel 6 Pro styling.

The rumored Pixel 7 Pro. 

OnLeaks/Smartprix

The outlet has also reported that the company is working on a foldable Pixel that it says may be called the Pixel Notepad. Not much is known about this device, though it is expected to run on Google's Tensor chip. 9to5Google also says the price could be more affordable than the $1,800 Samsung charges for the Z Fold 3, and that its design could be more like Oppo's Find N. 

When are they coming out? Google has traditionally done its big Pixel updates in October. Analyst Ross Young has tweeted that the foldable phone, in particular, may arrive in October. 

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How much is a nothing phone 1 how much will nothing phone 1 cost nothing phone 1 cost nothing phone 1 price review nothing phone 1 cost nothing phone 1 price nothing phone 1 case nothing phone nothing phone 2

Nothing Phone 1 Specs: How This Cheaper Phone Compares to the Pixel 6, iPhone 13

Nothing Phone 1 Specs: How This Cheaper Phone Compares to the Pixel 6, iPhone 13

There's a lot of hype surrounding the Nothing Phone 1 launch, especially considering its midrange price. But there are valid reasons for the fanfare. The Phone 1 is Carl Pei's first phone launch since his departure from OnePlus, which he led from a startup beloved by serious Android fans to a global purveyor of world-class phones. 

Nothing says it's sold more than half a million pairs of its Ear 1 earbuds, its first consumer tech product, since its launch last August. And Nothing counts a glittering group of backers -- including iPod co-inventor Tony Fadell, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin and GV, formerly Google Ventures -- all betting Pei can create a big something out of his curiously named company.

The Phone 1, which is available in both black and white, went up for sale today, July 12. It's slated for a global release, hitting distributors across the world including the UK, Germany, India and Hong Kong. There's currently no plan for a US release, a spokesperson for the company said. 

While pricing varies across markets, the Phone 1, starts at approximately $475 for the base 8GB RAM, 128GB storage variant and maxes out at about $590 for the 12GB RAM, 256GB storage variant after converting from international prices. With this price range, the Phone 1 is up against the iPhone SE 2022, the Google Pixel 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, among others. You can also scroll down to the bottom of this page for a side-by-side specs comparison, but make sure to check out our hands-on video of Phone 1 to glean first-hand insights of the device.

The Phone 1 includes a 6.55-inch OLED display, a dual-camera module, a fast-enough processor, a large battery with wireless charging and reverse charging. It also has an in-box charger, a feature that's increasingly uncommon even in premium phones. But one thing is obvious: The lion's share of Nothing's budget went towards design, although it may not be entirely unique considering the Phone 1's design, which echoes the iPhone's flat sides and rounded edges.

In an industry first, the Phone 1 has a transparent back panel, which gives you a peek of the device's components, including the camera, wireless charging coil and USB-C port. Procuring components that look good and function well under a transparent cover required meticulous customisation of components as well as rigorous testing, the company said. Rival manufacturer Xiaomi tried to create its own phone with a transparent design in the past, but its version used dummy components to mask the real ones. 

The back of the Phone 1 is also home to the so-called "glyph" interface, the device's standout feature. The back of the phone literally lights up, thanks to hundreds of LED lights, which can be customized to tell you who is calling or indicate charging status. Given the design costs, Nothing said it was forced to make some tradeoffs to bring the Phone 1 to fruition at its targeted price. One of those is the chipset, which is the Snapdragon 778G Plus instead of the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processors. The company said it chose the midrange Qualcomm chipset because it's tried, tested and it "doesn't overheat."

The Phone 1 may not be as durable as some of its peers. Its IP53 rating is less than the IP67 rating of the similarly priced iPhone SE 2022, for example. The former rating means Phone 1 is protected against dust, and light sprays of water, but it is hardly waterproof. In other words, you'll be fine if you're caught in a light shower with this phone, but you shouldn't go running in the rain with it. Dropping it in the sink or toilet is a no-go, and you should definitely not take it anywhere near a pool.

To learn more about how Phone 1 stacks up against competitor phones, take a look at CNET's specs chart below.

Nothing 1 vs. competitors

	Nothing Phone 1	Apple iPhone SE (2022)	Google Pixel 6	Samsung Galaxy S21 FE	iPhone 13
Display size, resolution	6.55-inch OLED display, 2,400x1,080 pixels	4.7-inch LCD; 1,334x750 pixels; 60Hz	6.4-inch OLED; 2,400x1,080 pixels; 60 or 90Hz	6.4-inch AMOLED screen; Full HD Plus resolution; 2,340x1,080 pixels; 120Hz	6.1-inch OLED; 2,532x1,170 pixels
Pixel density	402ppi	326ppi	411 ppi		460 ppi
Dimensions (Millimeters)	159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm	138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm	158.6 x 74.8 x 8.9 mm	74.5 x 155.7 x 7.9 mm	147 x 72 x 7.65 mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams)	193.5 grams	5.09 oz; 144 grams	7.3 oz; 207 grams	177 grams	6.14 oz; 174 grams
Mobile software	Android 12	iOS 15	Android 12	Android 11	iOS 15
Camera	50-megapixel (main), 50-megapixel (ultra-wide)	12-megapixel (wide)	50-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultrawide	12-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 8-megapixel (telephoto)	12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera	16-megapixel	7-megapixel	8-megapixel	32-megapixel	12-megapixel
Video capture	4K at 60fps	4K		4K
Processor	Snapdragon 778G Plus	Apple A15 Bionic	Google Tensor	Snapdragon 888 (in the US)	Apple A15 Bionic
Storage and RAM	128GB storage, 8GB RAM; 256 GB, 8GB RAM; 256GB, 12GB RAM	64GB, 128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 6GB RAM; 256GB, 8GB RAM	128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Expandable storage	None	None	None	None	None
Battery/Charger	4,500 mAh (33-watt wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse charging)	Battery sized not disclosed (charger not included; supports wireless charging)	4,614 mAh	4,500 mAh (no bundled charger)	Undisclosed; Apple lists 19 hours of video playback
Fingerprint sensor	In-display		Under display	In-display	No
Connector	USB-C	Lightning	USB-C	USB-C	Lightning
Headphone jack	No	None	None	None	No (Face ID)
Special features	5G, IP53, Three years of Android updates, dual SIM, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate	5G-enabled; supports 25W wired fast charging; water-resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging	5G sub 6 (some carrier models also have 5G mmWave) support, Wi-Fi 6E, 30W fast charging, Magic Eraser, Motion mode, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Cinematic Pan, five years' OS and security updates, IP68 rating for dust and water-resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus (front), Gorilla Glass 6 (back), (nano-SIM and e-SIM)	5G (Sub-6GHz and mmWave), 120 Hz display, IP68 rating, 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging	5G enabled; MagSafe; water-resistant (IP68); wireless charging; dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM)
Price (USD)	Roughly converted from UK prices: $470 (128GB), $530 (256GB), $600 (256GB)	$399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB)	$599 (128GB)	$700 (128GB/6GB); $770 (256GB/8GB)	$799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB)

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