What the reviewers said
Not the best $499 phone, but a strong, unique midrange option with a useful telephoto camera, held back by weak low-light photos, IP65 rating, and short update support.
- Good performance for midrange price
- Nice screen with up to 144 Hz refresh
- Reliable battery life, lasts a full day
- Triple camera with 3.5X telephoto zoom
- Distinctive design and Glyph Matrix display
- Weak low-light camera performance and shutter delay
- Only IP65 rated, not IP68
- No wireless charging
- Three OS upgrades and six years of security updates
- Possible network compatibility issues with Verizon and AT&T
Android Central US
4.5/5Apr 13, 2026The best phone at $499 right now, led by build quality, design, display, battery life and software support, though cameras and lack of wireless charging hold it back.
- Bright OLED display with high-frequency PWM dimming
- Six years of software support and no bloatware
- Stand-out metal build quality and design
- Essential Key and Nothing Playground features are useful
- Strong everyday performance and sustained heat handling
- Cameras lack the punch of Pixel cameras
- No wireless charging due to metal unibody
- Peak performance trails the Pixel 10a
- Display lacks anti-reflective coating and flickers somewhat
Android Police US
7.5/10Apr 11, 2026A great mid-range phone with real character, a versatile camera and useful Glyph Matrix, held back by battery life and weak outdoor screen brightness.
- Distinctive, well-built design with excellent ergonomics
- Very fast wired charging, about 50% in 20 minutes
- Versatile camera with usable 3.5x periscope zoom
- Useful customizable Glyph Matrix and notification sounds
- Available in the US through Amazon at $599
- Battery life disappoints, often needs top-up on day two
- Screen lacks brightness and vibrancy in sunlight
- Video stabilization not very effective; large 4K files
- No wireless charging
Tech Advisor UK
4/5Mar 23, 2026A distinctive, well-rounded mid-range phone with a strong display and flexible cameras, but its price is hard to justify over the standard Phone (4a).
- Stylish metal unibody design with distinctive camera module
- Excellent bright 1.5K 144Hz display
- Unique Nothing UI and Glyph Matrix
- Versatile camera system with telephoto lens
- Strong performance gains over predecessor
- Far more expensive than the regular Phone (4a)
- Glyph Matrix useful only in limited cases
- Only three years of Android updates
- Lacks wireless charging and IP68-level water resistance
- Plastic barrier strip looks cheap
Pocket-lint UK
4.5/5Editor's ChoiceMar 19, 2026A well-built, distinctive mid-ranger with a superb 144Hz display and light software; compromises on wireless charging and processing power are reasonable at $500.
- Distinctive design with transparent camera section
- Bright, smooth 144Hz HDR display with high-frequency PWM dimming
- Lightweight Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- Relocated Essential Key reduces accidental presses
- Periscope telephoto lens offers 3.5x optical zoom
- No Glyph Toys support on the Glyph Matrix
- No wireless charging
- Mid-range processor is adequate but not strong
- AI features feel under-baked
- Optical fingerprint sensor slower than ultrasonic units
The Verge US
6/10Mar 19, 2026A striking, metal-bodied midrange phone with a big, bright display and flagship-looking design, but weaker cameras, no wireless charging, and only three years of OS updates.
- Slim, metal unibody design that feels high-end
- Unique Nothing styling and fun Glyph Matrix
- Large, very bright 144Hz display
- Fast 50W wired charging
- Six years of security patches
- Camera quality is mixed, especially in low light
- Only three years of OS updates
- No wireless charging
- IP65 rating, weaker than rivals' IP68
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 lags behind iPhone 17E
TechRadar UK
4.5/5Mar 19, 2026A stylish, bright mid-range phone with fun, useful Glyph Matrix features and solid performance; the camera and battery life fall a bit short.
- Gorgeous, slim aluminum design with distinctive camera module
- Bright 6.8-inch display with 5000-nit peak brightness
- Fun and functional Glyph Matrix features
- Very solid performance for a mid-range chipset
- Clean, streamlined Nothing OS 4.1
- Camera results slightly inconsistent in exposure
- Colors less rich than flagship displays
- Battery lasted about 13 hours versus claimed 21
- Some fans may expect more transparent industrial design
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
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