Nothing Phone (2): first ‘unofficial’ specs suggest it will be a flagship

Even though the Nothing brand first launched a pair of true wireless headphones, it was clear from the start that its founder Carl Pei, also responsible for the success of OnePlus, would want to offer smartphones in his new company’s portfolio. Nothing Phone (1) was a successful first effort that proved that a new company can grab attention in an industry dominated by giants like Samsung and Apple, and the second phone is rumored to be a true competitor to the big brands’ flagship-spec phones.

The second Nothing phone will hit the market in the second half of the year

In the last few months, Carl Pei has revealed that a second phone will definitely be released in the US, a market that Nothing’s Phone (1) has yet to reach except through a beta testing program. Pei also said that an eventual Nothing Phone (2) will focus primarily on delivering a quality software experience, but also “premium” features not found on the first generation. The truth is that aside from some animated LEDs on the transparent case on the back of the phone, the Nothing Phone (1) didn’t offer much in addition to other mid-range phones on the market.

MySmartPrice, however, claims to already know the hardware spec list for the Nothing Phone (2), and it will be a flagship one. At the core will be a new processor from Qualcomm, presumably the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 hardware refresh from mid this year. It will use 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage, along with a 5,000 mAh battery. So we’ll see upgrades across the board, plus a top-of-the-line display. It looks like an AMOLED panel at 120 Hz will be chosen, but it’s unclear if it will be Full HD or QHD.

Given Carl Pei’s track record, this model will most likely try to enter the market at a lower price point than the high-end competition. We can also certainly expect an unconventional marketing campaign, but it’s possible that Nothing has abandoned its novel invitation-based sales strategies in favor of direct sales, as well as through partners. The Nothing Phone model (1) quickly arrived in stores in Europe and we expect to see the second generation on the shelves shortly after the announcement.

Of course, this being a phone with a chipset that hasn’t even been announced yet, it’s clear that the launch can’t be too close. MySmartPrice sources are talking about the third quarter of the year, so probably sometime through the summer.