Nothing Phone (1) Promises a 1,200‑Nit Glow, but Only Plays It Safe at 700 Nits
So Nothing bragged that its new Phone (1) could shine bright enough to light a small stadium—specifically, a staggering 1,200 nits. However, a recent poke‑test by the German tech‑website ComputerBase revealed that the device never reaches that number, no matter the test setup.
What Went Wrong?
- Nothing’s own hardware can actually hit 1,200 nits.
- Software, however, deliberately caps the brightness at 700 nits.
- The reason? The engineers wanted to keep the phone from turning into a sizzling sauna and from draining the battery at lightning speed.
When confronted, a Nothing spokesperson replied: “The hardware is capable of reaching up to 1,200 nits peak brightness, but this is currently capped by the software to 700 nits. This decision was made to ensure a balanced user experience regarding heat and battery consumption. We look forward to hearing from our users about this and will monitor feedback closely to understand if this should be addressed in future software updates.”
Is That “False Advertising?”
- Technically, the phone can deliver 1,200 nits.
- But the software intentionally limits it, meaning the advertised peak brightness isn’t what most people will actually see on their screens.
- In the eyes of regulators, it’s a gray area: the hardware is capable, but the consumer experience falls short.
Bottom line? Nothing is pulling the “price‑on‑but‑not‑real” trick, but because their own software is tempering the promise, it can feel a bit misleading. Whether or not a fine‑print alert is required might eventually come down to how strict local advertising laws are on currently available performance versus potential performance.
What’s Next for the Phone?
Released just last month, the Nothing Phone (1) is already hitting stores in Singapore for a starting price of $769. The device boasts a 120 Hz OLED display—elevating it into the mid‑range bracket while keeping a sleek design and the signature Nothing brand aesthetic.
The company promises to keep an ear to its user base; will they eventually lift the brightness cap in a software update or will user complaints prompt a more honest billboard? Only time will tell.
For the curious: check out the Nothing Phone (1) specs on Hardware Zone (last updated 2024-09-01). No more shade on the brightness—just a nicely balanced phone that won’t crawl into your pocket’s heat sink.
