The best Nothing Phone 1 alternatives: 5 phones to consider before you buy

The Nothing Phone 1 arrived after months of teases and information leaks. Nothing’s first handset is indeed an affordable mid-range smartphone, bringing a relatively powerful Snapdragon 778G Plus chipset, a 4,500mAh battery, and a 120Hz OLED screen. It’s only available in North America as part of a beta program, which means budget phone buyers in this region will need to look elsewhere. Or maybe you can get hold of Nothing’s first phone but simply want to know what else is out there. Whatever the case, we’ve put together a guide to the best Nothing Phone 1 alternatives around.

Our verdict: Nothing Phone 1 review

The best Nothing Phone 1 alternatives

1. Google Pixel 6a

The Pixel 6a definitely makes a good argument for being one of the better Nothing Phone 1 alternatives on the market. Much like Nothing, Google isn’t selling the phone on its specs, but it’s still got some notable features in tow.

Our verdict: Google Pixel 6a review

The mid-ranger offers features like a powerful Tensor processor, an IP67 rating, a 4,410mAh battery, and a dual rear camera system with Google’s great camera software. Toss in some smart calling and camera features as well as five years of security updates, and you’ve got a good proposition here.

That’s not to say that the Pixel 6a is perfect for the price though, as it lacks wireless charging, fast wired charging (topping out at 18W), and a higher refresh rate. These are pretty significant omissions in 2022, especially compared to the Nothing Phone 1. But this might not be an issue for some people.

2. Samsung Galaxy A53

The Galaxy A54 is already out, but we haven’t spent time with that device just yet. Nevertheless, the A53 is still well worth a look today. Samsung’s older mid-ranger brings an Exynos 1280 chipset that isn’t as powerful as the Nothing Phone 1 processor but should still be a capable SoC for everyday tasks and some advanced games. You’re also getting a similar 120Hz OLED panel here too.

Our verdict: Samsung Galaxy A53 review

Otherwise, the Galaxy A53 stands out from the Nothing device by virtue of its IP67 rating for water resistance. Other notable features include a 5,000mAh battery, a commitment to four OS updates and five years of security patches, and a quad rear camera system (64MP with OIS, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, 5MP depth).

In saying so, the Samsung phone lacks wireless charging, while its 25W wired charging isn’t exactly blazing-fast. But it’s still one of the best Nothing Phone 1 alternatives in terms of availability alone.

3. OnePlus 11R

The OnePlus 11R is only available in India, and that’s a bummer because it’s arguably the best Nothing Phone 1 alternative on the list.

Our verdict: OnePlus 11R review

The new upper mid-range OnePlus phone brings some eye-catching features like a 1.5K 120Hz OLED screen, and a 5,000mAh battery with blazing-fast 100W wired charging. So those on the hunt for fantastic performance, a great screen, long battery life, and fast charging should keep this in mind.

The cheaper price tag is reflected in compromises like the 50MP+8MP+2MP rear camera system, lack of wireless charging, and lack of a major IP rating though. But at least you’re still getting a lengthy update pledge.

4. POCO F4

Those expecting major upgrades with the POCO F4 over the POCO F3 might be disappointed, but it’s still a great mid-range phone on its own merits.

Our verdict: POCO F4 review

POCO’s phone brings a Snapdragon 870 chipset that offers flagship-tier performance, a 120Hz FHD+ OLED panel, IP53 splash resistance, and a 4,500mAh battery with 67W wired charging. The phone also delivers a 64MP main camera with OIS, as well as an 8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 2MP macro lens.

In saying so, we didn’t appreciate the system ads here, even though they can be disabled for the most part. We also didn’t like POCO’s silence regarding the question of an extended update pledge. Nevertheless, this is a great package for the price.

5. Apple iPhone SE (2022)

The iPhone SE (2022) is another device worth considering, particularly if you don’t mind leaving the Android ecosystem. Apple’s latest SE phone comes in at $429, putting it in a similar segment as the Nothing Phone 1.

Our verdict: iPhone SE 2022 review

You get some neat features here for your money, including IP67 water resistance, a decent rear camera, a powerful processor, wireless charging, and an extended update pledge. You’ve also got a compact design, making it stand out from the rest of the smartphone world at large.

However, the iPhone SE 2022 makes more than a few compromises to reach this price point. For starters, there’s no secondary rear camera, OLED panel, or high refresh rate. Furthermore, there’s only 64GB of storage in the base model, and it has a tiny battery compared to the Nothing Phone 1.

That’s it for our roundup of the best Nothing Phone 1 alternatives. Are there any other devices that you think should be on the list? Then let us know via the comments below, or if you’re still set on the Nothing Phone 1, hit the links below to grab your own.