Nothing Phone 1 vs. iPhone: How Do They Compare?

New smartphone companies have had trouble breaking into the scene, especially those targeting Apple’s market share. A new competitor has arrived in the form of Nothing Technology Limited, causing a showdown between the Nothing Phone 1 and the iPhone.

Both of these companies were started by famous faces, although Apple has a considerable head start. In this comparison, we’ll take a look at what the Nothing Phone 1 brings to the table, and compare it against Apple’s latest offering—the iPhone 13.

Nothing Phone 1 vs. iPhone: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Nothing Phone 1 vs. iPhone: 5 Must-Know Facts

• Nothing Phone 1 is the second smartphone launch from entrepreneur Carl Pei.
• The iPhone 13’s Cinematic Mode allows for video recording in HDR or Dolby Vision.
• Apple utilized recycled tin, plastic, gold, and rare earth elements in the production of the iPhone 13.
• The first product from Nothing Technology was wireless headphones called the Nothing Ear 1.
• Nothing used a transparent design with 900 tiny LEDs on the back of the Nothing Phone 1.

Nothing Phone 1 vs. iPhone: What’s the Difference?

One of the biggest differences between these two devices is the companies behind them.

Apple has been in the tech business since 1976 and has released around 34 smartphones since 2007. By comparison, Nothing Technology Ltd. was founded in October 2020 by Carl Pei after he resigned from OnePlus Technology, the maker of the OnePlus smartphone. The first smartphone from Nothing was launched on July 16, 2022.

Advances in technology helped pave the way for this speedy transition for the Nothing Phone 1. These companies’ catalogs aren’t up for comparison, although the Nothing Phone 1 is designed to get the attention of anyone interested in Apple’s flagship device.

These phones do share a few similarities including the design language, but everything else is night and day. With that in mind, we’re going to focus on the key areas of difference, such as the display, performance, features, and design.

Display

The display is one of the more important aspects of any smartphone. How large a display is has an impact on the resolution and sharpness to a degree, although one that’s too large can be cumbersome.

The Nothing Phone 1 has a larger display than the Apple iPhone 13 at 6.5 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2400p. That’s larger than the iPhone 13 Pro, and slightly behind the Pro Max. That’s an advantage if you like larger screens, although it lags behind the iPhone 13 in depth and clarity.

Apple uses OLED displays for the iPhone, and the Nothing Phone 1 has an AMOLED display. The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro have a slightly higher resolution at 1,170 x 2,532p, and 1,284 x 2,778p for the Pro Max. These phones also have better pixel density, which is measured in ppi, or pixels per inch. The higher the pixels per inch ratio count, the sharper the image on the screen.

While the Nothing Phone 1 has a larger screen with thinner bezels, the iPhone 13 display is sharper and provides more depth of color—even if the resolution is close.

Design

Apple didn’t necessarily break any new ground with the iPhone 13 design. If you’ve seen any of their smartphones over the past several years, you’ll know what to expect. They are premium handsets with a luxurious feel, and the iPhone 13 is available in six colors, including (Product) Red, green, pink, blue, Starlight, and Midnight.

These well-built smartphones are protected by tempered glass from Corning and have an aluminum frame. The Pro variants are a little fancier, but the 13 largely looks like the newer iPhones everyone is familiar with. With the Nothing Phone 1, you’re going to get a completely different experience thanks to its transparent design.

The back of this phone gives you a peek at the components and the company’s unique Glyph LED system. Glyph uses a series of LEDs synced to the phone for notifications. It’s a unique feature, and while the lights are only white, they are incredibly useful if you tend to leave a smartphone face down when not in use.

The front of these phones is similar aside from the hole punch for the camera, but the back of the Nothing Phone 1 is a standout feature. The Nothing Phone 1 is only available in two colors, black and white. Both are stylish, although the jury is still out on the Nothing Phone’s durability until it’s spent more time in the hands of users.

Performance

The iPhone 13 leaves the Nothing Phone 1 in the dust for performance. Nothing went with an older chipset for their first launch to keep costs down. While it’s a powerful, modern smartphone, it can’t measure up to the Apple 13 in benchmark scores or overall performance.

On paper, you can see a clear advantage for Apple with the Nothing Phone 1 vs iPhone 13. It’s even more evident in benchmark scores used to test out new smartphones on GeekBench. The iPhone 13 base model scored 1690 for single-core and 4499 for multi-core. The Nothing Phone 1, or Nothing A063, scored 797 and 2803 by comparison.

The hexa-core chip from Apple beats the octa-core processor used by Nothing, and you’ll notice an improvement in graphics processing as well. The one area in performance where the Nothing 1 phone wins is with RAM. It comes in 8GB or 12GB configurations whereas the standard iPhone 13 only has 4GB of memory.

Cameras

Apple has always been a leader with mobile camera technology, and the iPhone 13 stands out in that department. The base model comes equipped with dual 12MP sensors on the rear and sports a Dual-LED dual-tone flash.

The iPhone 13 has improved low-light functionality, and the ultra-wide lens takes stunning photos. Cinematic Mode is a new addition to this generation, which can also record video in 4K at 60 frames per second. These phones are HDR and Dolby Vision capable for photos and video as well.

You won’t find Dolby Vision on the Nothing Phone 1, but it does have HDR and Night Mode. It can also handle 4K at 60 FPS and has two larger rear-facing cameras. Nothing went with 50MP sensors on their first flagship and a 16MP camera on the front. The iPhone 13’s front-facing camera is smaller at 12MP, but wide with advanced features including HDR, 4K recording, and SL 3D.

The Nothing Phone 1 has larger cameras on both sides of the frame, and early impressions are that it takes excellent photos. They can’t touch Apple’s tech, however, so the iPhone 13 wins the camera competition.

Storage

As smartphone technology has improved, so have our appetites for media. Better games and UHD movies require more space, which means storage is critical. The days of every smartphone having an SD card slot are long gone, and you won’t find expandable storage on either of these devices.

The Nothing Phone 1 doesn’t have a slot or expanded storage, but the base version comes with 128GB out of the box. A 256GB variant is available with 12GB or 8GB of RAM for an additional cost. With the iPhone 13, every base model has 4G of RAM but storage varies by how much you’re willing to pay.

Apple has never been a fan of expandable storage, so consumers can choose from 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of internal storage.  This one’s a toss-up once you factor in pricing, an advantage the Nothing Phone 1 has that we haven’t touched on yet.

Battery Life

Having solid hardware is a way to ensure your smartphone isn’t out of date when the next generation rolls around. A phone needs a high-capacity battery to handle those large displays and GPUs, otherwise, you’ll end up tethered to a charger.

The iPhone 13 has a 3,240mAh battery with support for wireless charging and fast charging. Nothing used a larger 4,500mAh battery in the Phone 1, which also has fast charging and wireless. The Nothing Phone 1 also doubles as a power bank with reverse wireless charging. This feature can charge up other wireless devices by placing them against the back of the Nothing Phone 1.

Nothing Phone 1 has a larger battery with more bells and whistles, but Apple has found ways to optimize battery life alongside their OS on the iPhone 13. Both charge quickly, although the Nothing Phone has a faster rating of 33W compared to the iPhone at 20W.

Features

Many consumers look for a phone with excellent features instead of going for the phone with the best specifications. Each device has its own flagship features.

With the Nothing Phone 1, one is the Glyph LED system and transparent design while the iPhone 13 is beloved for its cameras, software, and performance.

Neither device has a 3.5mm headphone jack. The iPhone 13 allows you to connect wirelessly to devices through Bluetooth 5.0 while the Nothing Phone 1 uses Bluetooth 5.2. How you access each device varies greatly. With the Nothing Phone, you can use a fingerprint with an optical scanner under the screen. On the iPhone 13, you’ll need to use Face ID for additional security.

Despite its luxurious nature, the iPhone 13 carries the IP68 designation as well. That means the smartphone is resistant to dust, splashes, and submersion in fresh water up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. Nothing’s first handset is certified as IP53, so it only has limited dust protection and you don’t want to get it wet.

The operating system itself is a feature worth considering—especially if you’ve never switched. The iPhone is the only phone in the world that runs Apple’s famous operating system. It’s part of the charm, and while not as open as Android, the selection of apps and games is outstanding. On the Nothing Phone, you’ll find a tweaked version of Android called the Nothing OS.

Pricing and Availability

Smartphone pricing has calmed down in recent years as the industry has seen more competition from manufacturers around the globe. It’s also where the Nothing Phone 1 aims to target Apple fans who want a similar design, but at a much cheaper price.

There are three versions of the Nothing Phone 1, and the base model is the cheapest at £399 or around $484. The 8GB/256GB configuration is £449 ($545) and the 12GB/256GB phone will set consumers back £499 ($605). That’s certainly a deal for any unlocked smartphone with this combination of power and features.

Apple products have never been budget-friendly, and the iPhone 13 is $799 for the 128GB model.  You can double the storage to 256GB for $899 or choose the 512GB variant for $1,099. That’s a significant price gap, although reasonable when you consider the hardware.

Availability is where the iPhone 13 shines, and the competitor falters in our Nothing Phone 1 vs iPhone showdown. You can purchase any version of the iPhone through online retailers, cellular providers, and local stores around the globe. If you want to pick up the Nothing Phone 1, you’ll need to import it from a site like if you reside in the United States and global availability is limited.

Nothing Phone 1 vs. iPhone: Which is Better?

Whenever a new smartphone hits the market, it’s common for consumers to compare it to others. In this case, the Nothing Phone 1 is geared toward Apple users that may be looking for something cheaper or a smartphone with a little more freedom.

On paper and in hand, the iPhone 13 is a clear winner based on early impressions against the Nothing Phone. We don’t expect that to change, given Apple’s track record and the fact this is the first generation of the Nothing Phone 1. You don’t have to worry about software or hardware issues with the iPhone, and it’s one of the top-selling phones each year for a reason.

If you’re looking to try something new or enjoyed smartphones like the OnePlus, the Nothing Phone 1 may be right up your alley. The style and software are definitely unique, and it’s hard to argue with the price point—even if it’s a little bit hard to get.

NEXT UP…

• The Real Reason Dreamcast Failed Spectacularly
• Ethereum vs. Bitcoin: How Do They Compare?
• Google Pixel 7 vs iPhone 14: Features and Full Comparison

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/Inside Creative House.

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API