Nothing Phone 4(b) Review: Budget Handset with Great Battery Life

The Nothing Phone 4(b) is positioned as an affordable spiritual successor to the CMF Phone 2 Pro, priced at £299 or $399. It offers a 6.77-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1080×2344 and a peak HDR brightness of 2000 nits. However, its typical brightness of 1200 nits is noted as dimmer than some rivals.

The handset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This combination provides solid performance for basic tasks and casual gaming, although it struggles with more intensive 3D titles.

The camera system features a 50MP main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The device includes a 16MP front camera for selfies. Video recording capabilities are limited to 1080p/60fps or 4K/30fps, and it lacks a telephoto lens, resulting in noticeable fuzziness for shots beyond 2-3x zoom.

In terms of design, the Phone 4(b) retains Nothing’s retro-futuristic aesthetic, featuring a polycarbonate chassis available in black, white, or blue. It incorporates a downsized Glyph Bar for notifications and charging status. The phone has an IP64 rating for water and dust resistance, which is superior to the CMF Phone 2 Pro but trails some competitors.

The device runs Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, offering a clean, bloatware-free experience with options for monochromatic or stock Android styling. AI features are minimal, limited to the Essential Space for organizing screenshots and notes via the dedicated Essential key.

Battery performance is a significant highlight, featuring a 5200mAh cell, which is the largest ever in a Nothing phone. This battery delivers approximately eight hours of screen-on time under heavy use and nearly 17.5 hours in the PCMark battery test.

Charging capabilities are relatively slow; it supports 33W wired charging, requiring 100 minutes for a full charge, and there is no wireless charging support.

Reviewers concluded that the Phone 4(b) is a capable budget handset boasting excellent battery life, a clean operating system, and a distinctive design. Despite these strengths, the review noted that the screen brightness is inferior to rivals, performance lags behind some competitors, and it is nearly £100 more expensive than the older CMF Phone 2 Pro.

The device is recommended for users seeking Nothing’s unique flair at an affordable price. Alternatives like the Motorola Moto G86 5G are mentioned as options offering similar specifications but with more bloatware.

Source: Trusted Reviews