Speaking to Input (opens in new tab), Nothing founder Carl Pei confirmed that the Phone (1) will use a custom Snapdragon 778G+, an enhanced version of the 778G from 2021. That means the Phone (1) is a mid-ranger, not the flagship that some previously believed. This actually makes a lot of sense, since a full flagship costs significantly more for a small startup like Nothing. The Snapdragon 778G+ is a customized version Qualcomm did for Nothing, which alone is surprising. We suspect that Pei’s reputation helped Nothing secure this deal, since Nothing is thus far unproven in the smartphone world. But what makes this plus version so special? According to Input, it comes down to wireless and reverse wireless charging. So why go mid-range? Pei told Input that it came down to making the Phone (1) power-efficient while achieving adequate performance — Pei thinks flagship chips have diminishing returns. This balance further complicates itself with cost. In short, the Snapdragon 778G+ helps Nothing keep costs, and thus the price, down. Nothing claims that the Snapdragon 778G+ is more efficient thermally than other chips like the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. All told, we think going with a mid-range processor makes a lot of sense. It lines up with Pei’s belief that specs reach a point of meaninglessness, a point he attempted to prove with the OnePlus Nord series while he still worked there. Other specs leaked for the Nothing Phone (1) just before this confirmation. We’ve heard that the Phone (1) could have a 6.55-inch 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, a 4,500 mAh battery, and 45W charging. The rear cameras are supposedly 50MP and 16MP, with the latter likely being an ultrawide — the front camera ought to be 16MP. Nothing will fully unveil the Phone (1) on July 12, so stay tuned.
