GoKawiilThe Glyph Matrix is a little simpler here. You can use it to see the time when your phone is face down, a timer counting down, and a battery indicator. My favorite function is using it as a pixelated mirror when I want to take a selfie with the superior rear cameras—the Matrix shows an outline of your face so you can line up the shot perfectly. You can also set up icons to show for specific messages, so I have a heart icon for anytime my wife messages or calls me.
The metal build feels great for $499, though it's a shame the IP rating is only IP65 instead of IP68 like its competitors. That usually means it can handle rain but not water submersion (like an accidental drop in the pool); however, Nothing says the Pro can handle full submersion in roughly 10 inches for 20 minutes. It's not quite as good as 1 meter for 30 minutes (IP68), but it's something.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Performance has been strong, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (I have the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage version, but it starts with 8/128 GB). My benchmark scores still put it below the Pixel 10a, but it can handle most apps and games just fine. You will need to tweak the graphics settings of more demanding titles to play them smoothly. The only minor quibble I have is that scrolling in select apps, like the Marketplace tab in the Facebook app, is very choppy, though this could be a screen-refresh-rate bug (it goes up to 144 Hz).
Screen brightness has improved, and I was able to view the Phone (4a) Pro's screen on a sunny day just fine. However, Nothing's auto-brightness feature could use some work. It constantly brightened or darkened the screen when I wanted the exact opposite, so I frequently had to adjust the slider.