Apple iPhone XR vs Nothing Phone (2)
The Verdict
Nothing Phone (2) substantially outperforms the iPhone XR across nearly every dimension at a lower price point. Display quality is dramatically superior with its 6.7-inch LTPO OLED panel (1600 nits, 120Hz) versus XR's 6.1-inch IPS LCD (625 nits, 60Hz). Camera capabilities favor Nothing with a 50MP primary sensor, 50MP ultrawide, and 32MP selfie versus XR's single 12MP main camera. Performance edges to Nothing's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with 8-12GB RAM over the A12 Bionic's 3GB. Battery capacity (4700mAh with 45W charging) trounces XR's 2942mAh with 18W charging. Nothing includes 5G, USB-C, and Wi-Fi 6 while XR relies on aging Lightning and Wi-Fi 5. The only advantage for XR is iOS ecosystem loyalty and proven software maturity. At $749 versus $599, iPhone XR no longer justifies premium positioning. Nothing Phone (2) is the clear choice for value-conscious buyers prioritizing modern specifications.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone XR if…
- →Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- →Great battery life for the era
- →Six vibrant color options
Buy the Nothing Phone (2) if…
- →Iconic transparent design with improved Glyph lights
- →Snappy Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- →Clean Nothing OS software experience
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone XR
Pros
- Best-selling iPhone of 2018-2019
- Great battery life for the era
- Six vibrant color options
- Same A12 Bionic as the XS models
- More affordable entry into Face ID iPhones
Cons
- LCD display instead of OLED
- 720p-class resolution
- Single rear camera only
- Thicker bezels than XS
- Only 3 GB RAM
Nothing Phone (2)
Pros
- Iconic transparent design with improved Glyph lights
- Snappy Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- Clean Nothing OS software experience
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Bright LTPO AMOLED display
Cons
- Only IP54 rated
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- Glyph Interface is more novelty than utility
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone XR | Nothing Phone (2) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 12 | Android 13, Nothing OS 2.0 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 194 g | 201 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, glass back |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm | 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.8, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX890 |
| Front camera | 7 MP, f/2.2 | 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 3 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2942 mAh | 4700 mAh |
| Charging | 18W wired (adapter sold separately) | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LCD | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 1792 x 828 | 2412 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1600 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x2.5 GHz + 4x1.6 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3x2.75 GHz A710 + 4x1.8 GHz A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Apple A12 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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