Nothing Phone (1) vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Nothing Phone (1) and Samsung Galaxy S23 FE occupy different market positions despite similar pricing. Nothing's Snapdragon 778G+ processor handles everyday tasks competently, while Samsung's Exynos 2200/Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 delivers noticeably better performance and gaming capability. Samsung's display reaches 1450 nits versus Nothing's 1200 nits, and its Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel offers superior color accuracy. Camera-wise, Samsung includes a 3x optical zoom telephoto lens absent on Nothing, though Nothing's 50MP ultrawide matches Samsung's main sensor resolution. Nothing compensates with faster 33W charging against Samsung's 25W, plus its distinctive Glyph interface offers novel notification features. Samsung provides superior durability with IP68 rating versus IP53, and One UI 5.1 is more mature than Nothing OS 1.0. For performance and longevity, Samsung Galaxy S23 FE edges ahead despite Nothing's attractive design and faster charging. Samsung's additional $200 investment justifies itself through better processing power, superior display, optical zoom, and proven software support.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Phone (1) if…
- →Unique transparent Glyph Interface LED design stands out
- →Clean Nothing OS closely mirrors stock Android
- →Dual 50 MP cameras perform well for the price
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Nothing Phone (1)
Pros
- Unique transparent Glyph Interface LED design stands out
- Clean Nothing OS closely mirrors stock Android
- Dual 50 MP cameras perform well for the price
- Wireless charging included at mid-range pricing
- Solid 120Hz OLED display
Cons
- Snapdragon 778G+ is mid-tier and shows limits
- Glyph notifications are a novelty more than practical
- Only IP53 splash protection
- 33W charging is modest for 2022
- USB-C 2.0 limits transfer speeds
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Phone (1) | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 12 (Nothing OS 1.0) | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 193.5 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, transparent glass back with Glyph LED strips | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP53 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS (Sony IMX766) | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 16 MP, f/2.45 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree (Samsung JN1) | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 33W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.55 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ | Samsung Exynos 2200 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 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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