Nothing Phone (2) vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Both phones deliver strong flagship experiences at $599, but with different strengths. Nothing Phone (2) offers superior display brightness at 1600 nits versus Samsung's 1450 nits, paired with a larger 6.7-inch screen and more versatile 50MP ultrawide camera. Its 45W charging significantly outpaces Samsung's 25W, reducing refill times considerably. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE counters with better water resistance (IP68 vs IP54), a dedicated 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and more reliable One UI software support. Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 edges out Exynos 2200 in raw performance, though real-world differences remain minimal. Storage maxes at 512GB on Nothing versus 256GB on Samsung. Battery capacities favor Nothing at 4700mAh. For photography versatility and charging speed, Nothing Phone (2) edges ahead, while Samsung suits users prioritizing durability and optical zoom range.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Phone (2) if…
- →Iconic transparent design with improved Glyph lights
- →Snappy Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 performance
- →Clean Nothing OS software experience
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 (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
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 (2) | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 13, Nothing OS 2.0 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 201 g | 209 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, glass back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Sony IMX890 | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.45 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4700 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W wireless | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | LTPO OLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2412 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X2 + 3x2.75 GHz A710 + 4x1.8 GHz A510) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 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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