The Nothing Phone (1) has finally made its way to the US, six months after it was released in other markets. However, interested buyers should be aware of a few caveats before purchasing the smartphone.
Availability and Beta Membership
The Nothing Phone (1) is only available for purchase through a "beta membership" rather than through traditional retailers. This means that the device is being sold as part of a beta testing program, and may not be fully functional or stable. Additionally, units sold in the US will ship with Nothing OS 1.5 Beta, the company's first Android 13 beta build.
Partial Network Carrier Compatibility
Initially, Nothing claimed that the US and the rest of North America were not part of its plans for the Nothing Phone (1), and stated that the smartphone would be incompatible with some network carriers. This remains true for devices sold under the "beta membership", with only partial compatibility across AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Specifically, the Nothing Phone (1) is compatible with the following bands in the US:
Gauging US Demand
It appears that the company is using the "beta membership" program to gauge demand for the Nothing Phone (1) in the US. At the time of writing, only one configuration of the smartphone is available as part of the "beta membership" – the black version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, for $299. This is in contrast to other markets, where three memory configurations are offered.
Limited Configuration Available
The Nothing Phone (1) is priced at $299, it is a reasonable price for a smartphone however, it should be noted that there is only one configuration available for purchase. The black version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is the only option available as part of the "beta membership" program. This limited configuration may not suit the needs of all potential buyers.
Conclusion
While the Nothing Phone (1) is now available in the US, potential buyers should be aware of the limitations of the "beta membership" program, including partial carrier compatibility and a limited configuration option. The company appears to be using this program to gauge demand for the smartphone in the US, so it remains to be seen what the future holds for the Nothing Phone (1) in North America. It is good to wait a bit more until it is more stable and compatible with more carriers.
Are you considering purchasing the Nothing Phone (1)? We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts and experiences with the device by leaving a comment below. Be sure to use the hashtags #NothingPhone1 and #NothingBetaMembership to join the conversation. We look forward to hearing your feedback!
