Has the Camera Quality on Nothing Phones Been Quietly Downgraded Over Time?

ShiveshChauhan

This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I wanted to share my experience — not to accuse, but to reflect and maybe hear from others facing something similar.

I started my journey with Nothing Phone (1). I still remember being pleasantly surprised by the camera when I first got it. The photos — especially in daylight — were sharp, well-balanced, and felt premium for the price point. It wasn’t trying to be a Pixel or iPhone, but it was respectable. However, as months passed and updates rolled out, I noticed a consistent dip in camera quality. Images started losing sharpness, colors looked dull, and the dynamic range took a hit. At first, I thought maybe I was just expecting too much. But deep down, I felt something had changed — and it wasn’t the hardware.

Eventually, when Nothing Phone (2) was launched — and marketed as a big upgrade, especially in the camera department — I decided to make the switch. And honestly, in the beginning, I was quite satisfied. The daylight shots were crisp, colors popped just right, and it handled skin tones and shadows much better than Phone (1). It felt like the upgrade was worth it.

But now, over a year later, I find myself in the same place again.

The camera performance has dropped significantly. It struggles even in decent lighting. Photos are inconsistent, Pictures often look soft, I consistent. over-processed, or washed out. The detail and punch it once had — gone. I haven’t changed how I use the phone. The lighting is the same. My usage habits haven’t changed either. Yet, the results are noticeably worse. I see old photos and get surprised — these were clicked by me? That’s how stark the difference is.

And the hardware hasn’t changed — so what has?

This leads me to a troubling thought:

is this something others are noticing too?

Is this just natural software degradation or something more intentional?

Could updates be tweaking the camera in a way that makes older phones underperform, maybe to push newer models?

I’m not claiming anything — just thinking out loud.

I’m not saying this is what Nothing is doing — but having experienced a similar decline on both Phone (1) and Phone (2), the pattern feels hard to ignore.

What makes it worse is the lack of official response. I’ve seen several users bring this up (regarding camera quality downgrade and asking for updates to fix), across platforms — yet there’s no clarity, no technical explanation, no reassurance. That silence breaks trust.

To be honest, it’s reached a point where I feel embarrassed to take out my phone in group photos. Friends with budget or mid-range phones are taking sharper, more vibrant pictures, while I hesitate to use mine. That really stings — because this wasn’t a budget phone. It was marketed and priced as a premium experience.

The software experience? Still love it. Nothing has nailed the design, UI, and minimalism. But when the basics like the camera — a core function — feel neglected or downgraded, it makes me seriously reconsider sticking with the brand in the future.

I don’t usually post things like this. But after sticking with the Nothing ecosystem through two generations, I felt I had to speak up.

Has anyone else faced this? Or is it just me overthinking?

PinoLY

ShiveshChauhan I asked myself the same questions too…👇

Nothing Phone (1) Camera feedback - Nothing Community

AgentY

ShiveshChauhan Can you provide any photos for comparison? I do want to believe you but sometimes feelings are just feelings.

PinoLY

AgentY I have posted some images regarding this topic, you can look at the link I put in the previous post

Paulis

AgentY i can confirm im my 2a that phone always are kid of washout, every time i take a foto, i ALWAYS have to lower my exposure

AgentY

PinoLY Sure there is one photo, but for comparison you need another one.

PinoLY

AgentY This is a recent shot from my N Phone 1, the colors are very processed and the level of detail has worsened… look at the cat’s nose (year 2023)

year 2025 👆

year 2023 👇

N Phone 1 still takes acceptable photos… but it was better before, its hardware can do better!!!

CMF1_hacker

not joking my the quality on my CMF1 has improved since the last update

Perhaps it was a shit show before and it’s marginal now but it’s improved over time

Spark

They’ve just introduced new camera algorithms…

According to them:

These updates have already been implemented in the 3a series and the CMF Phone 2 Pro.

They’re expected to roll out to older devices in the coming month — since those devices have different SoCs, ISPs, and camera sensors, it’s taking a bit more time.

My opinion:

I agree with you. Even I’ve noticed some washed-out colours in photos taken with the Phone 2.

As a Nothing Tech user, one thing I’ve definitely learned is that patience and hope are essential. But if things still don’t improve after that, then it’s time we raise our voices — loudly and clearly.

ShiveshChauhan

Spark

Thanks for sharing that insight — it does add some perspective.

If new camera algorithms are on their way to older devices, that’s definitely reassuring in theory. But to be honest, the silence around this from the official side has made it frustrating. Users shouldn’t have to dig through forums or rely on other users to know what’s going on with a core feature like the camera.

Like you said — patience and hope are essential, and I’ve had plenty of both since Phone (1). But if updates keep compromising the user experience in the name of future improvements or product cycles, it starts to feel like we’re beta-testing more than enjoying.

I’ll wait and see if the upcoming update brings back the quality we once had — but if not, yeah, maybe it’s time to speak louder.

Let’s hope they get it right.

Jay1202

I totally agree with you—Phone 2’s camera has been getting worse, especially since they started focusing more on their A series and CMF series.

Not gonna lie, every time I read the patch notes, I still hope they’ve fixed the camera.

At first, the night mode quality was terrible—lens flares, noise, and poor light handling.

But now, I’m seeing the same issues during the day too. The camera takes much longer to capture a photo, and the quality just seems to degrade on its own.

The saddest part? I use Pro mode, and I know that once I hit capture, the processing ruins the image I was aiming for—so I just end up taking a screenshot instead.

ShiveshChauhan

Jay1202

Man, I felt every word you wrote.

It’s exactly the same for me. I still find myself reading every update changelog hoping “maybe this time they fixed the camera” — and every time, it’s a letdown. Especially when you remember how good it was in the beginning — it almost feels like a different phone now.

I also noticed what you said — earlier, night mode was the only major issue, but now even daylight shots are a gamble. Sometimes it takes forever to capture, and even after all that delay, the output feels like a downgrade. There is no consistency in photos. Sometimes it’s just a mess. I rarely take my phone out to capture photos, i ask my friend’s phone to take better photos.

And that Pro mode frustration? Spot on. You set everything right, wait for the perfect shot, and then boom — processing ruins it. I actually laughed when you said you take screenshots instead — not because it’s funny, but because I’ve done that too. That’s how ridiculous it has gotten.

It’s honestly disheartening. We believed in the brand, appreciated the aesthetics, supported the idea of a clean Android experience… but when a basic function like the camera keeps failing, and there’s no transparent communication, it starts to feel like we’ve been left behind in favor of the newer launches.

Thanks for sharing your experience — it makes me feel a little less crazy knowing others are facing the same thing.