It seems as if the smartphone market has lagged behind in terms of design. With the exception of folding phones and flip phones, almost all handsets today are glass and metal slabs. And to top it off, most smartphones come in the most bland and boring colors possible.
That’s why the Nothing Phone 2 is one of the most interesting smartphones in terms of design and aesthetics. It has a transparent glass back that lets you see its internal components, and even has LED lights that serve multiple purposes. The Nothing Phone is completely unique and stands out from the sea of boring phone designs, and because of this it feels really special.
Casetify, a mobile accessory brand known for a ton of designed and customized phone cases, has partnered with Nothing for a collaboration that no one saw coming. With the Casetify x Nothing collab, you can now turn your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel device into a Nothing phone….
A case for technocrats
There are actually four different case designs in the Casetify X Nothing collection: Case (1), Case (2), Case (3), and Case (4). The first two are based on the actual Nothing Phone 2 design, both in black and white, while the other two cases are all about the Nothing logo aesthetic, also in black and white.
I’m a big fan of the Nothing Phone 2 design, so I wanted to check out the case (1) for my iPhone 15 Pro. It comes in four different case styles for the iPhone (iPhone 6 Plus, and Bounce Case with MagSafe. For Samsung, it’s available for the S22 and S23 series, while the Google option is available for the Pixel 6/6 Pro and Pixel 7/7 Pro. The Samsung and Google options are only available in the Impact Case style.
The Nothing Phone 2’s design is printed on the back of the case, which is made mostly of a material made from recycled phone cases. For the most part, the printed design is pretty accurate to what the actual back of the Nothing Phone 2 looks like.
Casetify added some texture to the case by slightly raising the wireless charging coil part of the design, as well as the curvature in the lower left corner, where there is nothing but the logo (like the real phone). There are also curved white stripes to simulate what the Nothing Phone 2 looks like when the Glyph interface is lit. Finally, Casetify has really done a great job of fleshing out the details, as you even have regulatory compliance symbols in the lower right corner (with some changes since it’s not a real phone).
Overall, the design of Casetify’s Case (1) is great, with a few adjustments made to make the design work with the iPhone 15 Pro. For example, I wish the ring around the camera bump was plain white like the other light strips (as the Nothing Phone 2 has lights around the camera module) rather than having the Casetify logo embossed in white on black. Go. And, of course, the huge camera module cuts into the top half of the white light bar, making it a bit incomplete.
Still, if you’ve ever wondered if you could turn your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or Google Pixel phone into a nothing phone, this case helps achieve that aesthetic.
It’s not just about looks
The Nothing collaboration is one of many different designs in Casetify’s portfolio. I’ve been using Casetify cases for several years, and the Impact Case is one of my personal favorites. Although Casetify cases aren’t cheap (they start at around $52 and up), they’re incredibly tough and durable while maintaining a fairly thin profile.
The Impact Case, which is my favorite style, has military-grade drop protection up to 8.2 feet. As someone who drops phones frequently, I’m always confident that the Casetify case will absorb any shock from impact, and the actual iPhone is safe and sturdy while the case itself takes a little wear and tear.
The profile of the Impact Case isn’t too bulky, and it’s very easy to slip in and out of a leggings pocket. The edges are somewhat glossy, but it adds extra grip, which is always welcome.
I also love that the Casetify has incredibly tactile buttons. However, I wish it used an actual cover for the action button on the iPhone 15 Pro. Instead, it currently features a cutout, although the button is still quite accessible as it’s not too hidden, unlike other cases I’ve tried recently.
No one expected a phone case
This is definitely one of the more silly but fun collaborations I’ve seen Castify do. I certainly didn’t expect it, and I don’t think anyone else expected it either. When news of this collaboration arrived in my inbox, I knew I had to check it out.
Nothing has always had a good phone design as the iPhone has mostly aged, so I was excited to dress up my iPhone 15 Pro as the Nothing Phone 2. And Castify didn’t disappoint at all.
