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Colours are lovely. I really like a pop of coloration, be it in my life, my furnishings, my garments, and sure, even my Android telephones. I select a coloured telephone and case once I can, I typically choose colourful wallpapers, and I follow the default icons as a substitute of making use of Google’s Materials You unicolored icons (as a result of I simply need to discover the app I’m searching for within the least period of time). So you may think about that the Nothing Cellphone 2’s black-and-white monochrome theme goes towards each single a type of preferences.

And to be honest, I used to be satisfied that it wasn’t up my alley in any respect. In each product image and hands-on video I noticed, I disliked the dot-matrix font, the 60s-throwback theme, and the shortage of coloration. I believed it seemed boring and boring. Effectively, that’s till I obtained a Nothing Cellphone 2 in my hand and, effectively, I noticed I had judged it too harshly. I used to be fallacious.

From the second I arrange the Nothing Cellphone 2 and was introduced with a theme selection, I noticed I couldn’t choose the default Android look. That simply felt fallacious. As if I used to be desecrating the telephone and Nothing’s total engineer and designer staff together with it.

The monochrome Nothing theme looks like a continuation of the Cellphone 2 — maybe even an integral a part of it. There’s one thing very clear and smooth about it. It’s minimalist, easy, and manages to marry trendy iconography with dot-matrix fonts and widgets in a combination that shouldn’t work, however one way or the other does. In the identical manner that the Nothing Cellphone 2’s {hardware} marries funky retro-style LED lights with a contemporary smartphone aesthetic in a combination that sounds gaudy on paper however seems polished in particular person.

And the very small pop of crimson that you just see right here and there may be all it is advisable break the theme’s monotony. I additionally actually admire the lengths that Nothing has already gone to to make widgets, massive app folders, and folder cowl icons that match with its theme. You’ll be able to create a number of homescreen layouts earlier than operating out of concepts and widget choices.

After all, not all app icons are themed and third-party widgets are simply… regardless of the builders resolve. When you get within the weeds of native, country-specific banking or buying apps, for instance, odds are the app gained’t be themed by Nothing and also you’ll discover a coloured icon in the course of your black-and-white app drawer. You don’t even need to look that far, to be sincere. A number of of Google’s apps don’t get themed, just like the Pixel Buds app. I assume you’re imagined to be utilizing the Nothing X app together with your Ear 2 buds as a substitute.

Dig past the homescreen, although, and the limitation of Nothing’s affect on Android’s software program design reveals itself. The default font, settings, notification drop-down, fast settings toggles, and lots of different components are all nonetheless very a lot within the Materials You camp — and the one which got here with Android 13 at that. There’s no black-and-white theme right here; the closest I may get is a really gentle blueish gray as a spotlight coloration.

However Nothing has already introduced that Nothing OS 2.5 will carry Android 14‘s black-and-white monochrome theme, which is able to assist mitigate a part of the issue. As soon as that rolls out, I’ll be capable to match the lock display and residential display look with the remainder of the telephone’s software program — apps, notification drop-down, fast settings, and all — for a extra constant expertise. And the Nothing theme ought to really feel proper at house then.

Till then, I’m nonetheless going to maintain Nothing’s app icons and monochrome theme on the Cellphone 2. The colour-thirsty a part of me is a bit confused by this choice, however I believe the Cellphone 2 modified my notion of monochrome themes. Once they’re finished effectively and in cohesion with the {hardware}, they are often attention-grabbing and, dare I say, lovely. There’s a spot for them and a spot the place they shouldn’t be. As an example, I can’t think about operating the black-and-white theme on my blue Pixel 8 Professional; that will go towards the telephone’s playful design. However on the Nothing Cellphone 2? Proper at house.