The Ultimate Guide to Using the Nothing Phone Glyph Interface (2).

The most significant feature packed into the Nothing Phone (2) is the eye-catching rear panel called the “Glyph interface”. This LED-filled array can light up during calls and notifications, and those are just two of many tricks up its sleeve, including a secret feature. This guide will walk you through using the Glyph interface to its full potential.

Coming in at $599, the Nothing Phone (2) is a serious contender in the mobile world. At that price, the device is a no-nonsense Android phone that makes fantastic use of Google’s stock operating system with a bit of Nothing-brand style. Sure, it comes with a neat little gimmick.

Carrying an enhanced version of the previous generation Glyph panel, the Nothing Phone (2) features 33 individual LED zones that can light up in unison or separately for a truly unique light show. Notifications, calls, and a special timer can turn off the display, and while it may seem like a pointless selling argument, the gimmick has some serious value.

What can the glyph interface do?

From the outset, Nothing Phone’s Glyph Panel (2) can be used in 13 different scenarios, each with its own unique use case. As with any device that offers a progressive new feature, it will take some getting used to, but I’ve found the flashy feature to be more than useful in day-to-day life.

Glyph notifications and incoming calls

Glyph’s most outward-facing use case is during any type of notification. Users can choose from a pretty large selection of notification sounds that pair with a preset light pattern. Even if your phone is set to silent or vibrate, that light pattern will still play whenever an alert is sent to your device.

You can even set up “essential” notifications, which will activate a long-lasting LED strip at the top right of the panel. These notifications can be selected individually via the Phone glyph menu (2). We suggest sorting your most frequent notifications and decide which is an essential alert for yourself.

For incoming calls, you can choose from a separate set of ringtones, again, each with its own light pattern. The Nothing Phone (2) is the first phone I’ve used in a long time that made me want to turn on audible ringtones.

Here’s how to change your ringtone notification patterns:

1. On the Nothing Phone (2), go to yours settings.
2. Faucet Glyph interface.
3. Enter ringtones OR Notifications and choose a sequence of lights.
   • Note: You can add custom contacts and essential notification sequences on these pages.

The glyph lights up in the Camera app

Another useful way to use the Nothing Phone (2) glyph interface is through the camera app. In total, there are two ways the rear LEDs are used, and each feels like a great touch to the device.

When using the camera, you can hit the flash selector up and scroll until you see Glyph fill light. This feature turns on the full array of LEDs while the camera is open and set to fill. In essence, it can be used for more complete illumination than the single LED found on most fixtures. In portrait mode, the Gyph fill light is the only option.

The other scenario where you’ll find the Glyph panel useful is during recordings. This is where the Nothing Phone (2) displays some pretty impressive attention to detail. Just like on some professional video equipment, a lit red LED indicates that a recording is in progress. You’ll find the exact same feature on your phone (2).

During a recording in the camera app, a single red LED will illuminate, indicating a recording is in progress. If you don’t want to enable this feature, you can simply turn it off in the camera app’s video settings.

A bigger, better flashlight

Almost all smartphones on the market have a small flash array for photos and in case you need a flashlight. As the phone (2) follows suit, take that flashlight to a new level using the entire array of glyphs.

Using the Flashlight quick settings tile, you can touch and hold to activate the glyph light. This turns on the entire LED interface and turns the back of the phone into a flashlight. To turn it off, simply tap the Quick Settings tile again.

We’re guessing this uses a lot more battery than the single LED flash, though these LEDs probably won’t drain your phone when used in reasonable bursts. Leave the flashlight on and let’s imagine your battery takes a hit (if it doesn’t overheat first).

Volume indicator

One feature you’ll find on the Glyph settings page is the Volume indicator. When activated, any change to the phone’s volume will light up one of the rear LED strips to match that volume level.

While this isn’t a life-changing feature, it does add to the entire quality-of-life feature set offered by the Glyph interface. If anything, it’s fun to play when you’re bored.

Glyph Timers

Another nice feature that can be taken advantage of is the Glyph Timer. The best way to use this feature is to make sure the Glyph Timer Quick Settings tile is active. You can do this by swiping down twice from your home screen and tapping the pencil icon. From there, drag and drop the file Glyph Timers button for the Quick Settings main area.

Once it’s within easy reach, just tap and hold it to set a timer. Once the timer is set, turn the phone over.

A quick countdown start sequence will begin and an LED strip will fully illuminate. Over time, the LED strip also runs. When the time is up, the phone (2) will ring and flash until you pick it up and hit it end on the timer notification.

Switch to Glyph

This is the equivalent of Flip to Shh on the Pixel series. Flipping the device over when this setting is enabled will silence the ringer and opt for LED-only notifications. This is the superior version of the Pixel feature, as it achieves complete silence, but you still have a way to see incoming alerts visually.

1. On the Nothing Phone (2), go to yours settings.
2. Faucet Glyph interface.
3. Activate Switch to Glyph.

Compose your own glyph sequences

Using the Glyph Composer app in the Google Play Store, Nothing leaves you room to create your own alert sounds and light patterns. Once installed, it’s as simple as choosing a sound pattern and playing with each of the five light-up sections, which have associated sounds.

Once you know what you want, hit the record button and start pushing buttons. You will probably create something interesting.

These tones can be selected in the ringtone and notification sections of the Glyph settings.

Enable Music Visualizer

In theory, Nothing’s music display feature is pretty neat, although the reality is that it can be a little gross. When playing music, you can have the Glyph lights create a light show, even if it’s very bright and a little hard to watch.

1. Enter yours Contacts application AND create a new contact called Alakazam.
2. Go to Glyph settings and hit ringtones.
3. Select any ringtone for Alakazam contact hitting Add a contact.
4. You should now see a Music visualization card in the glyph settings.
5. Activate it AND play some music.

Passive indicators Google Assistant, Charging Indicator and Progress Bar

In the Glyph settings, there are some passive features that act as visual indicators. Two that happen in place of other activity are the charging meter and the Google Assistant indicator.

The former is triggered when a charging cable is inserted into the phone’s USB-C port (2). This will trigger the lighting of the lower LEDs on the Nothing Phone glyph interface (2). The trick is to pay attention to how much of the strip is lit. The fuller it is, the fuller your battery is.

This trick is only visually available for a couple of seconds at a time. To activate it for a quick glance, give your phone a little shake. The feature doesn’t work during wireless charging, for obvious reasons.

Google Assistant, on the other hand, turns on those same LED strips every time you activate the virtual assistant. This includes swiping up from the corner of the phone, saying “Hey Google…”, or holding down the power button. Once activated, the bottom LED will illuminate to indicate listening. Whenever you talk to the Assistant, the strip above it will light up to indicate the audio level.

Another feature that’s only working for one app right now is Glyph Progress, which lights up the interface to show a visual progress bar for apps that meet the needs. For example, Uber has a beta integration that can light up the Glyph panel to indicate how far away your ride is. As time goes on, hopefully more apps will add this feature to further benefit from it.

Is the Glpyh interface a gimmick?

Whether or not the Glyph interface feels like a gimmick depends on how much you’ll be using the feature set. No, it doesn’t offer a significant advantage over any other device, but it adds a lot of value to the quality of life that makes the Nothing Phone (2) just plain fun to use.

At $599, the device isn’t a piggy bank, and our reviews reflect our honest opinion that the Nothing Phone (2) is a pretty good phone. The Nothing PHone (2) Glyph interface certainly adds to that, but that’s not the only reason the device is good.

Sure, the Glyph panel could be a gimmick in some respects, but it’s a lot of fun.