Nothing is a brand that has always tried to stand out from the crowd with its unique design and software features. The Nothing Phone (2a) is the latest addition to its smartphone lineup, and it aims to offer a lot of value for a low price. But does it succeed in delivering a satisfying experience? Let’s find out.
Design and Display
The Nothing Phone (2a) follows the same aesthetic as the previous Nothing phones, with a semi-transparent back that reveals some of the internal components and the Glyph interface. The Glyph interface consists of three LED strips that light up in different patterns and colors to show notifications, battery level, volume, timers, and more. It’s a fun and distinctive feature that adds some personality to the phone.
The phone is made of plastic, which makes it lightweight but also prone to scratches and dust. The phone has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes everything look smooth and vibrant. The display has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, which translates to a pixel density of 394ppi. The display is bright, sharp, and colorful, and it supports HDR10+ for enhanced contrast and dynamic range.
The phone has a punch-hole cutout for the 32MP selfie camera, and a rectangular camera module on the back that houses the 50MP main and ultrawide cameras. The phone also has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a USB-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and stereo speakers.
Performance and Battery
The Nothing Phone (2a) is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, which is a mid-range chip that can handle most tasks and games with ease. The phone comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. The phone runs on Nothing OS 2.5, which is based on Android 14 and has a minimalist and monochrome look. The software is smooth and responsive, and it offers some customization options and features, such as a dark mode, a game mode, a smart assistant, and a screen recorder.
The phone has a 5000mAh battery, which can last for two days of moderate use, or more than 10 hours of screen-on time. The phone supports fast charging with a 45W charger, which can charge the phone from 0 to 80% in 39 minutes, or to 100% in 59 minutes. The phone also supports reverse charging, which can charge other devices with a cable.
Camera and Audio
The Nothing Phone (2a) has a dual-camera setup on the back, with a 50MP main camera and a 50MP ultrawide camera. The main camera has an f/1.8 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and optical image stabilization. The ultrawide camera has an f/2.2 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. The phone can record 4K videos at 30fps, or 1080p videos at 60fps, with both cameras.
The camera performance is decent, but not exceptional. The photos have good detail, color, and dynamic range, but they can also look noisy, overexposed, or oversaturated in some situations. The low-light performance is also mediocre, with a lot of noise and loss of detail. The phone has a night mode, but it doesn’t improve the quality much. The ultrawide camera has a similar performance, but with more distortion and less sharpness.
The selfie camera is a 32MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The selfie camera can take good selfies, with natural skin tones and accurate exposure. The selfie camera can also record 1080p videos at 30fps, with decent quality and stabilization.
The phone has stereo speakers, which are loud and clear, but lack bass and depth. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a rare feature nowadays. The phone supports Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, which can enhance the sound quality and experience.
Pricing
According to Nothing, global customers can now pre-order the Phone 2a, with U.S. availability limited to the Nothing Developer Program, requiring a $349 payment. In the UK, the phone is purchasable at the Nothing Store Soho and other retailers, while in India, it is available through various outlets.
The Phone 2a comes in two versions: one featuring 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, priced at £319 in the UK, and another with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, available for £349. In India, the respective prices are 23,999₹ and 27,999₹.
Watch Phone (2a) Launch Event
Verdict
The Nothing Phone (2a) is a budget phone that offers a lot of bang for the buck. It has a unique design, a great display, a long battery life, and a fun software. It also has decent performance, camera, and audio, but they are not the best in its class. The phone is a good choice for anyone who wants a phone that stands out from the crowd, and doesn’t mind some compromises.
Check the prices of other Nothing Phone and accessories below:
