This week saw the release of its third phone and first mid-range phone – the Nothing Phone (2a). We say “proper mid-range phone” because the original Nothing Phone (1) wasn’t exactly a flagship either, but this phone is certainly a more affordable option. Check out prices below:
| No phone (2a) | European Union | U.K. | India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/128GB | 330 euros | £320 | Rs 24,000 |
| 8/256GB | – | – | Rs 26,000 |
| 12/256GB | 380 euros | £350 | Rs 28,000 |
Unlike the Phone (2), the A model won’t be sold in the US, at least not through retail stores – you can pick one up for $350 as part of the Nothing developer program. However, we’re not sure what its terms are (warranty? support?).
Regardless, with the Nothing Phone (2a) you get a lot at an affordable price. These include a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display (20:9 FHD+) with 10-bit HDR10+ color, Gorilla Glass 5, and always-on mode. That’s about the same size as the Phone (1), just bigger (up from 6.55 inches). It’s also comparable to the pricier Phone (2), although that phone’s 6.7-inch panel is LTPO (still 20:9 FHD+ resolution).
The a-phone’s camera setup is very similar to the Phone (2). The main lens has a 50MP 1/1.56” sensor (Samsung GN9 instead of Sony IMX890), and the 114° ultra-wide angle has a 50MP 1/2.76” sensor (both Samsung JN1). The selfie camera is 32MP.
Nothing Phone (2a) Colors: Black, Milk and White
More important than the different sensor is the lack of 4K @ 60fps video capture – the phone (2a) tops out at 30fps thanks to its chipset. Specifically, it’s the Dimensity 7200 Pro chip.
With a pair of Cortex-A715 cores and 6 A510s, the CPU beats the Snapdragon 778G+ in the phone (1), with the Mali-G610 MC4 GPU taking the upper hand (by a pretty big margin, according to the benchmarks). However, compared to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 of the phone (2), the CPU is about the same, but strictly behind, and the GPU is much slower – often 2x slower, but often 3x slower.
All three Nothing phones follow the same update schedule – 3 years for major OS updates and 4 years for security patches. The difference is that the Phone (1) is already in its second year (it started with Android 12 and recently got Android 14). The Phone (2) starts running Android 13, while the new (2a) model runs Android 14 out of the box.
Finally, the a-phone has the largest battery of the three phones at 5,000mAh (the original has 4,500mAh and the (2) has 4,700mAh). It supports (2) faster 45W wired charging, but no wireless charging.
With all this in mind, would you buy the Nothing Phone (2a)? You can find a phone (1) for about the same price, although stock of the new device was low where we checked. But the Phone (2a) is the better phone, except with wireless charging and no IP rating at all. As for the phone (2), even with the discount, the price is 200 euros more expensive.
No phone(1) • No phone(2)
what else? Nothing’s Android skin may be stylized, but it’s lighter than most. Google Pixel 7a sells for 300-350 euros, so basically the same as (2a). There’s only one configuration (8/128GB), and the 6.1-inch FHD+ display is smaller and slower (90Hz). Speaking of which, the Tensor G2 may not be your favorite chipset, but it is faster than the Dimensity 7200.
You also get a 64MP main camera (1/1.73”) and a 13MP ultra-wide angle (120°), as well as a 13MP selfie camera. The rear camera can record 4K @ 60fps video, and the phone is IP67 rated. The 4,385mAh battery is also smaller, Charging is slower at 18W, but it does have basic wireless charging at 7.5W. Google will provide 3 OS updates (the first has already been released) and 5 years of security patches.
Google Pixel 7a
There’s the Samsung Galaxy A34 and A54, but they’ll be replaced by the A35 and A55 soon, so let’s wait and see what they’re like.
HyperOS customizes Android further than Nothing OS. But if you like it, Poco X6 Pro is cheaper with the same storage capacity, and even the price of 12/512GB is similar to Nothing. It is powered by the faster Dimensity 8300 Ultra and features a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with higher resolution (1220p level) and 12-bit color. This product is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery with faster charging and 67W power, but it still only supports wired charging. It has IP54 dustproof and waterproof rating. However, the camera is not up to the level of a mobile phone (2a).
Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro
The price of Realme 12 Pro is similar and the price of 12 Pro+ is higher. The 6.7-inch FHD+ 10-bit 120Hz display on the Realme is comparable to Nothing and has an IP65 rating. However, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is slower and the 50MP main camera has a smaller sensor (1/2.0-inch), although it also comes with a 32MP 47mm portrait lens and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The 5,000mAh battery supports 67W wired charging.
Realme 12 Pro
We’re in the process of reviewing the Nothing Phone (2a), so expect to get more details about the company’s first true mid-range phone soon. Also, do you think you would be happy to buy this phone(2a)?