Nothing Phone 2a Review: Balancing Price and Performance

Nothing is back with its most affordable phone yet, the Phone 2a. This mid-ranger ditches some of the flashier features of its predecessors for a more competitive price tag. But does sacrificing a little bit of “wow” translate to a great value proposition?

Transparent Design with a Twist

The Phone 2a retains Nothing’s signature transparent back, but with a redesigned layout. The LED light show takes a backseat, with only three strips accenting the rear. It’s a cleaner look, but some might miss the customizability of the previous models. The recycled plastic back feels good in hand, but worrywarts will want a case to avoid scratches.

Striking a Balance on Specs

The Phone 2a is powered by a custom MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC, offering solid performance for everyday tasks. This phone won’t break any benchmarks, but it should handle multitasking and gaming just fine. Storage options range from 128GB to 256GB, but there’s no expandable microSD slot.

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display boasts a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and a thin bezel design. However, the in-display fingerprint sensor can be a bit finicky at times.

Camera System with Dual Focus

The Phone 2a sports a dual-camera system on the back, with a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. The front-facing camera boasts a respectable 32MP resolution. While it won’t compete with flagship phone cameras, the Phone 2a should capture decent photos in most lighting conditions.

Battery Life that Lasts

The 4500mAh battery with 45W fast charging keeps the Phone 2a powered throughout the day. A 30-minute charge gets you to 50%, perfect for those times you’re running low on juice.

Verdict: A Solid Mid-Ranger with a Unique Style

The Nothing Phone 2a offers a compelling combination of design, performance, and battery life at a competitive price point. While it scales back on some features compared to pricier Nothing phones, it makes a strong case for itself as a stylish and capable daily driver.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for a phone that stands out from the crowd with a unique design and offers good value for money, the Nothing Phone 2a is a great option. However, if you prioritize top-of-the-line specs or the most versatile camera system, you might want to look elsewhere.

Nothing Phone 2a Specs

Display

• Size: 6.7-inch
• Type: Flexible AMOLED
• Resolution: 1084 x 2412 pixels (FHD+)
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz
• Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass v5
• Aspect Ratio: 20:9
• Pixel Density: 395 ppi
• Screen to Body Ratio (claimed by the brand): 91.65%

Processor

• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 MT6886
• CPU: Octa-core (2.8 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A715 + 2 GHz, Hexa Core, Cortex A510)
• Architecture: 64-bit
• Fabrication: 4nm
• Graphics: Mali-G610 MC4

RAM

• 8GB LPDDR5

Storage

• 128GB or 256GB UFS 3.1
• No expandable microSD slot

Rear Camera

• Dual Camera
• Main: 50MP f/1.88, Wide Angle, Primary Camera(1.56″ sensor size)
• Ultra-Wide: 50MP f/2.2, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera(2.7″ sensor size, 0.64µm pixel size)
• Sensor: ISO-CELL
• Autofocus: Yes
• OIS: Yes
• Flash: Yes, LED Flash
• Video Recording: 3840×2160 @ 30 fps, 1920×1080 @ 60 fps

Front Camera

• Single Camera
• 32MP f/2.2, Wide Angle, Primary Camera(2.74″ sensor size)
• Sensor: Exmor RS
• Fixed Focus
• Video Recording: 1920×1080 @ 60 fps

Battery

• Capacity: 4500mAh
• Type: Li-ion
• Fast Charging: Yes, 45W: 50% in 23 minutes

Network & Connectivity

• Dual SIM (nano)
• GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz
• Bluetooth v5.3
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• NFC
• USB Type-C

Sensors

• Fingerprint sensor (in-display, optical)
• Light sensor
• Proximity sensor
• Accelerometer
• Compass
• Gyroscope

Other

• IP54 dust and water resistant
• Available colours: Black, White

Software

• Operating System: Android 14
• Custom UI: Nothing OS