Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus Review: A Balanced Midrange Device

The Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus is a well-rounded midrange device that hits the sweet spot between affordability and performance. It's available in two variants, the 2a and the 2a Plus, with the main difference being the latter's additional 2GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The design of the Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus is sleek and minimalist, with a transparent back that showcases the phone's internal components. This unique design element adds a touch of personality to the device.

The phone's display is a 6.55-inch OLED panel with a 1080 x 2400 resolution, offering crisp and vibrant visuals. It's a great option for watching videos, browsing the web, or simply enjoying your favorite games.

In terms of performance, the Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor, which provides smooth and efficient performance for everyday tasks.

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The Nothing Phone 2a and 2a Plus have some really interesting design and display features. The devices come with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, which is big and vibrant, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

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One of the standout features of the display is its peak brightness of 1,300 nits, which is incredibly high and allows for great visibility even in sunny outdoor settings. This is especially useful when taking pictures outdoors.

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a slightly higher peak brightness than the standard 2a model, with 1027 nits compared to 1045 nits. However, both devices have good brightness min values, with the 2a Plus at 2 and the 2a at 1.9.

In terms of color accuracy, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a Delta E rgbcmy value of 1.98, which is excellent. The standard 2a model has a slightly higher value of 1.97, but still excellent.

Here's a comparison of the display features of the Nothing Phone 2a, 2a Plus, Google Pixel 8a, and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G:

The Nothing Phone 2a and 2a Plus also have a minimalist design, which is reflected in the lack of bloatware and the simple aesthetic. The devices have a gray and black color scheme, which is designed to be calming and boring at the same time. You can change the look and feel of the phone in the settings, but it's not a major customization option.

The display on the Nothing Phone 2a and 2a Plus is quite impressive. The screen measurements show that the Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a maximum brightness of 1027, which is considered good.

The color charts reveal some interesting differences between the two phones. The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a color temperature of 6768, while the Nothing Phone 2a has a slightly higher color temperature of 6785.

Here's a breakdown of the display measurements for each phone:

The color gamut, color accuracy, and grayscale accuracy are also worth noting. The Nothing Phone 2a and 2a Plus both perform well in these areas.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus packs a punch when it comes to performance. It uses the MediaTek 7350 Pro system on a chip (SoC) that tops out at 3.0GHz, along with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB (UFS 2.2) of non-expandable internal storage.

In Geekbench 6, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus scored 1,202 on the single-core test and 2,608 on the multi-core test. These results are comparable to the Samsung Galaxy A35, which uses the Exynos 1380 SoC.

Here's a comparison of the Phone (2a) Plus's performance in various benchmarks:

The Phone (2a) Plus also performed well in the PCMark Work 3.0 test, scoring 13,860 and outperforming both the Galaxy A35 and Pixel 8a in general mobile tasks.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has some impressive performance numbers. It scored 1,205 on Geekbench 6's single-core test and 2,672 on the multi-core test, making it a strong contender in the market.

The phone's MediaTek 7350 Pro system on a chip (SoC) is a key factor in its performance. This SoC is exclusive to Nothing and tops out at 3.0GHz, paired with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM.

In the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus scored 2,672, outperforming the Samsung Galaxy A35's 2,790 score.

The phone's performance in the PCMark Work 3.0 test was also noteworthy, with a score of 13,860. This is higher than the Galaxy A35's 11,785 score and the Pixel 8a's 11,982 score.

Here's a comparison of the phone's performance in various benchmarks:

In real-world gaming performance, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus performed well, even at high settings and 60fps, without dropping a single frame.

In our battery test, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus lasted 14 hours and 4 minutes while web browsing. The Google Pixel 8a, on the other hand, managed 13 hours and 53 minutes.

The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G took the lead in our web browsing test, lasting 17 hours and 7 minutes. This is a significant difference, especially considering the larger battery size of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.

Here are the battery test results for web browsing, video streaming, and 3D gaming:

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus had a significant advantage in our 15-minute charging test, reaching 37% battery life. The Google Pixel 8a, on the other hand, only managed 22% in the same time frame.

The Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus has a battery that's sure to last you all day. With a massive 5,000mAh battery, you can expect around 11 hours and 20 minutes of continuous video streaming at full brightness.

You can also charge this phone quickly, thanks to its 50W wired fast charging support. In fact, it takes just 65 to 70 minutes to go from 0% to 100%. But if you're in a hurry, a 15-minute charge will bring the battery to 34%, while a 30-minute session will take it to 63%.

Here's a quick comparison of the battery performance of the Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus with other phones:

The camera on the Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus is quite impressive, with a triple 50MP camera system that delivers crisp details and natural colors.

The main camera has optical image stabilization, which helps reduce blur and shaky images. The ultra-wide camera has a 114-degree field of view, making it perfect for capturing expansive landscapes.

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You can opt for full-resolution photos from the camera app, but by default, the main and ultra-wide cameras capture 12.5MP pixel-binned images, which still look great.

I noticed a slight difference in images taken with the Natural and Vivid modes, but nothing drastic. The Vivid mode does provide automatic fixes in real time, which can enhance color layering in the sky.

Ultra-wide photos look good, and the distortion corrections keep the sides in check for a natural look. Shadowy areas can be a bit dark, but overall, they're fine.

The Glyph lights on the back can even be used as a fill light in especially dark situations, although they don't add much brightness.

The front-facing camera leaves Beauty Mode off by default, which is helpful for those who prefer a natural look.

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The Nothing Phone 2a Plus ships with Android 14 and Nothing OS 2.6, which is a solid foundation for a great user experience.

Nothing promises three years of software updates and four years of security updates, but some competitors offer more.

The Samsung Galaxy A35 offers four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, while the Pixel 8a gets a class-leading seven years of OS updates, feature drops, and security fixes.

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus's software updates are good but not great compared to other options.

Nothing has revised Game Mode with new features like quick access to the game dashboard during gameplay and support for one-tap callback after rejecting a call.

This mode also locks screen brightness to prevent accidental changes during intense gaming sessions.

The Nothing OS 2.6 launcher offers a stark black-and-white aesthetic that I personally find refreshing, as it makes you slow down and be more mindful.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has some notable pros. For $399, you get a distinct design, a big, bright screen, and quick wired charging.

One of the phone's strengths is its performance, thanks to a combination of a MediaTek 7350 processor and 12GB of RAM. This makes it a capable device for everyday use.

However, the phone's limited availability and 5G connectivity might be deal breakers for some people. Samsung's Galaxy A35 5G and Google Pixel 8a offer comparable performance and reliable 5G for the same price, making them worth considering.

The call quality of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus could also use some improvement. During test calls, my voice sounded muffled, even in a quiet room.

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The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has a distinct design, a big, bright screen, and quick wired charging for $399. It also performs well, thanks to its combination of a MediaTek 7350 processor and 12GB of RAM.

The phone's limited availability and 5G connectivity are likely deal breakers for many people. Samsung's Galaxy A35 5G and Google Pixel 8a offer comparable performance and reliable 5G for the same price.

Call quality on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus could use some improvement, as my voice sounded muffled even in a quiet room during a voicemail test. Background noises were audible, but quieter than my voice.

The speakerphone reached 72.0dB, while the earpiece speaker hit 62.8dB during test calls. I find that volumes at or above 70dB are easy to hear, even with moderate background noise.

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is a solid option, but it's not without its drawbacks. For $399, you get a distinct design, a big, bright screen, and quick wired charging. However, its limited availability and 5G connectivity might be deal breakers for many.

The phone's call quality could use some improvement, as my voice sounded muffled even in a quiet room during my test calls. Background noises were audible, though quieter than my voice.

If you're in the US, you'll have to order the phone through Nothing's Developer Program, which might not be a big deal for some. But if you're just looking for a decent, affordable phone, the 2a Plus likely isn't a fit.

At $399, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is worth the price for some, but not for everyone. It can handle most things you throw at it during normal use, and it has a two-day battery life.

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The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is available directly from Nothing in the US for $399, a $50 increase over the previous model.

You can't find it at retailers like Best Buy or through your carrier in the US.

In the UK, the Phone 2a Plus costs £399.

The India-only variant has 8 GB of RAM, unlike the 12 GB in models sold elsewhere.

The Phone 2a Plus is IP54 rated, which is a measure of its durability.

It's worth noting that Nothing has said it'll disclose info about availability in other markets in September.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a compelling device, but its 5G compatibility issues hold it back. Its standout design is hard to ignore, making it a great option for Nothing fans who prefer bigger phones.

If you're in the market for a new phone and are drawn to the Nothing brand, this might be a good choice. However, its 5G issues should be carefully considered.

The phone's perky performance and fast charging capabilities are definite positives. This phone is a great option for those who want a powerful device with a stylish design.

Here are some key takeaways to consider:

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has some major drawbacks. Unfortunately, none of the improvements address any of the issues from the previous model.

The phone is not being sold at retail in the US, and you can only get it through Nothing's developer program for $399. However, it's not designed to run on US wireless networks, which is a significant limitation.

Camera performance on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is subpar. The phone struggles with dynamic range, often blowing out highlights and making mid tones too bright.

The rear camera experience is unchanged from the original Phone 2a, and it's simply not up to par with other midrange phones. The Pixel 8a, for example, is available on sale for the same price and has much better camera performance.

The glossy, transparent plastic used for the rear panel of the Phone 2a Plus is a design choice that's more about looks than durability. It collects smudges and scratches easily, which can be frustrating to deal with.

Nothing's commitment to updates is also underwhelming. The phone comes with Android 14, and Nothing is promising three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. However, this is not impressive compared to other phones in the same price range, such as the $300 Samsung Galaxy A25.

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The Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus is a feature-packed device with some impressive specs. It's available in various configurations, including a 12 GB / 256 GB model that costs $399.

The phone has a 6.7-inch OLED display with 2412 x 1080 resolution, and it's capable of producing 1300 nits of peak brightness.

It's powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro processor, which promises a 10% boost in performance compared to the previous generation.

The phone runs on Nothing OS 2.6, which is based on Android 14.

The camera setup is quite impressive, with three 50 MP cameras - one main, one ultra-wide, and one selfie camera.

The battery life is decent, with a 5,000 mAh capacity and 50W fast charging support.

Here's a quick rundown of the phone's key specs:

The phone's dimensions are 6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 inches, and it weighs 6.70 oz (190.0 g).

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Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a significant addition to the company's expanding smartphone portfolio.

Nothing seems to be on a roll lately, having unveiled the Nothing CMF Phone 1 just four months ago.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a notable follow-up to the previous model, building on the momentum established by its predecessors.

Nothing has been busy expanding its smartphone lineup, with the Nothing CMF Phone 1 being a notable recent release.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus review suggests that the company is committed to innovation and progress in the smartphone industry.

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If you're not satisfied with your Nothing Phone 2a/2a Plus, you can return it.

The return policy is not explicitly mentioned in the article, but you can contact the manufacturer or retailer for more information.

You'll want to check the condition of your phone before returning it, as the article mentions it feels light and balanced, comfy to use.

It's also worth noting that the display is pretty, which might be a consideration when deciding whether to return the phone.

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If you do decide to return the phone, be sure to inspect it carefully before sending it back to ensure it's in the same condition as when you received it.

The return process may vary depending on the retailer or manufacturer, so be sure to follow their specific instructions.

You can also consider selling or trading in your phone, but that's not mentioned in the article.

The article does mention the different specs and features of the phone, which might be helpful when deciding whether to return it or not.

Here are some of the specs mentioned in the article: