April 3, 2024, 2:28 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
With the Phone (2a), the company Nothing aims to introduce a new mid-range smartphone to the market. The company remains true to its previous concept.
After the British company Nothing has already launched two smartphone generations, it is now taking slightly new paths with the Nothing Phone (2a). While the Phone 1 was a solid mid-range device, the Nothing Phone 2 marked a clear step toward a flagship model. This meant more features but also a higher price. The Nothing Phone (2a), however, takes a step back in this regard. With a starting price of 329 euros, the smartphone targets a different audience and aims to offer an affordable entry point–after all, Nothing also offers its own interface and a unique look. TECHBOOK tested the Nothing Phone (2a).
This Is What the Smartphone Looks Like
Visually, the new Nothing Phone (2a) clearly follows its predecessors, especially the Phone (1). The standout feature is, of course, the back of the case. As is typical for the brand, it is transparent, allowing you to see into the smartphone to some extent. This is particularly important for the Glyph lighting to be effective.
Additionally, the back of the Nothing Phone (2a) is made of plastic rather than glass. This makes the entire device slightly lighter–it weighs 190 grams–and naturally feels different to the touch compared to the glass back of its predecessors. Primarily, it feels a bit less premium, but not at all bothersome. However, the material also made the case more prone to fingerprints, which was not particularly noticeable on our white test model but is more apparent on the black version. On the plus side, the edges are slightly more rounded, making the phone comfortable to hold.
The previously mentioned Glyph lighting on the Nothing Phone (2a) is only used in the upper area of the back around the camera in this model. The special feature of the Glyph lighting is that users can customize it to the phone’s functions. The lower part of the back, however, shows a stylized flat cable, which serves only an aesthetic purpose.
Technical Specifications of the Nothing Phone (2a)
Speaking of the display: It is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 2412 x 1084 pixels, which is more comparable to the Nothing Phone (2). In the test, the good sharpness and high viewing angle stability of the device stood out–not a given in this price range. Also noteworthy are the uniform display edges on all four sides. Comparable devices usually have a “chin” at the bottom edge for the display connection. Otherwise, the panel is impressive: refresh rates up to 120 Hz are possible with a maximum brightness of 1300 nits.
Inside the Nothing Phone (2a) is the Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro 5G. The octa-core chip, manufactured using a 4-nm process, reaches a maximum clock speed of 2.8 GHz. Combined with 12 gigabytes of RAM, this results in sufficiently fast performance, allowing all essential applications to run smoothly and making it possible to play moderately demanding games on the device.
A highlight, however, is the battery. It has a capacity of 5000 mAh, which can be recharged very quickly with 45 watts and easily lasts for more than a day–even longer with moderate use.
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How Good Is the Camera?
The Nothing Phone (2a) features a dual camera on the back, with one of the lenses offering an ultra-wide-angle camera and an aperture of f/2.2. The main camera, on the other hand, has an aperture of f/1.88 and includes optical image stabilization. Both cameras also offer 50 MP, with images being captured at 12.5 megapixels by default. The front camera, meanwhile, still boasts 32 MP.
For its price range, the Nothing Phone (2a) takes decent to good photos. The night mode also impressed in the test. However, the details left something to be desired, especially with digital zoom. The images taken with the main camera were particularly convincing. Notable AI features are not included, but they are not necessarily needed.
Price, Availability, and Contents of the Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing is releasing its Phone (2a) in black, milky white, and white. The device is available in two storage sizes. The version with 128 GB costs 329 euros, while the larger one with 256 GB is still a moderate 379 euros.
Out of the box, the Nothing Phone (2a) comes with Android 14 and its own interface, Nothing OS. This is adapted to the company’s general aesthetic and minimalist approach. Unfortunately, Nothing seems to apply this policy to its updates as well, which are only available for four years. The package does not include a power adapter, but it does come with a short USB-C to USB-C cable. As with other models, Nothing also includes a SIM tray ejector.
With the release of the Nothing Phone (2a), production of the Phone (1) will be discontinued. This makes sense, as the devices would otherwise directly compete with each other. The risk does not exist with the Nothing Phone (2) due to its functionality and higher price segment.