The Nothing Phone 2a is a mid-range smartphone with a unique transparent back design and a clean software experience. It offers a good balance of features for the price, making it a compelling option for those looking for a stylish and capable phone without breaking the bank.
Eye-Catching Design
The most striking feature of the Phone (2a) is its transparent back. The transparent back reveals glimpses of the phone’s internal components, accented by customizable LED strips that light up for notifications and other alerts. This “Glyph Interface” can be set to different lighting patterns and animations, making the phone truly one-of-a-kind. However, some reviewers have found the design to be a bit too divisive [2].
Clean and Smooth Performance
The Phone (2a) is powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, which is paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. This combination provides smooth performance for everyday tasks like browsing the web, checking social media, and streaming videos. While it can handle gaming, don’t expect top-of-the-line performance for graphically demanding titles.
The phone runs Nothing OS, a clean and bloatware-free version of Android 14. Nothing OS is praised for its minimalist aesthetic and focus on user experience [7]. With only a few pre-installed apps, you get more storage space and a less cluttered experience out of the box.
Solid Cameras
The Phone (2a) features a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultrawide sensor. The camera system takes decent photos in good lighting conditions, with good color reproduction and detail. However, low-light performance is just average [7]. The front-facing camera is 32MP, which is great for selfies and video calls.
Other Notable Features
- Display: The Phone (2a) boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes for a smooth and immersive viewing experience, whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or browsing the web.
- Battery Life: The Phone (2a) packs a 5000mAh battery, which should easily last you a full day on a single charge. It also supports 45W fast charging, which can quickly top up your battery when you’re running low on juice.
- Water Resistance: The Phone (2a) has an IP54 water resistance rating, which means it can withstand splashes and light dust. However, it’s not fully waterproof, so avoid submerging it in water.
Should You Buy It?
The Nothing Phone (2a) is a solid mid-range option with a unique design, clean software, and a capable camera system. It offers good value for the price, especially if you’re looking for a phone that stands out from the crowd. However, if you’re a power user who needs the absolute best performance or camera quality, you might want to consider other options.
Here’s a quick recap of the pros and cons to help you decide:
Pros:
- Unique transparent design
- Clean and bloatware-free software
- Smooth 120Hz AMOLED display
- Good battery life with fast charging
- Decent camera system
Cons:
- Design might be polarizing
- No microSD card slot for expandable storage
- Average low-light camera performance
- No headphone jack
Overall, the Nothing Phone (2a) is a stylish and capable mid-range smartphone that offers a good balance of features for the price. If you’re looking for a phone that’s a bit different from the rest, the Phone (2a) is definitely worth considering.
Availability and Price
The Nothing Phone (2a) is available in several colors, including black, white, and transparent. Prices typically range from $419.99 to $615.00, depending on storage capacity and retailer [2]. Here are some specific options available online:
- Nothing Phone (2a) 128gb 8gb Ram (factory Unlocked) 6.7″ 50mp (global) for $379.99 [3].
- Nothing Phone (2a) 5G Dual Sim 256GB Black (12GB RAM) at Etoren.com for $446.00 [4].
- Nothing Phone (2a) – 12GB Ram – 256GB Storage – Milky for $575.00 [5].
Comparisons to Competitors
The two main competitors to the Nothing Phone (2a) are the Google Pixel 7a and the iPhone SE. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 7a | iPhone SE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $419.99 – $615.00 | ~$449 (expected) | $429 |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro | Likely Google Tensor 2 | A15 Bionic |
| Display | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.1-inch OLED, 90Hz | 4.7-inch IPS LCD, 60Hz |
| Camera | 50MP main + 50MP ultrawide | Likely 50MP main + 12MP ultrawide | 12MP rear, 7MP front |
| Battery | 5000mAh with 45W fast charging | Likely 4470mAh with fast charging | 1821mAh with fast charging |
| Software | Nothing OS (Android 14) | Stock Android 14 | iOS 16 |
The Pixel 7a is expected to offer a superior camera system and a cleaner software experience, while the iPhone SE will be the most compact and affordable option. However, the Nothing Phone (2a) boasts a unique design, a larger display with a higher refresh rate, and longer battery life.
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Design: Do you love the transparent back with the customizable LED strips, or do you find it to be a gimmick?
- Performance: Are you a casual user or a power user? If you’re a gamer or someone who needs the absolute best performance, you might want to consider a different phone.
- Camera: How important is camera quality to you? The Phone (2a) takes decent photos in good lighting, but low-light performance is just average.
- Software: Do you prefer a clean and bloatware-free software experience, or do you need a lot of customization options?