Nothing Phone 2a Review: Affordable Excellence with Unique Flair

The Nothing Phone 2a offers a lot for just $349, featuring a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED screen, a 5,000 mAh battery, and a unique design.

Nothing Phone 2a Review: Budget Excellence with Mid-Range Perks

Nothing’s latest device, the Phone 2a, is branded as a mid-range handset. Its specs certainly support that claim: a 6.5-inch 120Hz OLED screen, up to 12GB of RAM, and a substantial 5,000 mAh battery. However, with a starting price of just $349, it sits comfortably in the budget category, making it even more enticing. In a market where manufacturers often skimp on features to meet budget constraints, the Phone 2a stands out by blending robust components with a distinctive design, offering a device that is both aesthetically pleasing and high in value. While there are a few drawbacks for potential buyers in the US, Nothing has managed to create a captivating alternative in a sea of monotonous budget phones.

Nothing Phone 2a: A Great Value with Good Looks

The Nothing Phone 2a proves that a budget phone can be both affordable and stylish, with a bright 120Hz OLED screen, excellent battery life, and a unique design.

PROS

Unique design
Great value
Lightweight
Surprisingly good performance

CONS

No 5G on AT&T or Verizon
No wireless charging
Storage limited to 256GB

Design and Display: Uniquely Striking

Nothing’s design language is instantly recognizable, drawing inspiration from ’90s retro gadgets with translucent plastic reminiscent of old Gameboys, but updated with a modern and cohesive finish. This transparency allows you to see some of its components, such as the NFC antennas (which form a disc around the rear cameras), without it becoming visually overwhelming. For the Phone 2a, Nothing has shifted its camera placement to the middle and rearranged its Glyph lights, giving the back a more expressive look, accentuated by a small red detail that adds a touch of color. The phone comes in both black and white color options.

Departing from its previous models, the Phone 2a features a polycarbonate back instead of glass. While this might initially seem like a downgrade, the Phone 2a exemplifies how premium plastic can feel when done right. Nothing claims that the phone’s subtly rounded edges wouldn’t be feasible with glass. While this design choice might not be a major selling point, it does provide a pleasant feel. Additionally, the plastic material contributes to a lighter weight, which is a welcome change from the heft of traditional glass smartphones. At just 6.7 ounces (190 grams), the Phone 2a is lighter than the Pixel 7a (6.82 ounces/193.5 grams) despite the latter having a smaller 6.1-inch display.

The 6.5-inch OLED screen of the Phone 2a is another highlight, offering vibrant colors and impressive brightness levels of around 700 nits during normal use, with peaks up to 1,300 nits. The only minor issue I encountered was with the in-screen fingerprint reader, which required a few attempts to get fully calibrated for consistent unlocking.

Performance: Exceptional Value for the Price

Nothing is challenging the norm by selecting a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip over the typical Qualcomm offerings. The base model comes with 8GB of RAM, but in the US, the Phone 2a is available exclusively with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Its Geekbench 6 scores of 1,123 (single-core) and 2,603 (multi-core) lag slightly behind the Pixel 7a’s scores of 1,442 and 3,639, respectively. However, in everyday use, the Phone 2a feels swift and responsive. The only minor hiccup is that scrolling through websites or social media may not be as smooth as on pricier devices. Nonetheless, unless you’re into hardcore mobile gaming, the Phone 2a offers ample performance for most tasks.

Cameras: Above Average for a Budget Phone

One of the main challenges for budget phone makers, especially smaller companies like Nothing, is competing with industry giants like Samsung and Google in terms of camera quality. However, the Phone 2a holds its own quite well. It performs admirably during the day, capturing photos that you’ll be proud to share on social media.

Both the main and ultra-wide cameras feature 50-megapixel sensors, delivering warm tones and slightly richer color saturation than what you get from a Pixel 7a. When zooming in, the Pixel 7a offers sharper images with more detailed textures. At night, where budget phones often struggle, the Phone 2a’s images are somewhat darker compared to the Pixel 7a’s but still very acceptable. Interestingly, in some instances, the Phone 2a produced less grainy night shots than Google’s device.

Battery Life: 5,000 mAh Goes a Long Way

The Phone 2a stands out in the budget category with its impressive 5,000 mAh battery. In our video rundown test, it clocked an exceptional 23 hours and 47 minutes, nearly matching the Nothing Phone 2’s 24:25 and far exceeding the Pixel 7a’s 17:41. Although it lacks wireless charging, which is typical for this price range, the Phone 2a supports wired charging at up to 45 watts, outperforming some flagship phones like the Pixel 8.

US Availability and Carrier Info

A notable downside for the Phone 2a is its availability in the US. While it’s easily accessible online in Europe, US customers need to enroll in Nothing’s Developer program to purchase it. This step is free and provides a direct purchase link. However, its 5G support is limited to T-Mobile’s N41 band, with no 5G access on AT&T or Verizon, diminishing its appeal for users on those networks.

In Short

The Phone 2a offers everything you’d expect from a quality budget device. It boasts a robust build with IP54 water resistance, a vibrant display, and excellent battery life. While its performance isn’t groundbreaking, it remains competitive against pricier rivals. What truly sets the Phone 2a apart is its unique design and personality, which are often sacrificed in budget phones. The Phone 2a not only maintains its distinctive aesthetic but also integrates thoughtful details like pseudo-analog sound effects and dot-matrix-inspired widgets. The main drawbacks are its limited availability in the US and restricted 5G support. Despite these issues, the Phone 2a remains a standout in the budget phone market for its design and value.