Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review
Nothing Phone 2a Plus offers a unique design, solid performance, and great value in a sleek mid-range device.
Nothing Phone 3 won’t launch until 2025, but fans have something to look forward to with the Nothing Phone 2a Plus, released in September 2024. It’s an upgraded version of the Phone 2a, which was already a hit for offering a premium design at an affordable price.
The Phone 2a Plus looks similar to the Phone 2a, with the same 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen and transparent back design. However, it’s faster with a better Dimensity 7350 Pro processor, which makes the phone run 10% faster and perform 30% better in graphics than the regular 2a.
The phone also charges a little quicker, with 50W charging (compared to the 45W on the 2a), and has a 50MP front camera for better selfies, compared to the 32MP camera on the standard 2a. The AI-supported ‘Vivid’ mode makes photos look even better.
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is not a big upgrade for those who already have the Phone 2a. Instead, it’s a great choice for new buyers who want a phone that’s close to the Nothing Phone 2 performance but at a lower price. However, you’ll still pay for Nothing’s unique design and the Glyph lighting on the back, which you don’t get with other phones in this price range.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Specifications
| 📱 Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 🔖 Model | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus |
| 📅 Release Date | 📢 Announced: July 31, 2024 🚀 Released: August 03, 2024 |
| 📏 Body | 📐 Dimensions: 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm ⚖️ Weight: 190g 🛡️ Build: Gorilla Glass 5 front, plastic frame & back 💾 SIM: Dual Nano-SIM |
| ✨ Special Features | 💡 3 LED light strips (notifications, camera fill) 💧 IP54 dust & splash resistant |
| 🔆 Display | 📺 AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+ 🔅 Brightness: 700 nits (typ), 1300 nits (peak) 📐 6.7 inches (~87.1% screen-to-body) 📲 1080 x 2412 pixels (~395 ppi) 🛡️ Gorilla Glass 5 🔄 Always-on Display |
| ⚙️ Operating System | 🤖 Android 14 with Nothing OS 3.0 ⏫ Up to 3 major Android upgrades |
| 💻 Processor (Chipset) | 🧠 MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4nm) ⚡ CPU: Octa-core (2×3.0 GHz + 6×2.0 GHz) 🎮 GPU: Mali-G610 MC4 |
| 💾 Memory & Storage | 🚫 No card slot 📂 256GB 8GB RAM or 256GB 12GB RAM |
| 📸 Main Camera | 🎯 Dual: 50 MP Wide (OIS) + 50 MP Ultrawide (114° FOV) 💡 LED Flash, HDR, Panorama 🎥 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| 🤳 Selfie Camera | 📸 50 MP Wide 🌈 HDR 🎥 4K@30fps |
| 🔊 Audio | 🔈 Stereo speakers ❌ No 3.5mm headphone jack |
| 🌐 Connectivity | 📶 Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band) 📡 Bluetooth 5.3 🗺️ GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS 📲 NFC (360°) 🔌 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 🧭 Sensors | 🔓 In-display fingerprint sensor 📍 Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass 🔎 Circle to Search |
| 🔋 Battery | 🔋 5000 mAh ⚡ 50W wired charging (50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min) |
| 🎨 Colors | ⚫ Black ⚪ Grey |
| 💰 Price | 🇮🇳 ₹24,270 🇬🇧 £319 🇪🇺 €383 |
| 🧪 Performance Tests | 📊 AnTuTu: 620,762 (v9), 774,023 (v10) 🧠 GeekBench: 2234 (v5), 2648 (v6) 🖥️ 3DMark: 1377 (Wild Life Extreme) |
| 🌞 Display Test | 🔆 Max Brightness: 1097 nits (measured) |
| 📢 Loudspeaker Test | 🎶 -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| ⏱️ Battery Life | 🔋 Active Use Score: 16 hours 48 minutes |
| 📡 Network Support | 📱 GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Price and Availability Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is priced at $399 / £399 / AU$639 and went on sale starting September 10, 2024. It’s available in a 12GB RAM / 256GB storage version, with some markets, like India, offering both 8GB and 12GB RAM options.
In the UK, the phone costs £399, which is £50 more than the original Nothing Phone 2a. The Phone 2a price has also been reduced recently, now at £329, making the 2a Plus cost about £70 more.
Here’s a quick comparison of prices:
- Nothing Phone 2a Plus (256GB): $399 / £399 / AU$639
- Nothing Phone 2a (256GB): $349 / £349 / AU$599
- Nothing Phone 2 (256GB): $699 / £699 / AU$1,149
In the US, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is currently only available through the Nothing Beta Program. This means it has a 14-day return policy and may not fully support all US carrier bands, which could cause some connectivity issues. If Nothing decides to launch the phone officially in the US, it will likely have better carrier support.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Design Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus sticks to the brand’s iconic design with a transparent polycarbonate back that shows off faux circuitry and diffused LEDs around the camera (known as the Glyph Interface). It also has a matte plastic frame, with the power button on the right side and large volume buttons on the left.
The phone’s design is very similar to the standard Phone 2a, but the 2a Plus comes in Black or Grey, with a reflective silver finish for the circuitry, making it look a bit more eye-catching and premium compared to the standard 2a’s simpler colors.
In terms of feel, the 2a Plus is surprisingly comfortable to use one-handed and feels well-built, despite being mostly made of polycarbonate. It resists scuffs and scratches well, but it does attract smudges. The phone also has an IP54 rating, meaning it’s protected against dust and can handle splashes of water, making it good for wet weather.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Display Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED screen that looks bright, colorful, and sharp. It has thin borders around the screen, making it look modern and clean. The screen covers most of the front, giving you a good viewing experience.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and also comes with a pre-installed screen protector. It can handle small scratches and drops. After using it for some time, I only saw a few light scratches, which is normal.
There’s a 50MP front camera in the middle at the top, and a fingerprint scanner under the screen near the bottom. However, the fingerprint sensor feels a bit slow and placed too low, which sometimes makes it tricky to unlock the phone quickly.
The screen quality is good with bright colors and deep blacks. It gets bright enough for outdoor use, with a peak brightness of 1,300 nits. Watching videos, scrolling, and gaming feels smooth because of the 120Hz refresh rate. But it doesn’t have the latest tech to save battery, so the refresh rate drops only to 30Hz when not needed.
You can also turn on Always-On Display and Night Light mode, which makes the screen easier on the eyes at night. There are two color modes – Alive and Standard – and you can adjust the color temperature, but the customization is limited.
Display is big, bright, and smooth. It’s good for daily use like watching videos, gaming, or browsing. The fingerprint scanner could be faster, but the screen is great for the price.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Software
Nothing Phone 2a Plus runs on Android 14 with Nothing OS 2.6. The software looks clean and simple, with black-and-white icons and widgets. It’s easy to use and feels smooth, especially because of the fast screen.
You can make big folders and large app icons, which makes everything easy to find. The built-in widgets also match the phone’s style and look cool.
One new feature is the AI News Widget. You can pick topics like sports, tech, or business. Every day, the AI reads the latest news to you. It’s fun to use, but the app doesn’t tell you where the news comes from, so you don’t know if it’s always accurate.
The phone also has the Glyph lights on the back. They flash for calls, messages, and other alerts. You can even create your own light patterns using the Glyph Composer app. If you don’t like the lights, you can turn them off.
Nothing is good at giving updates, adding new features, and fixing bugs. You can also try early versions of Android updates if you want.
For software support, the phone will get 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security updates. It’s good for a mid-range phone but less than what some bigger brands now offer.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Camera Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has the same dual 50MP rear cameras as the regular Phone 2a. It uses a Samsung GN9 sensor for the main camera and a Samsung JN1 sensor for the ultra-wide shots. The camera works well for photos and videos, just like the standard model.
The main upgrade is the front camera. Instead of a 32MP camera like the regular 2a, the Plus version gets a 50MP front camera. This means sharper selfies and you can also record 4K videos with the front camera, which is great for vlogs or video calls.
There’s also a new Vivid Mode that improves colors in real-time while you’re taking photos.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Performance Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus comes with a new and faster MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chip, which is better than the one used in the regular Phone 2a. It promises better speed and graphics, especially while gaming or running heavy apps.
In daily use, the phone runs smoothly and quickly, handling apps, social media, and games without any problem. You can choose between 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and there’s also a RAM Booster feature that gives you up to 20GB of total RAM by using extra storage as virtual memory. This helps keep more apps running in the background without slowing down.
For storage, there’s only one option – 256GB, and you can’t add a memory card. But 256GB is enough for most people to store apps, games, photos, and videos.
When it comes to gaming, 3D games run well at low settings. You can also increase the graphics for better visuals, but the phone might get a little warm after 20 to 30 minutes of play, which is normal. Thankfully, it has a cooling system inside to help manage the heat.
Lastly, stereo speakers sound great. The audio is clear, full, and even has a bit of bass, which is impressive for a phone in this price range.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Battery Review
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus has a 5,000mAh battery, which is one of the largest in the Nothing lineup. It also has the fastest charging yet, supporting 50W fast charging.
With 50W charging, the phone charges much faster than previous Nothing models. For example, it charges 40% in just 15 minutes and full charge in about 55 minutes. However, to reach this speed, you’ll need a 65W charger (sold separately). The charger included in the box is a USB-C cable with a transparent end, but no power adapter.
On a single charge, the battery lasts about 7 hours of screen-on time, which is enough for a day and a half of use for most people. Compared to the regular Phone 2a, which lasts about 6 hours and 45 minutes, the 2a Plus offers a small improvement in battery life.
Additionally, the battery is built to last longer, keeping 90% of its original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles, which is better than many competitors.
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Pros and Cons of Nothing Phone 2a Plus
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| 🌟 Unique design with useful Glyph Interface | 📦 No charger included in the box |
| 📱 Bright OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate and HDR | 🧽 Back gets dirty easily and is hard to clean |
| 🔋 Long battery life and fast 50W charging | 🎮 High refresh rate gaming is not well supported |
| 💻 Clean and smooth software with no bloat | 🚫 No eSIM support |
| 🚀 Strong performance with no overheating | 🚫 |
| 📸 Good camera with video stabilization and night mode | 🚫 |
Conclusion
2a Plus is a small upgrade that no one really asked for, but it turns out to be the best value Nothing Phone right now. You’re paying for the unique Nothing design and experience, but overall, it’s a solid mid-range phone.
