| Dimensity 7200 Pro chip | 12GB RAM/256GB Storage | 6.7" AMOLED 120 HZ display | 50MP+50MP rear cameras |
| 32MP front camera | 5,000 mAh battery | 45W charging support | Nothing OS 2.5/Android 14 |
Navigating the world of Android smartphones isn't exactly straightforward. At the high end, you have loads of premium features, from foldable screens to built-in pens and ultra-zoom cameras.
But in the mid-range category, it's often a different story, with compromises and uninspired designs.
Well, that's where London-based smartphone maker Nothing steps in, aiming to inject some excitement into the scene with their unique phones and accessories.
And now, they've brought their latest creation, the Nothing Phone 2a, to India. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, and I'm ready to share my thoughts on this very intriguing device.
Nothing isn’t new to the smartphone game, but with the Phone 2a, they’ve made some noticeable adjustments from their past models.
The most significant change is the price. The Nothing Phone 2a price starts at Rs. 23,999 Rupees, making it distinctly more accessible in terms of cost.
The 8GB RAM with 256GB storage variant is available for Rs. 25,999, while the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model can be yours for Rs. 27,999.
The packaging of the Nothing Phone 2a is a cut above the rest, leaving a remarkable first impression in a sea of generic boxes.
This attention to detail also extends to the included USB cable and the sim tool, all matching the phone's semi-transparent aesthetic.
I've been sent the black variant of the Nothing phone 2a, which I find does a better job of showcasing the phone's internals than the white option.
But, regardless of the colour you choose, the back panel tends to attract dust quite easily and is prone to picking up scratches.
Now, the most apparent change from the previous Nothing phones is the positioning of the rear camera module.
The Phone 2a features a horizontally aligned dual-camera setup, housed in an elevated, pill-shaped module.
It's one of the more quirkier camera designs I've seen on a smartphone and it kinda reminds me of the minions from Despicable Me.
Unlike the Nothing Phone 2, this one is constructed from plastic rather than metal and glass. The glyph interface LEDs have been streamlined too, now encircling the camera module at the top with just three strips.
And honestly, that’s all you really need, as these LEDs still manage to deliver one heck of a light show. You can use it for timers, volume adjustments, and even music playback.
Look, I'll admit that even after three generations of Nothing phones, this feature still feels gimmicky. But at the same time, it adds a fun and unique element to the device.
I genuinely enjoy the surprise reactions when the phone's back lights up unexpectedly, and I really love flipping the phone upside down and watching the lights illuminate.
Also Read: CMF Neckband Pro & CMF Buds by Nothing: First Impressions
While the glyph lights on the back are entertaining, I found the improvements on the front of the phone to be far more compelling.
You see, one of the biggest improvements introduced with last year's Nothing Phone 2 was the deep integration of its design into the software, a trend that pleasingly continues with the Phone 2a.
Powered by Nothing OS 2.5 and built on Android 14, this interface is all about simplicity and elegance.
It embraces a distinguished digital aesthetic, offering a blend of retro charm with dot matrix elements alongside a futuristic vibe with its clever use of colour on a predominantly monochrome palette.
Now, it can be styled to look just like regular Android, but it encourages you to fill your home screen with big folders and widgets for a much more interesting experience
As for software policy, the Nothing Phone 2a will be getting three Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches.
This doesn't quite reach the level of support provided by Samsung or Google which are a bit pricier, but it's still better than most in this price bracket.
Now, let's turn our attention to the hardware, and it's worth noting that the Phone 2a has skillfully balanced its specifications to produce a device that's not only attractive but also well-equipped.
Take the 6.7-inch AMOLED display, for instance. It boasts a 120-Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 1,300 nits.
In my testing, I had no issues reading the screen outdoors, and with its 2K resolution, the display is not only sharp but also feels responsive.
It delivers the most satisfying haptic feedback I've felt in any smartphone within the sub 25,000 Rupees range, giving precise tactile responses exactly where you tap.
The screen quality is great for video playback too, and the inclusion of a powerful stereo speaker setup is a definite advantage.
Performance is another highlight of this phone. I didn't encounter any hiccups, whether I was flipping between apps or gaming on Call of Duty mobile at medium settings.
The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset under the hood is a real workhorse, holding its own in benchmarks.
I've been using the 8GB RAM, 256GB storage model, but for those craving a bit more firepower, there's a 12GB RAM version as well.
Nothing has also equipped a 5,000-mAh battery into the Phone 2a, providing excellent endurance. Even on days filled with heavy usage, I frequently found myself with 30 percent battery life by bedtime.
On lighter days, the battery level typically hovered around 50 percent by the end of the day, comfortably stretching into a portion of the next day on just a single charge.
Talking about charging, I should point out that the box does not come with a charger. However, when I used a 45W third-party adapter, I was able to achieve a full charge in approximately one hour.
(The camera samples can be found in the video)
Then Nothing Phone 2a features three cameras in total: a pair of 50-megapixel lenses on the rear and a 32-megapixel selfie camera, offering performance that closely matches that of the pricier Nothing Phone 2.
The main camera snaps pretty solid photos with nice dynamic range. The colors come out looking quite natural, and it handles high-contrast situations pretty well.
Portrait shots turned out nice too, with sharp edge detection and a pleasing background blur.
The ultra-wide camera produces decent photos, though images can appear soft around the edges and the colors don't match with the main camera's output.
A notable miss is the lack of a telephoto lens, which means zoomed-in shots beyond 2x will lack detail. Overall, I wouldn't label it the top camera system in its class but it's dependable for your daily photography requirements.
The Nothing Phone 2a is a thoroughly reliable device that's ready to keep pace with your demands and look great while doing so.
And sure, it faces stiff competition from numerous similarly priced models in the market, such as the Poco X6 Pro and the Redmi Note 13 Pro, among others, many of which provide similar or superior performance.
Yet, the Nothing Phone 2a distinguishes itself with its unique design and fun software, qualities not often found in the mid-range segment.
I think it will be an easy pick for most people, whether they're on a tight budget or have the flexibility to spend more.
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