Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: Don’t get the wrong one

Nothing has created a buzz in the tech community with its innovative smartphone designs. After successfully releasing its first phone in 2022, the Nothing Phone 2 hit the scene in 2023 to rave reviews. Fast forward to 2024, and we now have the Nothing Phone 2a.

Both phones offer unique aesthetics and powerful performance, but how do they compare to each other? In this article, we’ll compare the two Nothing Phones by examining their design, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more.

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: specs

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: design and display

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The Nothing Phone 2 was launched worldwide in mid-2023, and the Nothing Phone 2a was revealed and released on a limited basis in March 2024. The former is a mid-priced smartphone, while the latter is more affordable. The price difference means the Nothing Phone 2 has more features and capabilities than the budget model, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Building on the groundwork laid by the Nothing Phone 1, the Nothing Phone 2 elevates the design aesthetics to a new level. It enhances the transparent back design with more visual elements to show and integrate with the phone’s functionality – like visual notifications and charging indicators. The build quality is upgraded with premium materials, including aluminum and Gorilla Glass, offering a more sophisticated feel.

The Nothing Phone 2 features an impressive 6.7-inch flexible LTPO AMOLED display. It offers a peak pixel brightness of 1,600 nits and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that can go down to as low as 1Hz. This feature is great for conserving battery life and is perfect for displaying static content like images and menus or reading text. The phone also has a pixel resolution of 2412 x 1080 and a pixel density of 394 ppi.

Nothing’s phones are known for the Glyph interface, which is present in this model. The interface consists of LED lights on the back of the phone that display various notifications, battery status, musical visualization, and other relevant information. The Nothing Phone 2 has 33 individually addressable zones and 11 light strips, an improvement from the first Nothing Phone.

The Nothing Phone 2a retains the signature design elements that made its predecessor stand out, including the transparent back that showcases the device’s inner workings. However, it introduces slight tweaks to provide a fresh look while maintaining a sturdy build. The frame is constructed from a durable polymer compound, contributing to the phone’s lightweight feel without compromising strength.

The Phone 2a features a 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Although it has a slightly lower peak brightness (1,300 nits) and a worse minimum refresh rate (30Hz) than the Nothing Phone 2, it still delivers an impressive 2412 x 1084 pixel resolution with 394 ppi.

The Nothing Phone 2a’s Glyph interface has 26 individually addressable zones and three light strips, which still provides a pleasant experience, although perhaps not as enjoyable as the Nothing Phone 2.

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: performance and battery

The Nothing Phone 2 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, making it a strong contender among flagship devices. This powerful processor delivers seamless performance, making it capable of handling heavy gaming, multitasking, and high-performance applications without any issues.

On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 2a is powered by the midrange MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, designed to balance performance and efficiency. It can easily handle everyday tasks such as browsing social media and light gaming.

The Nothing Phone 2a has a slightly bigger battery, 5000 mAh, compared to the Nothing Phone 2’s 4700 mAh battery. However, both phones can last up to a day on a single charge. While both models support up to 45W wired charging, only the Nothing Phone 2 supports wireless and reverse charging.

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: cameras

The Nothing Phone 2 and Nothing Phone 2a have almost identical camera systems inside, with a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a 32MP selfie camera. However, the physical locations of the back camera systems of each phone are different.

The Nothing Phone 2 has a dual rear camera system arranged vertically on the left side, while the Nothing Phone 2a has its rear cameras in the center of its back. Neither phone will blow you away with its camera performance, but for everyday, casual shooting, they can each hold their own just fine.

It should be noted that flagship devices such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra each feature triple camera systems on the back side, giving users more options than those using either Nothing Phones.

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: price and availability

The Nothing Phone 2 comes with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, plus 8GB or 12GB of RAM. It is available in black or white and can be shipped to various regions worldwide, including the U.S. The phone’s price starts at $599, though you may be able to find discounts.

The newer Nothing Phone 2a offers 128GB or 256GB of storage and 8GB or 12GB of RAM. It’s initially only available in the U.K. and India, with a starting price of around $405. The phone comes in black, white, and a third color called “milk.” Nothing is technically offering the Nothing Phone 2a in the U.S. through a developer program, though this is intended solely for app developers wanting to adapt their apps for Nothing’s Glyph Interface.

Nothing Phone 2a vs. Nothing Phone 2: verdict

The Nothing Phone 2a may become available worldwide in the future, but currently, it’s harder to obtain than the superior and more expensive Nothing Phone 2. Nonetheless, both phones have received positive feedback for their distinctive appearance, impressive internal components, great camera systems, and more.

If you’re in the market for an Android phone not made by Google or Samsung, you’ll be pleased with either of the Nothing phones discussed here. If you desire all the features that Nothing has to offer, then the Nothing 2 is the perfect choice. It has a better processor, is made with more premium materials, supports wireless charging, and has a slightly improved display. Depending on where you live, it may also be the only one you can easily purchase.

However, if you reside in an area where the Nothing 2a is available and want to save some money, it’s an equally great option to consider. If not, the Nothing Phone 2 is your default choice.