Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: A Solid Upgrade or Just More of the Same?
Nothing has been on a roll lately, consistently launching compelling smartphones across various price segments. We saw their sub-brand’s first smartphone, the CMF Phone 1, making waves in the budget market. Now, they’ve introduced the Nothing Phone 2a Plus, an upgrade to the already impressive Phone 2a, touting improvements in the camera, performance, and battery. Priced at ₹29,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB variant and ₹31,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB model, the question is: Is this Plus model worth the extra cost, or should you stick with the original Phone 2a? Let’s dive into this detailed review to find out.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Design: Nothing New Here
- Dimensions: 161.74 x 76.32 x 8.55mm
- Weight: 190g
- Colors: Grey and Black
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is, essentially, the Phone 2a wrapped in a new color option. Visually, there’s nothing to distinguish between them; it’s the same transparent look with the iconic Glyph interface dominating the top half of the rear panel. A horizontal camera module is centrally placed within the NFC coil.
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is available in Grey and Black colour options.
Nothing has introduced a new Grey color option, marking a slight departure from the original Phone 2a. However, there are no significant design changes to speak of. If you’re seeking an in-depth look at the design, we recommend checking out our Nothing Phone 2a Review for a comprehensive understanding.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Display: A Solid Performer
- Display: 6.7-inch Full HD+ flexible OLED display
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz screen refresh rate
- Other Features: 2160Hz PWM Dimming, HDR10+, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, 1,300nits peak brightness
The display on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is a mirror image of the Nothing Phone 2a’s screen. This isn’t necessarily a drawback, as the display performance is highly commendable. Colors are vibrant, and viewing angles are impressive.
The smartphone features vibrant display that delivers sharp colours.
The phone offers two distinct display modes: Standard and Alive. The latter, with its punchier colors, enhances smoothness. Watching "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" on Netflix showcased decent color reproduction, deep blacks, and pleasing low-light visuals with minimal grayscaling in darker scenes. The 120Hz dynamic refresh rate adds to the overall fluidity.
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus also houses an in-display fingerprint sensor that’s incredibly reliable and responsive. Additionally, it features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for durability, though its IP54 rating signifies limited resistance against water splashes.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Software: Clean and Distinctive
- Software: Nothing OS 2.6
- Version: Android 14
- Updates Promised: 3 Years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus runs on the latest Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14. Nothing has confirmed this model will receive the same software support as the Phone 2 and Phone 2a, meaning you can expect three years of OS updates and four years of security patches.
The company promises three years of Android update and four years of security patches for Nothing Phone 2a Plus
The user interface is the device’s stand-out feature. It’s completely bloatware-free, boasting a heavily customized and unique aesthetic that sets it apart from the competition. Nothing’s characteristic dot matrix font and overall design contribute to a cohesive look. There’s also the option to choose between Nothing’s styled theme and the standard Android theme.
The Glyph interface provides a high degree of personalization, enabling you to customize its functionality for notifications, calls, apps, battery status, and more. The AI wallpaper feature grants you the ability to create customized wallpapers. Beyond this, the OS houses an "Experimental Feature" that facilitates seamless pairing with Apple AirPods.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Performance: Excellent Thermal Management
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro
- Memory: Up to 12GB (LPDD4X)
- Storage: Up to 512GB (UFS 2.2)
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus introduces a new chipset, specifically designed for Nothing by MediaTek. It runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro processor, essentially an overclocked version of the Dimensity 7200 SoC. Nothing claims a 10 percent improvement in CPU tasks and up to 40 percent improvement in GPU tasks compared to the Dimensity 7200 Pro featured in the original Phone 2a.
| Benchmark | Nothing Phone 2a Plus | Honor 200 | Motorola Edge 50 Pro | iQOO Z9s Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 1204 | 1145 | 1142 | 1136 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 2658 | 3304 | 3124 | 3091 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 762,955 | 821,670 | 818,387 | 814328 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 12663 | 12,723 | 13,730 | 10460 |
| 3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | Maxed Out |
| 3DM Slingshot | 7243 | Maxed Out | 8393 | 8255 |
| 3DM Wild Life | 4779 | 5917 | 5394 | 5287 |
| 3DM Wild Life Unlimited | 5038 | 6043 | 5457 | 5428 |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 60 | 60 | 116 | 119 |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 58 | 59 | 61 | 74 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 35 | 38 | 32 | 40 |
In terms of everyday use, the phone feels remarkably smooth. App switching and gaming are handled effortlessly thanks to the phone’s powerful performance. Playing Call of Duty: Mobile on Very High Quality settings and maximum frame rate resulted in no noticeable frame drops. Remarkably, even during 45 minutes of intense gaming, the phone’s thermal management kept it from becoming excessively warm.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Cameras: Room for Optimization
- Rear: 50-megapixel Samsung GN9 sensor with f/1.88 aperture + 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 Ultra-Wide Camera
- Front: 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor with f/2.4 aperture
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus boasts camera improvements specifically in its selfie capabilities. It now features a 50-megapixel front-facing camera, a significant upgrade from the 32-megapixel sensor on the Phone 2a. However, the rear camera setup remains largely unchanged.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus daylight camera samples. (Tap on image to expand)
In daylight, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus delivers sharp, vibrant photos. Contrast and dynamic range are commendable. You can switch between Standard and Vivid modes, the latter utilizing AI for enhanced, Instagram-ready colors.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus ultra-wide camera samples. (Tap image to expand)
The ultrawide sensor, however, falls short. While color rendition is acceptable, details are somewhat lacking in daylight shots. Portrait mode performs well with accurate edge detection, and skin tones appear natural.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus low-light camera samples. (Tap to expand)
In low-light environments, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus performs adequately. Noise reduction is noticeable with Vivid mode, shadows are well-developed, and highlights are present. Colors appear natural during testing. However, with the ultrawide sensor, colors are washed out, and noise is particularly pronounced.
Selfie performance shows significant improvement. Daylight shots are impressive, with skin tones and textures closely mirroring reality, and plenty of detail. In low light, focus struggles, but you can still achieve a fair amount of detail.
Video quality is also satisfactory. The phone now supports 4K@30fps recording from the selfie camera, a welcome addition.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Battery: Impressive Endurance
- Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh (Dual-cell)
- Wired Charging: 50W SuperCharge
- Charger: Not Included
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus sports a similar 5,000mAh battery capacity to its predecessor. However, Nothing has upgraded the fast charging support to 50W, surpassing the Phone 2a’s 45W charging capabilities.
The handset comes loaded with a 5,000mAh battery and supports 50W fast charging.
The battery life is similarly impressive. During testing, the phone easily lasted for two days with normal to moderate usage. Under heavier use, it comfortably managed a full day without any significant issues. The phone achieved 22 hours and 38 minutes in our battery loop test. The absence of a charging brick in the box is a bit disappointing. Using a 68W fast charger, I tested the phone’s charging capabilities. It reached 30 percent charged in 15 minutes, 63 percent in 30 minutes, and took approximately 55 minutes for a full charge.
Nothing Phone 2a Plus Verdict
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus presents a compelling option in its price segment. It continues to showcase a unique design language that sets it apart from other brands. Compared to the Nothing Phone 2a, you’re getting roughly a 10 percent improvement in performance, charging speed, and front-facing camera capabilities. However, this comes with a slightly higher price tag.
The smartphone will face a stiff competition from OnePlus, Honor, and other phones.
If the price is a concern, the Phone 2a remains a strong value proposition at a starting price of ₹23,999. However, if you prioritize slightly better performance, improved cameras, and faster charging, the Phone 2a Plus is worth considering.
Concerning competition, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus faces stiff competition from devices like the Honor 200, Realme GT 6T, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, and OnePlus Nord 4, all of which are strong contenders in the market.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to opt for the Nothing Phone 2a Plus boils down to your individual needs and budget. If you’re seeking a phone with unique aesthetics, solid performance, and excellent battery life, the Phone 2a Plus offers a compelling package. However, if you’re budget-conscious and willing to compromise on some minor features, the Phone 2a might be a better fit.
