Technology

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Review: What Phone (2a) Should’ve Been

Published

2 weeks ago

August 1, 2024

At a glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

Distinctive metallic design
Powerful chipset that’s great for gaming
Impressive selfie camera
Affordable price

Cons

Design may be too flashy for some
No charger included in the box
No wireless charging

Our Verdict

Despite a new design and extra performance, the Phone (2a) Plus retains an affordable price tag, making it a top recommendation. But I can’t help but feel that this is what the Phone (2a) should have been from the beginning, and that the Plus model doesn’t need to exist.

I was excited to get my hands on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, a sibling to the popular Phone (2a). This was mostly down to the design, to be perfectly honest.

With less than six months on the market (at the time of writing), Phone (2a) now gets a more premium companion aimed at gamers and performance enthusiasts.

Nothing wants to make it clear that this is not a successor but a complementary model with a refreshed design and upgraded internals.

But with just an £80 price difference in the UK, can both phones co-exist in the competitive mid-range market? I spent a week testing the Phone (2a) Plus to find out just how good it is.

Design & Build

Attractive metallic finish
Distinctive ‘Glyph’ rear lights
Semi-transparent back

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus stands out with its new metallic design scheme, featuring see-through elements enhanced with a shiny silver treatment on the model I tested. There’s also a black version, which retains the metallic finish.

Personally, I’m a big fan of this design. It looks super premium, and far more expensive than this device costs. In a weird way, it reminds me of the Natural Titanium colour on the iPhone 15 Pro, which I use every day. So for my taste, this was a perfect match.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

I’ve also not really seen the metallic highlights before, especially with a transparent back. This is another truly unique design, in typical Nothing fashion. The metallic finish really comes alive when held under different angles, as the light bounces off the surfaces.

The Phone (2a) Plus retains the scaled-back Glyph Interface lighting system and polycarbonate case from the Phone (2a).

I’m a big fan of this design. It looks super premium, and far more expensive than this device costs

I don’t think you lose too much from having the smaller section of glyph lighting. They can fade in and out or only partly light up to show volume or charging progress. The dual rear cameras, reminiscent of eyes (which was done on purpose, I’m told), remain a distinctive feature.

Screen & Speakers

6.7-inch, 120Hz AMOLED screen
Frustrating in-display fingerprint sensor
Decent dual stereo speakers

The Phone (2a) Plus’s 6.7-inch AMOLED display offers Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1300 nits of claimed peak brightness.

These specs are identical to the Phone (2a) – nothing has changed here. The AMOLED panel rivals high-end phones, even if its 2.4K (2412×1084) resolution isn’t quite top-tier. Content is sharp and clear, and unless you’ve got eagle eyes, you won’t spot the difference from a 1440p or 4K screen.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, everything feels silky smooth. It’s perfect for browsing, emailing, binge-watching, or doomscrolling. The default ‘Dynamic’ mode cleverly adjusts between 30-120Hz to save battery, but it doesn’t drop to 1Hz since it’s not an LTPO display. You can still manually set it to 60- or 120Hz if you fancy.

From the front, the Phone (2a) Plus is a stunner, with its flat display and slim, symmetrical bezels. I think the symmetrical bezels and rounded corners provide a slightly more immersive viewing experience, as the black border is less noticeable.

However, visibility still isn’t its strong suit; at just under 700 nits of brightness on the regular, it struggles in bright sunlight. This is very similar to what we said about the regular Phone (2a).

Inside the screen, there’s an optical fingerprint sensor, that you’ll find on most Android smartphones these days. On Phone (2a), we found that it was fast and reliable, unlocking the phone 95% of the time. But on this new Phone (2a) Plus, I’ve been having some problems. The device didn’t seem to recognise my fingerprint after first setting it up.

Content is sharp and clear, and unless you’ve got eagle eyes, you won’t spot the difference from a 1440p or 4K screen

After some resets and an update, all seems to be fixed, so this may have been a software bug. Note that face unlock is also available through Android, but it’s less secure as it just works using a picture of your face. It also can’t be used to authenticate purchases or log in to banking apps.

The speaker setup remains unchanged, delivering clear and balanced audio that makes it well-suited for media consumption. Phone (2a) Plus comes with dual stereo speakers, featuring a downward-firing grille and earpiece combo.

It delivers punchy sound without distortion at high volumes. However, the bass is lacking, so it’s not ideal for movies or if you really like your music. But it’s fine for social media and YouTube.

Specs & Performance

Custom MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset
12GB RAM
256GB of non-expandable storage

Under the hood, the Phone (2a) Plus is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset. This was designed specifically for the device, so it works rather well.

It promises superior performance for apps and games compared to the Dimensity 7200 Pro in the Phone (2a). Most scores position it ahead of competitors like the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and Samsung Galaxy A55. And, of course, it scores above Phone (2a).

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus benchmarks

I will say that performance isn’t leaps and bounds better. When you’re scrolling through apps or switching from one app to another, you can’t feel much difference.

But when you start to multitask with multiple apps or play some games, you can feel that things are snappier, frame rates look better, and everything is just a bit smoother. You’ll easily get through a day of regular use with this phone.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

This was with the Phone (2a) Plus model with 12GB of RAM. While that’s the only spec available in Europe, there is an 8GB RAM variant in India. I can’t imagine there’s a big drop-off on the entry-level 8GB version.

Performance is undoubtedly a strength of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus at this price point. But, and I’ll say it again, this is where Phone (2a) should have landed the first time.

Performance is undoubtedly a strength of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus at this price point

Cameras

50Mp main rear lens
50Mp ultrawide
New 50Mp selfie camera

The Phone (2a) Plus retains the dual 50MP rear cameras from its predecessor, ensuring consistent image quality.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

You won’t find a telephoto camera, macro lens or dedicated depth sensor, though. While this doesn’t sound all that impressive, it’s pretty on par for other handsets at this price point. And it means the Phone (2a) Plus is on a par with Phone (2) and Phone (2a).

In good lighting, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus produces decent shots with strong detail and dynamic range. However, its image processing makes photos overly vibrant and contrasty, lacking true-to-life accuracy. It would be great if you could switch this off or dial it down in the settings, but no such luck.

In good lighting, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus produces decent shots with strong detail and dynamic range

Exposure can be inconsistent, particularly with the sky, though it performs better in lower-light conditions. The long-exposure night mode brightens dark images effectively with minimal noise.

Portrait mode delivers well-exposed subjects with a nice background blur, though edge detection can be hit and miss. The ultrawide lens maintains quality with a 114° field of view but has more washed-out colours. There’s no optical zoom, and digital zoom beyond 2x becomes very grainy very quickly.

For video, it shoots up to 4K at 30fps, but 1080p at 30fps is the default and should suffice for most users. Footage is decent, with OIS on the main lens providing stability. But I’d stick to using another device with a better camera setup if you’re planning on watching your videos on a larger screen.

In a surprise upgrade, the front-facing camera also becomes a 50MP sensor, enhancing selfie quality. The selfie camera can take vibrant, detailed shots, even in portrait mode, despite cropping in more than most smartphones.

Battery Life & Charging

5000mAh battery
50W wired charging
No wireless charging

Despite the performance boost from the new chipset, Nothing claims the 5000mAh battery will still last all day.

When the time comes to charge, the Phone (2a) Plus supports 50W wired charging, an improvement over the 45W in the Phone (2a). This charges the newer phone to 100% in just under two hours. While both come with a cable, neither includes a charging brick in the box.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

I must say that the charging cable is one of my favourites, thanks to matching metal ends. Wireless charging is absent again. While it’s most likely to keep costs down, it is heavily missed.

In my usage, the battery comfortably lasted through a day of heavy use, and the rapid charging feature was a lifesaver during busy days. On one occasion, I was stuck without a charger for the night. It managed to give me an hour of battery in the morning before finally giving up, after I switched on ‘Power Saver’ mode.

In my usage, the battery comfortably lasted through a day of heavy use, and the rapid charging feature was a lifesaver during busy days

Software & Apps

Nothing OS 2.6 over Android 14
Customisable design and ‘Glyph’ lights
Three major OS updates, four years of security patches

Running Nothing OS 2.6 on Android 14, the Phone (2a) Plus offers a minimalistic, widget-based UI that’s free from bloatware.

If you’ve never used a Nothing handset before, the software experience is quite different to what you’ll find on any other Android phone. Nothing says it wants to “reduce distractions and encourage intentional smartphone use”, with its Glyph Interface at the forefront.

The Phone (2a) Plus offers a minimalistic, widget-based UI that’s free from bloatware

The software also features a monochrome theme and icon pack, steering clear of the usual bright colours. Personally, I’m a big fan of this aesthetic, and Nothing is clearly going for a more retro vibe, though it might not appeal to everyone.

You can switch to the stock Pixel look if you’d like during set-up. While new apps often appear in their original colours, the Nothing Icon Pack can fix this. Additionally, Nothing has created 22 custom widgets for the home and lock screens.

Connor Jewiss / Foundry

Elsewhere, there’s also a new News Reporter widget, which uses AI to aggregate daily news across various categories. While convenient, the AI-generated voice can sound monotonous. But ChatGPT integration is a standout feature, providing quick answers and seamless interaction directly from the home screen.

Just like the Phone (2a), Nothing is offering three major OS updates and four years of security updates on the Phone (2a) Plus. That’s a decent commitment, and it’s unlikely many people are planning to use the phone beyond 2028.

Price & Availability

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is attractively priced at £399 in the UK, making it a competitive option.

It’ll initially available in the UK with a limited drop at Nothing’s London Soho store on August 3rd, a US developer program will also launch, with global pricing and availability to follow in September.

When it goes go on sale, you’ll be able to buy one from the Nothing website and potentially via Amazon.

If the Phone (2a) is anything to go by, the phone won’t be available to buy on contract, so you’ll need to get it outright and pair with a SIM deal. Use the widget below to find an option that suits you.

However, there’s plenty of strong mid-range competition, and not just from the regular Phone (2a) (from £319). The Samsung Galaxy A55 (from £439), Redmi Note 13 Pro+ (£449), OnePlus Nord 4 (from £429) and Poco F6 (from £399) are all compelling alternatives.

Should you buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus?

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers a compelling mix of distinctive design, strong performance and excellent value.

It stands out with its silver accents and powerful chipset, making it an ideal choice for gamers and everyday users alike. The bump in performance compared to the regular Phone (2a) is noticeable, too.

However, I still maintain that this handset didn’t need to exist. This chipset and upgraded selfie camera should have been in the original Phone (2a), even if it meant the slightly higher price point. Now, there’s an extra device that makes Phone (2a) harder to justify.

While the lack of wireless charging is a drawback, the overall package is impressive for its price point.

If you’re looking for a stylish phone with great performance and an affordable price, the Phone (2a) Plus is definitely worth considering. It’s certainly the device I’d pick at this price point, even if just for looks alone.