London-based tech company Nothing’s latest Android is aiming to disrupt the budget phone market with something more intriguing.
Priced at £319 (€329/AU$529), the Phone 2a by Nothing seeks to capture the cool design and appeal of its high-end models and deliver it in a more affordable and fresh package, complementing the £579 Phone 2.
This new model continues Nothing’s distinctive semi-transparent design, featuring a large, sleek OLED screen on the front and a translucent back that showcases unique design elements, including Nothing’s signature “glyph” LEDs.
Three LED strips on the back light up in complex patterns to match tones, alerts, or timers and charging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
While the Phone 2a opts for a plastic construction over the metal and glass of the Phone 2, the LEDs are now positioned only at the top of the phone around the central camera module. Despite this, it can display intricate patterns for ringtones and notifications, as well as other entertaining features like volume levels, charging percentage, timer, and music visualizer.
Although the phone feels smooth and well-crafted, the plastic back tends to attract dust easily and is prone to scratches.
specification
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screen: 6.7 inch 120Hz FHD+ OLED (394ppi)
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Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
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Ram: 8GB or 12GB
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storage: 128 or 256GB
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operating system: None OS 2.5 (Android 14)
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camera: 50MP main and ultrawide, 32MP selfie
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Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS
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water resistance: IP54 (splash proof)
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size: 162×76.3×8.9mm
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weight: 190g
Mid-range power and long battery life
Phone 2a charges to 80% in 39 minutes and fully charges in just under an hour using a 45W power adapter (sold separately). Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Powered by a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chip, the Nothing Phone 2a delivers impressive performance for its price. The software runs smoothly and swiftly, with apps loading quickly and games running well. While it may not match the high-end phones in performance and tends to get warm during gaming, it handles most tasks competently.
The Nothing Phone 2a also boasts a solid battery life, lasting 52 hours of general use or two days between charges, including several hours of 5G usage per day. However, gaming drains the battery faster compared to its high-end counterparts, consuming about 18% per hour of gameplay.
sustainability
The ribbon and pattern visible through the plastic back adds a bit of interest along with the LEDs. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian
Nothing guarantees that the battery will retain at least 90% of its original capacity for a minimum of 1,000 full charge cycles. The Phone 2a is typically repairable in the UK, with screen replacements costing £70, batteries costing £36, and additional costs for labor and shipping totaling around £35.
Constructed from recycled aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, tin, and other materials, which constitute 20% of the phone’s weight, the Phone 2a generates 52kg CO2 equivalent in carbon dioxide emissions. The company also publishes a sustainability report and offers a trade-in system.
