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Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Setting new standards for affordable smartphones in 2024
Nothing holds a robust product known as the Phone 2a, which is predicted to be a top seller. In addition to providing the Phone 2a with impressive specifications and a stunning AMOLED screen, Nothing has set a very competitive price for the device.
Advantages: – Superior design for its cost – Robust construction and high-quality – Lively and radiant screen – Numerous personalization choices – No unnecessary pre-installed software – Reliable performance – Long-lasting battery – The glyph user interface remains as thrilling as it was with the first model – One of the top mobile phones in its price range.
Disadvantages: The back made of plastic is slick. The back cover tends to get easily smudged and scratched. The camera's HDR functionality could be improved. It utilizes UFS 2.2 storage. The package does not include a charger.
Score: 4.25 out of 5. The base model with 8GB+128GB is priced at Rs 23,999.
Despite boasting advanced technology, excellent functionality, a high-end display, various software capabilities, and an attractive design, the Nothing Phone 2 faced significant criticism due to its high cost. Many believed it was excessively priced.
Nothing has learned from past experiences, and their newest product, the Phone 2a, is priced much more competitively. But the low price isn't the only thing that makes it special. The Phone 2a captivates with its high-end design that grabs attention and a software experience tailored to the user, offering benefits greater than its cost.
The Phone 2a continues the tradition set by its predecessors, the Nothing Phone 1 and the Nothing Phone 2, by maintaining its uniqueness and distinctive appeal without getting caught up in a competition of specifications.
However, there are certain significant trade-offs, such as the adoption of USF 2.2 storage and the decision to provide a clear back cover within this price bracket. Hence, the issue we need to address is whether these trade-offs overshadow the overall good quality of the device, or if they are insignificant enough to be ignored?
Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Structure
The recent offering by Nothing, the Nothing Phone 2a, is quite an impressive accomplishment. Even though it's priced affordably, the device still exudes a high-end aura.
Even though the Phone 2a has a distinct appearance compared to the Phone 2, it retains the unique trait that made the Phone 2 one of the most visually appealing smartphones of the previous year. The Phone 2a maintains a refined aesthetic, featuring a clear back panel that enables users to glimpse into the device and admire the various complex details, including the encased NFC coils, scattered labelling, and the multitude of tiny screws.
Indeed, you still receive the enhanced Glyph interface.
In order to maintain affordable pricing, Nothing has had to make a few trade-offs. One such example is the simplification of the Glyph Interface situated on the phone's rear, providing only three LED strips with the Phone 2a model. Additionally, the wireless charging capability has been removed. However, a positive aspect is the phone's IP54 rating, ensuring protection against dust and water damage.
Despite the reduction in the quantity of LED strips on the Glyph Interface, they maintain the same features as their older counterparts. The LED lights continue to alert users about notifications from different applications, countdown clocks, and timers from delivery or ride-booking services, all of which can be personalized.
The rear cover's shiny finish tends to collect fingerprints rapidly, regardless of whether your hands are greasy. Moreover, it's more prone to scratches due to its less durable nature compared to glass. With a darker shade, these scratches and fingerprints are more noticeable. However, on a white device, these imperfections are much less apparent.
Similar to earlier models by the London-based company, the Nothing Phone 2a features a clear back panel. However, rather than using transparent glass, it employs a polycarbonate sheet. Despite the back panel still appearing to be made from glass and giving a high-end feel, it's not as robust as actual glass.
The design and positioning of the dual camera system is also distinct. The camera configuration is now located in the center of the top half of the phone, directly over the NFC coil. Rather than a sharp notch for the camera protrusion, the polycarbonate panel gently curves around it with a subtle tilt.
Regarding the placement of buttons and ports, the power button is located on the right side, while the volume controls are on the left. These are conveniently positioned for one-handed use. The device features a USB Type-C port at the base, accompanied by the speaker vents and the slot for the SIM card.
At the forefront, there is a 6.7-inch screen surrounded by uniformly thin bezels which are considerably slimmer than those found on earlier models from Nothing. This lends the Nothing Phone 2a a decidedly high-end look.
Nothing underlines its dedication to sustainability by utilizing 100% recycled aluminium in the middle frame of its phones, in addition to tin, copper foil, steel, and plastic in the overall construction. The outcome is a device that gives off a robust and weighty feel.
Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Screen QualityTypically, smartphones in this price range do not have high-quality screens. The picture quality, particularly the color accuracy and viewing angles, are generally mediocre for phones under Rs 25,000. However, the Nothing Phone 2a stands out in this aspect.
The Phone 2a features an impressively large 6.7-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED screen with a 1084X2412 resolution. The design is further enhanced by uniform bezels surrounding the display, offering a pleasing visual aesthetic. Another notable feature is the adaptable 30-120Hz refresh rate, which ensures a crystal clear display whether you're perusing text-heavy pages or streaming video content on your OTT service. This feature also significantly improves the gaming experience on the device.
The Phone 2a by Nothing displays an impressive maximum brightness of 1300 nits, notably evident when the HDR video feature is activated in the screen settings. The brightness is equally striking even when exposed to direct sunlight.
In these configurations, users have the convenience of toggling between the vibrant "Alive" and the normal "Standard" color modes, and can also adjust the color temperature to their preference. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that the screen does not provide DCI-P3 coverage.
The HDR setting is enabled as a standard, producing exceptionally vivid colours that elevate the display, significantly improving the visual experience. Even in "Standard" mode, the colours remain vibrant, guaranteeing an engaging viewing experience. We were notably struck by the intensely rich, deep blacks and how they remained consistent even at unusual viewing angles.
Additionally, the screen is shielded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, offering strong defense against unintentional falls and scrapes. The Nothing Phone 2a stands out with its rich blacks, vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles, providing a captivating visual experience.
A fingerprint scanner is also included below the display, which is quite fast and reacts promptly.
In general, the Nothing Phone 2a's screen is noteworthy for its vivid hues, engaging graphics, and robust construction, garnering our admiration unequivocally.
Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Camera Features
The Nothing Phone 2a is equipped with a two-camera setup, which is quite usual for smartphones in its price range. It boasts a 50MP camera integrated with Optical Image Stabilization and an f/1.88 aperture. This is accompanied by another 50MP sensor fitted with an ultra-wide lens, providing a broad 114-degree viewing span. As for the front camera, it retains the same 32MP quality that was found in the Phone 2.
The camera app from Nothing is uncomplicated and easy to navigate. All the different modes are readily available, and the most commonly adjusted settings can be accessed with a quick swipe. The app offers a variety of camera modes such as Slow-motion, Time-lapse, Portrait, Night mode, Motion Capture, Panorama mode, and so on. There's also an Expert Mode for those desiring more precise control. Additionally, the app provides the capability to shoot in raw format for those who wish to extensively edit their photos.
One area where the cameras excel is in HDR. Nothing has rolled out a sophisticated HDR software known as Ultra HDR, which they have created through a partnership with Google.
When utilized in ample sunlight, the primary camera performs admirably, creating vivid hues and crisp, detailed images, provided you adjust your exposure appropriately while capturing in HDR mode. This is particularly evident when photographing directly towards the sun or any other intense light source, which occasionally results in overexposed highlights.
On the contrary, the ultra-wide camera managed most circumstances more effectively, even when they were highly demanding. It consistently achieved the right exposure, with minimal assistance from us, primarily due to its exceptional dynamic range.
Under dim lighting, the primary camera maintained impressive performance, capturing a wealth of detail and crisp, true-to-life colors due to its precise exposure without over-coloring the photos. The ultra-wide camera also held its own in both well-lit and low-light conditions, though there was a minor variation in the way it displayed colors compared to the primary camera.
The Nothing Phone 2a has video recording capabilities at 1080p resolution at both 30 and 60 frames per second, and can also record 4K videos but only at 30 frames per second. The clarity and accuracy of videos recorded at 1080p/60fps are notably high, even under poor lighting, and they maintain stability, making them ideal for recording during activities such as walking or while inside a vehicle.
Videos shot at 4K/30fps might appear slightly unstable even though they have decent quality. The phone, however, offers a unique feature known as "action mode" to improve steadiness, but it's only accessible when recording at 1080p/30fps.
Additionally, users have the option to select either standard H.264 or H.265 video encoding.
While the Nothing Phone 2a's camera may not be the best in its price category, it surpasses what most competitors provide at the same cost. If your photo-taking is primarily during daylight hours, you're likely to be satisfied with the standard it delivers.
Click here to view some sample pictures captured with the Phone 2a.
Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Functionality, Software Interaction, and User Interface
The Nothing Phone 2a is equipped with a processor that is quite efficient for its cost. Nothing has collaborated with MediaTek to fine-tune the Dimensity 7200, now referred to as the Dimensity 7200 Pro.
Even though the peak clock speed remains at 2.8 GHz, the adjustments seem to favor efficiency. Coupled with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256 GBUFS 2.2 storage, the phone displays a good performance in general, except for the storage speed which is a bit of a drawback.
The performance of the chipset is quite impressive for its category. Although it might not be the highest-scoring in benchmark tests, the Nothing Phone 2a demonstrates its proficiency for daily tasks. During the evaluation phase, I didn't experience any substantial delays or disruptions while operating the phone. In general, it provides a seamless user experience, which can be partially attributed to its screen.
Throughout our evaluations, the Phone 2a demonstrated minimal heat reduction, even when playing resource-intensive games such as Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI. Moreover, it maintained a relatively low temperature even after half an hour of gaming.
The uniqueness of the Nothing Phone 2a lies in its operating system, the Nothing OS 2.5, which is an offshoot of Android 14. Over the recent years, significant enhancements have been made to the Nothing OS since its initial launch. It ranks among the top Android interfaces available. Its design is simple yet filled with numerous features. The animations run smoothly, everyday tasks are executed seamlessly, and it includes some cool add-ons like the AI Wallpaper Generator and Glyph Composer. Additionally, it offers an abundance of widgets designed by Nothing.
A major advantage is the lack of unnecessary software – there are no external applications or irritating advertisements filling up your phone. Only a handful of Nothing apps along with the typical Google ones are present, which is quite uncommon, particularly in the medium-priced range.
In terms of updates, Nothing is pulling out all the stops with the Phone 2a. While evaluating the product, we received two updates that enhanced the camera's capabilities. Additionally, Nothing has committed to providing three years of system updates and four years of security improvements for the Phone 2a.
The Phone 2a from Nothing comes equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, the biggest one the company has ever installed in a phone. Consequently, the battery life is impressive. Regularly, we were able to use the phone for two full days, even while heavily using it. This included streaming a lot of videos, playing games, and snapping numerous pictures.
You can exhaust the Nothing Phone 2a's battery in one day, but it would require some effort. For regular users, the device should comfortably last the entire day.
It's rather disappointing that Nothing has chosen to reduce expenses by not including a charger in the package. On top of that, there's no option for wireless charging either.
The gadget accommodates 45W charging, which is mediocre compared to other gadgets that provide significantly quicker charging rates. Using a 60W charger, it took roughly an hour to fully charge the gadget from 0 to 100 per cent. While this suffices for the majority of users, the lack of ultra-fast charging options may be a letdown for some.
Review of Nothing Phone 2a: Conclusion
Nothing has created an impressive product with the Phone 2a. This phone truly redefines the expectations of a budget smartphone. In doing so, it also reveals the shortcomings of many other smartphone manufacturers who are vying for a spot in this sector.
The Nothing Phone 2a offers exceptional worth for its cost, particularly if you can secure it for Rs 19,999. It presents an impressive blend of reliable performance, remarkable features, and an eye-catching design. It functions efficiently for daily tasks and even during gaming.
In addition, you enjoy a neat and uncluttered user interface, enhancing the overall phone usage experience. Furthermore, the stunning AMOLED display is a nice finishing touch that brings it all together.
If you're currently looking to buy a smartphone and have a budget of up to Rs 25,000, overlooking the Nothing Phone 2a might mean you're losing out. Granted, there are better performing phones available, but do they offer the all-round experience that the Nothing Phone 2a does? I'm not so sure.
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