loop image
loop image

The Nothing Phone (2a) is here - and it is different

Copy Loop Link

MAR 20, 2024
Nimish And Akriti (We Write)
NimishAndAkriti
bit image
Love him or not, you gotta hand it to Carl Pei - he gets his products attention. The latest to be put into the Pei-induced spotlight is the new Nothing Phone (2a). This is the most affordable phone from Nothing, Pei's new initiative post OnePlus. It is priced at Rs 23,999, which puts it right in the middle of some very competitive devices. The challenge for it is to make sure that its difference makes a difference in a segment known for uniformity.
2
❤️
Nimish And Akriti (We Write)
bit image
The Phone (2a) has got that transparent-ish like back that is a Nothing phone trademark. And this time the design is different from its predecessors, as the back has dual cameras arranged like eyes, and the LEDs are only at the top, with the lower part having a swirly design that some have rather uncharitably compared to a digestive system. It definitely looks different, although the plastic bank and frame give it a "light" feel that's not quite premium!
Nimish And Akriti (We Write)
bit image
The hardware is pretty standard mid-segment: you get a 6.7 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate (reasonably rather than exceptionally bright) , and running the show is the mid-segment Dimensity 7200 Pro chip with Nothing's super clean OS and Android 14. The rear cameras are 50 MP each, with the main one coming with OIS, and a 32 MP camera handling selfies. The battery is a large one - 5000 mAh. It is a good spec sheet for the price.
Nimish And Akriti (We Write)
bit image
It has the looks and rather innovative packaging - it is compact and opens like a book. But the Phone (2a) has some hefty challengers, and while it brings an innovative design to the table, it lacks some of the essentials people expect - there is no charger (although it supports 45W charging) or cover in the box. And the phone is such a smudge and dust magnet that it really needs a cover. It is also the first Nothing phone to come with no wireless charging!
Nimish And Akriti (We Write)
bit image
So just how good a deal is the Nothing Phone (2a). It does bring a very innovative design to the mid-segment, but the corners it has cut - the plastic build, the limited LEDs on the back - and the absence of 'expected' features like a cover and charger, could harm its prospects. Do we find it interesting? Definitely. But it needs to do a lot more than look different to beat off the likes of the Redmi Note 13 Pro and the Poco X6 Pro!