Nothing Phone (2a) review

13 March 2024


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ZAMN, Nothing's battery is SOMETHING, like HOLY MOLY!
So yeah this is further proof (after the X100 Pro) that the Dimensity chipsets can be just as energy efficient/battery friendly. This phone has straight up 15 Pro Max level of battery, ON AN ANDROID! Great job Nothing. I wonder what they do with the software that even Google can't seem to crack lmao this is what true passion does, unlike the greedy bums at Google just trying to do the bare minimum

The main cam gets the job done, sharpening could've been a tad lower and it'd have been damn near perfect if you consider the fact that this sensor ain't the sharpest tool in the shed. Overall quite impressive. Their photo processing could do a little tinkering like let's say taking a few pages from Google's HDR, Xiaomi's softness, Oppo's colors or Vivo's pristine balance of everything.

Performance and stability is great, display is quite good for the price, 1k nits is 2021 flagship level and if people back then loved it then they'll be perfectly fine with it now, especially for the price. UFS 2.1 is kinda concerning but for the price, ain't too bad.

This is an excellent phone and what Nothing's first phone should've been imo, the other two seem like bad deals in comparison now. As a phone, this does everything in a well balanced manner without any glaring issues. Xiaomi's phones have crept up in price over the years and Samsung's phones have stagnated over the years (the A52s and the A54 are super close lmao). Hope this shakes things up with its battery and enticing software. Other phones might have better cameras but this phone's software is a strong point and the battery is such a highlight that it might entice a lot of people. At the end of the day no midranger can go up to the levels of a flagship, which are still miles behind even 1 inch point and shoot cameras so nothing crazy lost.

Great job Nothing, their first and I'd say a huuuuge W. The Nothing Phone 3 should use a better sensor for the main cam, 1/.43" and bigger would be great and processing should be worked on for that too. This processing is fine for the 2a but unacceptable for a phone at the Nothing Phone 2's price range considering there's the Pixel a phones and the Vivo V series phones.

    Excellent battery life, clean OS and unique back design are probably the biggest positives this phone has.
    The starting price is also good.

    Whats disappointing for me is the performance and the UFS 2.1, even on the 12/256 version.

    Also
    -no charger in the box
    -no 3.5mm jack
    -no microSd sucks.
    Why Nothing?? Even Samsung gives MicroSd in their mid range A series.

    Performance wise isnt terrible in general, but the fact that its so close to Snap778+ devices isnt very exciting either.

      • D
      • Dopdecada
      • nDB
      • 13 Mar 2024

      Motorola Edge 40 is cheaper and more premium: metal body, brighter screen, better performance, IP68. Don't know about the camera(s).
      And it's cheaper, at least here in my country.

        • I
        • Ipo
        • nD5
        • 13 Mar 2024

        The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ instantly "springs to mind. " -that is a 2023 phone. Perhaps 13 pro+... Poorer an poorer reviews.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • 0p}
          • 13 Mar 2024

          Mike4, 13 Mar 2024WOW My utmost respect to gsmarena for pointing this very im... moreUfs2.1 is much older.
          Phones from 2017 had it.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 0p}
            • 13 Mar 2024

            "There is a good amount of fine detail in the frame and quite a bit of rather aggressive sharpening. We wouldn't go as far as to call the photos overprocessed, but the processing is still heavy-handed."

            If pixel and iphone get free pass for doing same, this phone should get as well.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 0p}
              • 13 Mar 2024

              Nothing can afford Samsung Isocell, xiaomi and motorola use omnivision to reduce costs . 😡

                • p
                • porkataUK
                • nxI
                • 13 Mar 2024

                'High refresh rate gaming is not properly supported.'
                Sadly no buy for me, really wanted to see HRR gaming from this device.
                Even if not powerhouse, this chip will do Mobile Legends 90fps+, but hey lets just limit it.

                2024 and they still limit devices like this, absolutely trash.

                  W battery life, chipset is just as same as any 7200, excellent display, decent but not entertaining cameras but video holds its own.

                  If your not a camera-head/photographer and like the design (beware of cleaning the back), this is a good buy. With the 12/256 going for a little less/more than 400 euros!

                    Wowzers battery life is excellent very good

                      • M
                      • Mike4
                      • 6vA
                      • 13 Mar 2024

                      WOW My utmost respect to gsmarena for pointing this very important aspect in your review that this phone as i said many times it's NOT a UFS3.1and uses a UFS2.2 but holy smokes this poor thing uses even a worse 2019 UFS2.1 with a lpddr4x,

                      Kudos to GSMARENA for pointing this out, as i was more than convinced they would be quiet about it, but no,, they surprised me !
                      Hope they point out the same thing in the upcoming A55 that is also i fear coming with a outdated UFS2.2 .

                        seems like a decent all round nice mid ranger with 'nothing' spectacularly amazing and some cool lights at the back

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