Nothing continues to build its reputation in the smartphone market with its latest release, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review. Positioned between the mid-range Phone 2a and the flagship Phone 2, this new model focuses on performance improvements, enhanced camera features, and a few design tweaks.
Interestingly, the Phone 2a Plus doesn’t come with a larger display, which is usually expected from a “Plus” variant. Instead, it aims to offer a more refined user experience through its subtle yet meaningful upgrades.
Design and Aesthetics
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus maintains a similar design language to its predecessor, the Phone 2a, but with some distinctive touches. The back panel, known for its transparent look, now features metallic accents, adding a new level of sophistication.
Gone are the red highlights from the Phone 2a, replaced with a more uniform and sleek appearance. These changes give the Plus model a more polished and premium feel, despite being constructed entirely of plastic. The ergonomic design ensures comfort during extended use, and the back panel appears to be more resistant to scratches than before.
The glyph light interface remains a signature feature, providing unique notifications and interactions that set the Nothing Phone apart from other devices. The phone also retains the uniform bezels around the display, contributing to its modern and minimalist aesthetic.
Enhanced Camera System
One of the standout features of the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is its new 50MP front-facing camera, designed to capture sharper and more detailed selfies. The rear camera setup, although similar to the Phone 2a with dual 50MP sensors, benefits from software enhancements that improve image processing.
Outdoor shots remain vibrant and detailed, while indoor photos show better color accuracy compared to the previous model. However, the main rear camera still outperforms the ultra-wide lens in terms of clarity and detail.
The 50MP front camera is a significant upgrade, offering more natural skin tones and improved performance under various lighting conditions. Selfies taken in artificial light are more accurate in color representation, though low-light performance could still be better, as some details can appear soft.
The portrait mode on the front camera shows improvement but still struggles slightly with edge detection in challenging lighting.
A notable improvement in the Phone 2a Plus is the ability to take consecutive shots without waiting for the previous image to process. This enhancement makes the camera experience more seamless and efficient, especially for users who frequently capture multiple photos in quick succession.
Performance and Speed
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro processor, which promises a performance boost over the Dimensity 7200 Pro chip found in the standard Phone 2a. While everyday tasks and gaming run smoothly, the difference in performance is subtle rather than dramatic.
However, one area where the Plus model excels is in thermal management. The phone remains cooler during extended gaming sessions, which not only enhances comfort but also helps in conserving battery life.
The overall performance is fluid, with apps opening quickly and multitasking handled efficiently. The NothingOS 2.6 operating system complements the hardware well, offering a smooth and intuitive user experience without unnecessary bloatware.
Battery Life and Charging
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which delivers impressive battery life. Thanks to better optimization, the phone can easily last through a full day of usage with some battery left over. Even with heavy use, such as gaming or streaming, the battery performance remains robust.
Charging speeds have also seen a modest upgrade, with the Phone 2a Plus supporting 50W fast charging. Although a charger is not included in the box, testing with a 67W charger showed that the phone could charge from 10% to 100% in just under 50 minutes. This improvement makes the Plus model more convenient for users who are always on the go.
Display Quality
The display on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus remains unchanged from the Phone 2a, featuring a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The display is vibrant, with excellent color accuracy and smooth scrolling, thanks to the high refresh rate. While the lack of LTPO technology might be a downside for some, the display’s performance is more than adequate for most users.
The Plus model supports HDR content on platforms like YouTube, enhancing the viewing experience with brighter colors and deeper contrasts. However, HDR support on other platforms like Netflix is still missing. The display also includes a Dynamic Refresh Rate feature, which adjusts the refresh rate based on the content being viewed, helping to save battery life.
Software Experience
The software experience on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is nearly identical to that of the Phone 2a, with NothingOS 2.6 offering a clean and bloatware-free environment.
Users can choose between the standard Android interface or Nothing’s custom skin, which provides additional customization options for app icons, widgets, and the home screen layout.
One of the new features in the Plus model is the AI-powered “News Reporter” widget, which curates daily news based on user preferences and delivers them in a fun, voice-narrated format. This feature adds a unique touch to the software experience, although it would benefit from a text-based option for those who prefer reading over listening.
Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus offers a well-rounded package that builds on the strengths of its predecessor while introducing meaningful upgrades. Priced at Rs 27,999 for the base model with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, it provides a compelling option for those looking for a stylish and capable smartphone. The improvements in camera performance, battery life, and charging speed make it a worthy contender in its price segment.
If you’re satisfied with the standard Phone 2a, there might not be enough here to justify an upgrade. However, if you’re drawn to the enhanced design elements, improved front camera, and slight performance boost, the Phone 2a Plus is definitely worth considering.
Key Specifications
- Dimensions: 161.74 x 76.32 x 8.55mm
- Weight: 190g
- Colors: Grey and Black
Display:
- Size: 6.7-inch Full HD+ flexible OLED
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Other Features: 2160Hz PWM Dimming, HDR10+, 10-bit color, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, 1,300nits peak brightness
Performance:
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro
- Memory: Up to 12GB (LPDDR4X)
- Storage: Up to 512GB (UFS 2.2)
Software:
- OS: Nothing OS 2.6 (Android 14)
- Updates Promised: 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches
Camera:
- Front Camera: 50MP
- Rear Camera: Dual 50MP setup
Battery:
- Capacity: 5000mAh
- Charging: 50W fast charging
Price:
- Base Variant: Rs 27,999 (8GB RAM and 256GB storage)
In conclusion, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus offers a refined and polished experience with several key improvements over its predecessor. While it may not be a game-changer, it represents a thoughtful evolution that will appeal to users looking for a balance of style, performance, and camera quality in a smartphone.
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