The
point
of
a
budget
smartphone
is
to
exist
as
the
“fast
fashion”
equivalent
of
its
flagship
counterparts.
For
instance,
in
the
case
of
the
top
Android
phone
seller,
Samsung,
its
A-series
delivers
some
of
the
brand’s
premium
experiences
at
a
fraction
of
the
cost.
Mid-range
Samsung
devices
are
known
for
sporting
the
brightest,
most
vibrant
displays,
just
like
their
Big
Phone
counterparts.
Or,
in
the
case
of
Google’s
Pixel
A-series,
it’s
a
cheaper
way
to
access
Google’s
camera
algorithms
and
other
AI
smarts
without
buying
into
unnecessary
features—like
a
temperature
sensor.
Nothing, the brainchild of Carl Pei, who previously helped lead OnePlus into the open arms of its Oppo Daddy, is launching a budget offering to bring to the mix. Based on the spec sheet, the Nothing Phone (2a) reprises the first-generation Nothing Phone (1). Indeed, when you hold it, it feels like a tribute to the previous phone until you turn the device around to check out the light-up Glyphs—a key Nothing feature—and see that the camera array is horizontal rather than vertical. For $350, the Nothing Phone (2a) may be one of the fanciest phones you can get at this price as long as you don’t mind a version of Android that feels like it’s in progress.
The backside of the Nothing Phone (2a) has been compared to a pig’s snout. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
If the Nothing Phone (2a) were a piece of clothing, it would be an athleisure set that didn’t sell so well at the usual brick-and-mortar, so now it’s at the Nordstrom Rack. This isn’t Nothing’s best foot forward, but it’s trying something new here. As a result, the Nothing Phone (2a) has the essence of a fashion statement that didn’t entirely take off when it was supposed to be in vogue.
Like
its
siblings,
the
backside
is
see-through,
so
you
can
look
at
the
coils
and
screws
that
make
up
the
rear
aesthetic
of
the
device.
But
the
relative
lightness
of
the
Nothing
Phone
(2a)
reminds
you
that
this
is
different
from
what
you
bought
at
a
higher
price.
The Glyphs are here—they’re a core part of the Nothing experience, and on the Phone (2a), there are three Glyph light bars arranged around the circular rear-facing camera module. The camera lenses—a 50-MP primary sensor with OIS and a secondary 50-MP ultra-wide—are stacked across the back of the device. It’s a curious design decision from Nothing, as the last two smartphone devices had a traffic light motif with each lens stacked on top of the other. Some folks have referred to the (2a) back camera array as a “pig snout,” which I think is rude, considering pigs are beautiful creatures. At the very least, this distinct backside will make the Nothing Phone (2a) stand out as the mid-range offering. It’s in stark contrast to Google’s playbook, which is to have the Pixel A series closely resemble the model it’s succeeding.
The Nothing Phone (2a) is squarely a mid-tier device. It runs a Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, and it’s available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. However, the developer program sells it to U.S. users, which will default to 12GB at the same price point. The Phone (2a) has up to 256GB of storage space. For those with access to the 8GB models, the phone starts at roughly $320.
The Phone (2a)‘s 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display is brighter and bigger than the phone it’s based on, the first-generation Phone (1), which had a 6.5-inch display. The Phone (2a)‘s display brightness tops at 1,300 nits in extreme sunlight, though Nothing says its typical brightness is around 700 nits. That’s still plenty bright. I’m happy that the flexible AMOLED also supports Android’s built-in “Extra Dim” mode, so it goes dark enough at night.
The battery is another selling point of the Nothing Phone (2a). The 5,000 mAh pack promises up to two days of battery on a single charge. I plan to put this through its paces with the review unit. Overall, Android devices have improved with battery offerings in this latest batch of releases. Nothing has to compete with Samsung and Motorola for battery longevity among the mid-range set.
Nothing’s widgets are why you’d use a Nothing phone in the first place. Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
The
other
reason
you’d
choose
a
mid-range
model
from
Nothing
versus
the
different
brands
on
the
market
is
the
company’s
version
of
Android.
It
comes
chock
full
of
heavily-designed
widgets,
plus
a
launcher
that
lets
you
change
the
icons.
There
are
also
themed
Lock
Screen
widgets
from
Nothing,
which
are
sleek
with
the
always-on
display.
The Nothing Phone (2a) runs Android 14 right out of the box, underneath Nothing OS 2.5. If you want the whole Nothing experience, you’ll have to adjust how things are set up. I tried to increase the number of icons on the Home screen from four a row to five, and it shrunk the Nothing widgets that they felt were too small to tap. Your mileage may vary, but it’s clear there’s a path you have to take to get the branding.
A look at Nothing OS 2.5. Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I
also
found
some
inconsistencies
pawing
through
Nothing’s
version
of
Android.
For
example,
some
settings
options
require
me
to
hit
“apply”
before
the
change
takes
place,
whereas
other
options
let
me
tap
to
adjust
a
setting,
and
then
I
can
back
out
of
the
screen
on
to
the
next
thing.
It’s
subtle
but
the
kind
of
interface
kink
that
comes
up
when
a
manufacturer
heavily
customizes
Android.
On the flip side, there are upsides, too. The Phone (2a)‘s camera system features Nothing’s “TrueLens Engine.” That engine, featuring a host of algorithmic woo-woo, also includes support for Ultra XDR, which Nothing says was co-developed with Google to “ensure a more accurate display of highlights and shadows in every shot.” Mid-range smartphones are bundling in better cameras, but I have concerns, considering Nothing’s Phone (1) was an abysmal shooter.
There’s more to come on the Nothing Phone (2a). Though it’s not likely to be a significant seller the way a phone of this caliber would be from the likes of Samsung or Google—Google has had the most success with its A-series lineup—I’ll be curious to see how this release ranks among the competition. I like the Glyphs and the whimsy they suggest when they light up and go off. But without a camera that can compete with Samsung and Google’s respective releases, the Glyphs are a gimmick.
The Nothing Phone (2a) will be available starting today in select markets. If you’re in London, you can even go to the Nothing Store in Soho and physically be one of the first people to shop for the Phone (2a). For everyone else, you can pre-order today, with the phone becoming publicly available in “most global markets” beginning March 12.
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