From the beginning, Nothing has made it clear that it won’t start releasing lots of phones every year, as is the case with some brands. Instead, it will launch handsets occasionally, but make sure each is the best it can possibly be.
However, that doesn’t mean the upcoming Phone (3) is the only Nothing phone in 2024.
The brand-new Phone (2a) is technically a successor to the original Phone (1), but it also manages to be more affordable. With the device on sale now, here’s everything you need to know about it.
When will the Nothing Phone (2a) be released?
After a gradual reveal of key specs, Nothing officially launched the Phone (2a) on 5 March 2024.
The phone is on sale now in the UK, having been released on 12 March 2024.
You can buy one from Nothing or Very. Currys and John Lewis are also confirmed to be selling the phone, but it’s not available at either at the time of writing.
It isn’t available on contract, so you’ll have to buy outright and pair with a SIM-only deal.
However, unlike previous Nothing phones, the device won’t be sold in the US. You might be able to import one, though.
How much does the Nothing Phone (2a) cost?
Here are the official prices for the Phone (2a):
- 8GB/128GB: £319/€329
- 12GB/1256GB: £349/€379
For context, this is how much the previous two models cost at launch:
- Nothing Phone (1): £399/€469
- Nothing Phone (2): £579/$599/€649
As you can see, this is Nothing’s cheapest phone yet. It can’t really be compared to the Phone (2), but Nothing wants the Phone (2a) to be viewed as a Phone (1) successor.
It’s one of the more affordable mid-range phones around, though there’s plenty of competition.
What specs and features does the Nothing Phone (2a) have?
With the Phone (2a), Nothing is aiming to cater to the core needs of smartphone users, yet give them an experience that isn’t possible on devices from other brands.
Design
In terms of design, the Nothing Phone (2a) builds on both the Phone (1) and the Phone (2). This time, however, it adopts an anthropomorphic appearance, with its internal components integrated into the external design, creating the impression of “eyes” with its cameras and a central “brain.”
The ‘Glyph Interface’ of LED lights on the back has been shrunk down to just three in the top half, though these still serve the same range of functions. Glyphs can be used to display incoming calls, notifications, timers and visualise music, just like you can on the Phone (2).
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The bottom half of the device is quite different, with a design that’s inspired by the New York City subway map. It’s available in three colours – black, white and an off-white ‘milk’.
The Phone (2a) also brings industry-first features like the 90 degree angle unibody cover. This design not only adds a new dimension to the phone’s appearance but also provide added protection against drops and impacts, at least on paper.
The Phone (2a) has dimensions of 161.74 x 76.32 x 8.55 mm and dual stereo speakers.
It remains uncertain whether this design will be a standard for all upcoming Nothing phones, such as the Phone (3), or specifically reserved for the cheaper A-series phones
Display
The Phone (2a) features a 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display with a resolution of 1084 x 2412 pixels and a pixel density of 394 PPI.
The display of the Phone (2a) also offers a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz, adapting to the content being displayed for smooth and fluid interactions. Additionally, it boasts a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, which brings a responsive touch input for gaming and other interactive tasks.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The display has a built-in fingerprint scanner and offers face unlock using front camera. It also comes with a pre-applied screen protector.
Performance
The Phone (2a) is powered by the custom Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, which has been co-engineered with MediaTek specifically for the phone.
This chipset, built on TSMC’s latest second-generation 4nm process technology, claims to offer exceptional performance with optimal power consumption.
With its 8-core architecture and clock speeds of up to 2.8GHz, the Dimensity 7200 Pro was built to ensure swift and responsive multitasking, outperforming its predecessors while being 16% more power-efficient.
As Nothing Product Marketing Manager Raymond Zhu explains, Nothing decided that the Dimensity 7200 Pro offered better performance than Qualcomm’s similar-spec 7s Gen 2 and 782G in internal testing. This makes sense, given the more advanced 4nm process matches the technology found on the Phone (2) and regular iPhone 15.
It also comes in multiple configurations to cater to different user needs. The Phone (2a) offers options for 8GB or 12GB of RAM (plus an 8GB RAM booster). In terms of storage, users can choose between 128GB or 256GB variants, ensuring plenty of space for apps, photos, videos, and other media.
However, while there’s Dual-SIM support, you can’t expand the storage with a Micro-SD card.
Cameras
The Phone (2a) has a very similar camera system to the Phone (2).
It features a dual 50Mp rear camera setup, with the main sensor sporting a wide f/1.88 aperture and optical image stabilization (OIS) with auto focus for improved low-light performance and steady shots.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The secondary 50Mp ultra-wide sensor offers a f/2.2 aperture and a 114-degree field of view for capturing expansive landscapes and group shots.
On the front, the Phone (2a) houses a 32Mp selfie camera, which should help with crisp and detailed self-portraits.
The rear cameras offer shooting videos in 4K 30fps, while 1080p 60fps is available on all three cameras.
Battery & charging
With a substantial 5000mAh battery capacity, the Phone (2a) will hopefully deliver all-day battery life.
For context, this is more than both the Phone (1)’s 4500mAh battery and the Phone (2)’s 4700mAh capacity. Nothing also claims that the Phone (2a) is capable of providing up to two days of use on a single charge.
The Phone (2a) is apparently capable of charging to 50% in 23 minutes and to 100% in 59 minutes. Nothing also claims that the Phone (2a) is capable of providing up to two days of use on a single charge.
It also supports 45W fast charging, and can supposedly charge to 50% in 23 minutes and 100% in 59 minutes.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Unfortunately, there is no charging brick included and the Phone (2a) also doesn’t support wireless charging.
Connectivity
The Nothing Phone (2a) offers comprehensive connectivity options, including support for both 5G and 4G LTE networks. It features dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 technology, enabling it to pairing with peripherals such as headphones and speakers.
Additionally, there’s also NFC, GPS and a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer.
Software
The Phone (2a) runs on Nothing OS 2.5, which is based on Android 14.
Nothing OS 2.5 aims to offer a fast and smooth user experience with very little bloatware, slick transitions and reduced distractions.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
It also provides a nice level of customisation, with many unique design elements, including the Glyph Interface and a range of Nothing’s own widgets.
Additionally, the Phone (2a) guarantees three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.
Read our full Nothing Phone (2a) review to see what we think of the phone.
Not convinced? Maybe a different mid-range phone will suit you better.
Author: Artur Tomala, Mobile Writer, Tech Advisor
Artur is a Mobile Writer at Tech Advisor, where he covers a range of smartphone, tablet and smartwatch-related topics. He has been working in the tech industry since 2021, including time spent leading a team focused on mobile news, reviews and product rankings. As an ambassador for the productivity app Notion, he runs training workshops and creates advanced templates to help people stay organised and productive.