An impressive launch for the first mid-range phone from Nothing
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It was inevitable that off the back of pretty successful debuts with their first two flagship phones, Nothing would follow-up with a mid-range device to further broaden it’s market reach – and it’s done just that with the launch of the Nothing Phone (2a). A phone that GQ magazine has stated is “already 2024’s phone of the year”.
It’s by no means a perfect device, but sales of over 60,000 units within the first hour of launch in one market, go to show that there is clearly demand for the brand from customers who perhaps could not afford, or were not willing to spend, nearly £600 on a phone when the earlier Nothing Phone (1) and (2) models launched.
The brand clearly has some appeal, thanks to founder Carl Pei’s openness around design choices, engaging with the community and genuinely trying to design and create something different in a world of mobile innovation that has clearly slowed in recent years. We’ve said it here at Direct Mobiles before – foldable phones and Nothing are the two most exciting developments in the mobile phone market in years.
Whilst the Nothing Phone (2a) is expectedly missing some of the key features you’d find on flagship models, you’re still getting a lot of phone for your money, and that’s going to appeal in the current climate. Starting at around £319, the Phone (2a) has a similar unique design to the higher-end models, a bright OLED screen and Nothing’s famous ‘glyph’ LED lights on the back which are used for notifications.
To help keep the cost down, the phone body is made from plastic rather than metal and glass, but the phone is still well built and the features included at this price point are pretty impressive.
Nothing Phone (2a) Specifications
Screen: 6.7in 120Hz FHD+ OLED (394ppi)
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro
RAM: 8 or 12GB
Storage: 128 or 256GB
Operating system: Nothing OS 2.5 (Android 14)
Camera: 50MP main and ultrawide, 32MP selfie
Connectivity: 5G, eSIM, wifi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 and GNSS
Water resistance: IP54 (splash resistant)
Dimensions: 162 x 76.3 x 8.9mm
Weight: 190g
Nothing have been quick to highlight the sustainability and repairability elements of the phone. They say the battery will keep at least 90% of it’s full capacity for at least 1,000 charge cycles. Screen replacements cost £70, batteries cost £36 and labour for fitting them is around £35 from Nothing themselves.
Powered by a customised version of Android 14, the OS design is typically Nothing, with clean and simple icons and widgets.
For photo fans, the Phone (2a) has two 50 megapixel camera on the rear and and a 32MP selfie camera. Photography experts will no doubt spot the differences between photos snapped on the Phone (2a) and the say, the Phone (2) or Samsung S24 Ultra, but for the rest of us, it’s an impressive snapper for the money – perhaps sitting just slightly behind the Google Pixel 7a in terms of image quality.
It’s certainly an impressive entry into the mid-range for Nothing and a win for consumers who now have a bit more choice when it comes to which phone brand they choose.
The Nothing Phone (2a) starts at £319 and is available to order now direct from Nothing’s website.
