Nothing seems to be very bullish in the mid-range segment in the Indian markets. The Phone (2a) was recently launched, and now they’ve come up with the Plus variant of the same. Weirdly, though, Nothing claims that the Phone (2a) Plus is not an upgrade over the outgoing model. It’s hard to believe that it follows the same design language. However, there have been few changes inside the casing. For one, it comes with a newer processor and a better selfie camera. But do all these differences warrant a price hike? While the full review is still in progress, here are my initial impressions of this phone.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus First Impressions: Design and Display
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is available in two colourways: Grey and Black. I have the former with me. The back panel has a metallic finish, reminiscent of the Nothing Phone (1). While the Phone (1) had many glyph lights, the (2a) Plus has only a few, similar to the Nothing Phone (2a). That said, these are just as fun to look at.
The Phone (2a) Plus features a sleek design and feels incredibly lightweight. I enjoyed using it continuously without needing breaks. The side frame has a texture similar to a silicone cover. Despite its price, the phone feels quite premium.
The coil design on the back reminds me of the mazes we used to solve in newspapers; I keep playing with it. The screws on this phone are also visible. Overall, the (2a) Plus continues the legacy of the unique and ‘fun’ design language of the brand.
As for the display, like the Nothing Phone (2a), the (2a) Plus features a 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Nothing provides 1300 nits of peak brightness for the (2a) Plus.
So far, the display’s colours are bright and vivid. However, I’ll provide more details in my full review. In the audio department, this phone boasts a dual stereo speakers, which is good.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus First Impressions: Performance and Software
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G chipset, which is currently exclusive to this model. Other brands might adopt this chipset in the near future. The processor uses a 4nm Gen 2 TSMC process and includes an ARM Mali-G610 MC4 GPU. Everyday tasks are effortless on this phone, and the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate enhances the overall experience.
I haven’t tested any games on this phone yet, so stay tuned for that in my full review.
In the Antutu v10 benchmark, the Phone (2a) Plus scored 780,748 points, slightly surpassing the Realme 13 Pro and significantly outperforming the Vivo V30e in this price range.
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus runs on Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14 out of the box. The software offers a smooth and fast user experience without any bloatware, which is a big plus. If users are seeking a clean UI, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a strong contender. The widgets on this phone have a minimalistic look, which I really like, and the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has ChatGPT integration.
It has a 5000mAh battery like the outgoing model. The phone supports 50W fast charging, which is 5W more than the Nothing Phone (2a). However, the charging adapter is not included in the box, which is still quite disappointing.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus First Impressions: Cameras
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus features a 50-megapixel Samsung GN9 main camera with an f/1.88 aperture and a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture on the back.
For selfies, this phone has a 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 front camera with an f/2.2 aperture.
The daylight shots are impressive, with consistent and well-saturated colours. I’ll need to test the camera further in both daylight and low-light conditions to provide a final verdict.
Unfortunately, the rear camera setup of the Nothing Phone (2a) and the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is identical. The only difference is that the Phone (2a) has a 32-megapixel selfie camera, whereas the (2a) Plus features a 50-megapixel selfie camera.
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus First Impressions: Verdict
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus looks fantastic, performs well in everyday tasks, and its display offers accurate colours. However, compared to the Phone (2a), there’s hardly any difference, keeping in mind that the brand hasn’t launched the (2a) Plus as an upgrade to the (2a).
So, does the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus really provide the ‘Plus’ points at a slightly higher price? I will answer this question in my review. Stay tuned to MySmartPrice for my full review.
