In this ocean of glass rectangles, if you’re after a smartphone that truly sets itself apart, Nothing phones might be your only real choice. As a startup, they don’t have the sheer variety like giants. However, with the launch of the Phone (2a), the Carl Pei-led brand now caters to the mid-to-top tier range. So, if you’re drawn to the transparent design,Glyph lights, and other cool features but are unsure which of these three Nothing phones suits you, MySmartPrice is at your rescue!
Nothing Phone (1): The base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage costs Rs 29,999, the mid variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant costs Rs 31,999, and the top variant costs Rs 35,999.
Nothing Phone (2a): The latest Phone (2a) is the cheapest of them all and starts at Rs 23,999 for the 8GB+ 128GB variant. The 8GB + 256GB costs Rs 25,999, and the 12GB + 256GB costs Rs 27,999. However, there are plenty of launch offers which reduce these prices significantly.
Nothing Phone (2): The 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant of the Phone (2) costs Rs 36,999, and the top-of-the-line variant with the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant costs Rs 38,999.
Design
Nothing Phone (1): This was Nothing’s debut phone, introducing the now-iconic transparent design and Glyph lights. Striking a perfect balance between size extremes, it’s neither too bulky nor too small, measuring 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm and weighing 193 grams.
Nothing Phone (2a): The latest addition shares almost the same dimensions as its flagship counterpart. But it comes with a slightly darker back panel and fewer Glyph lights. Besides, it uses a horizontal camera setup instead of the vertical one found on the other two Nothing devices.
Nothing Phone (2): The Phone (2) marks Nothing’s first foray into the flagship segment. While maintaining the brand’s signature design language, it exudes a more premium feel. This is achieved through subtly curved edges, a slightly larger footprint, and the introduction of a sleek grey colour option. It also boasts increased Glyph lights and weighs around 200 grams.
In terms of looks, all three smartphones have Nothing’s iconic transparent design DNA. While the Phone (1) and Phone (2) feature more Glyph lights and a completely transparent back, the Phone (2a) comes with fewer lights and packs a bit darker back compared to the other two.
Display
Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (1): It features a 6.55-inch OLED display with a punch-hole camera in the top-left corner, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a typical brightness of 500 nits, reaching a peak of 1200 nits. The display boasts a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and is safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Nothing Phone (2a): This model showcases a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The 10-bit display offers a resolution of 1084 x 2412 pixels and, like its counterpart, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The smartphone boasts a typical brightness of 700 nits, 1100 nits of outdoor brightness, and a peak brightness of 1300 nits.
Nothing Phone (2): It also presents a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 1600 nits. Additionally, it benefits from the protection of Corning Gorilla Glass.
The Phone (2a) appears to be the clear winner in this comparison. It offers a display nearly identical to the more premium Phone (2) but at a significantly lower price. With good typical brightness and a variable refresh rate that preserves battery life, it doesn’t compromise on the 6.7-inch screen size. However, it doesn’t imply that the display on the Phone (2) is subpar; it remains potent even by 2024 standards. In contrast, Phone (1) seems to be lagging in this competition, after all it’s nearly a two year old phone at this time.
Performance and UI
Nothing Phone (1): It was launched with Android 12, but thankfully, it’s upgradeable to Android 14. It runs on the Nothing OS 2.5.2. The device draws power from the Snapdragon 778G+ chipset, which is a bit old by 2024 standards, but it will still perform well for all the day-to-day tasks without any hiccups.
Nothing Phone (2a): This is the first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset; apart from that, it runs on the Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. It will provide four years of security updates and three years of software updates.
Nothing Phone (2): It also runs on the latest Android 4-based Nothing OS 2.5. But the main highlight of this smartphone is its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which is paired with the Adreno 730 GPU. Despite its age, this chipset delivers a flagship-like experience in 2024, smoothly handling heavy games and apps.
The best part about all the Nothing smartphones is that they all come with a bloatware-free UI, which is a big plus. Apart from that, in terms of UI, all three smartphones will deliver similar results. But when it comes to performance, the Phone (2) takes the first position, followed by the Phone (2a), and the first-generation Phone (1) clearly falls a lot behind the other two contenders.
Cameras
Phone (2a)
Nothing Phone (1): It houses a dual camera setup at the back with a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.9 and OIS support and a 50MP ultrawide sensor with f2.2 and 114˚ field of view. The camera supports 4K videos at 30 fps and 1080p videos at up to 60 fps. On the front, it houses the 16MP selfie shooter.
Nothing Phone (2a): The latest addition to Nothing’s smartphone lineup features a 50MP primary sensor with f88 and supports OIS and EIS autofocus paired with a 50MP ultrawide sensor with f2.2 and 114˚ field of view. On the front, there’s a 32MP selfie camera. The smartphone can shoot 4k 30fps and 1080p up to 120fps. It has many other camera features like night, motion, capture, and action modes.
Nothing Phone (2): It comes with the 50MP primary sensor with f/1.9 and the same 50MP ultrawide sensor with a 114˚ field of view. On the front, it features a 32MP selfie shooter with f/2.5. However, the best part about this smartphone is that it supports 4k videos for up to 60fps, along with OIS and EIS support.
Regarding optics, all three smartphones will deliver excellent results even by 2024 standards. However, if video is your priority, then the flagship Phone (2) is your best bet. If photography is your usual chore, the newly arrived Phone (2a) is also a great option. Usually, Nothing smartphones are known for delivering solid colour accuracy, intricate details, good dynamic range, and an overall satisfying camera experience. So, regardless of your choice, you won’t be disappointed with its camera performance.
Battery
The Phone (1) has a 4500mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging. Phone (2a) boasts a 5000mAh battery, and the flagship Phone (2) features a 4700mAh battery. Interestingly, both smartphones support 45W fast charging. Unfortunately, none of these devices includes a charger in the box, so that’s an additional purchase.
Although all three smartphones can easily last through a day, Phone 1 falls behind with its 4500mAh battery and 33W fast charging support. On the other hand, Phones 2 and 2a will offer nearly identical charging speeds and battery life.
Verdict
The Nothing Phone (2a) seems like a clear winner in this comparison. It offers several great features like fast charging, a powerful chipset, dependable cameras, a slightly bigger battery, the same design DNA, and much more, at a much cheaper price tag than its flagship counterpart. Phone (2) and (2a)
Nevertheless, if you are looking for a smartphone that gives that additional premiumness both in terms of performance and design, and if you want that full fledged Glyph lights then the Phone (2) is certainly worth contemplating, especially if you can secure it at a discounted price.
