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    • Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: more of the same – with a plus
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    Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: more of the same – with a plus

    Umito Posted on

    It seemed that Nothing, the young British smartphone maker, had learned the rules of the game: a flashy launch, leaked teasers on social media and an aggressive marketing campaign running around the clock. However, this time, instead of all this fanfare, the company decided to surprise us with a discreet, almost secret launch of an improved version of the Nothing Phone (2a), called Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. But don’t let the “Plus” fool you: the screen remains the same size and the design hasn’t changed, except for a few subtle metallic touches. The iconic Glyph, the LED light interface on the back of the device, retains its shape, as does the camera setup, with only minor changes.

    So what’s different? Well, Nothing, probably in response to the comments, decided to upgrade the processor. The Phone (2a) Plus comes with a dedicated chip, the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro, which is more powerful than its predecessor in terms of processing and graphics performance. This upgrade comes with a slight price increase: 1,749 shekels in Israel, with official import via Bug Network. So, is it worth paying more for the extra power? We tested it and came back with answers.

    Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

    Familiar design, familiar feel

    As we’ve already hinted, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus remains almost entirely faithful to the original Phone (2a) design. This means that once again we get the transparent signature on the back, allowing a glimpse into the inner workings of the device. On the front, there is a high-quality 6.7-inch AMOLED display, offering a resolution of 1084×2412 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, just like the previous model.

    Once again, Nothing has chosen to use plastic for the frame of the device in order to keep the price attractive. While plastic contributes to a lightweight (190 grams) and comfortable grip, compared to an aluminum frame, it can sometimes give off a “cheaper” feeling. However, that’s not the case here, and the overall in-hand feel is solid. The device feels stable and high quality, without any feeling of being “too cheap”.

    For those who aren’t yet familiar with Nothing’s unique gadget, here’s a quick recap: On the back of the device, around the camera setup, are LED lights that make up the Glyph interface. The Glyph, which could be seen as a marketing gimmick or cosmetic addition, is actually the feature that sets Nothing devices apart the most. It acts as a smart notification light, and in the Glyph interface you can choose different lighting combinations for calls and messages from a range of options (including custom sound settings). Here too, it is identical to the Nothing Phone (2a).

    Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

    Performance

    As mentioned, the main reason for the existence of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is the hardware upgrade, or in other words: the new processor. The chip in question is the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro, developed in collaboration between Nothing and MediaTek (often called the “Chinese Qualcomm”), making it exclusive to the Phone (2a) Plus. According to the company, the new chip offers a 30% improvement in graphics performance and a 10% increase in processing performance. But do these promises hold up in real life?

    In our performance tests, we noticed a slight improvement, but nothing dramatic. The Phone (2a) Plus scored 1,205 in Geekbench 6, compared to 1,099 in the previous model. So what does this mean in practice? In daily use, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus generally worked well: applications opened quickly and switching from one menu to another was smooth. However, with more demanding games, the device started to show signs of fatigue and heat up.

    In summary, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers good performance for its class, but it’s not a huge improvement over the previous model. It is ideal for the average user who wants a fast and reliable device for everyday use, with an emphasis on better graphics performance. Still, serious gamers will likely prefer a device with a more powerful processor.

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    Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

    Interface

    The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus runs on Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14. What sets this interface apart is its minimalist approach. It is free from unnecessary apps and offers simple icons and bars based on geometric shapes. If you don’t like Nothing’s unique style, you can also opt for a clean, standard Android design. Either way, the interface is smooth and responsive, providing a pleasant and easy-to-use experience.

    Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

    Camera: Déjà vu?

    You won’t be surprised, but the rear camera setup of the Phone (2a) Plus remains exactly the same. Like the previous model, the main camera setup includes two sensors: a 50-megapixel wide camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

    Taken with Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)
    Taken with Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)
    Taken with Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (credit: Yinon Ben Shushan)

    But wait, there’s a change! Nothing has improved the front camera sensor. Instead of the 32-megapixel sensor that records Full HD videos, the Phone (2a) Plus comes with a 50-megapixel sensor that records 4K videos.

    To view the images in full quality, click here.

    Image quality? (Yes, again)

    Well, when shooting in daylight, the results are impressive. The main camera takes sharp, detail-rich photos with accurate colors. The ultra-wide camera is also good, but with slightly less detail and some edge distortion (as is the case with most phones). As we mentioned in our previous review, even when zooming in on a computer screen, images retain their quality. In low light conditions, the image quality drops a bit, but the camera system automatically adds lighting.

    That said, we found that it took a bit of patience to get a good shot (a few seconds of stability). Additionally, the improvement in the selfie camera is noticeable. Images taken in natural light look great, with sharp details and accurate colors, which is certainly a significant improvement over the previous generation.

    Conclusion: plus-minus

    There is no doubt that the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a good device. It offers a slight performance boost, an improved selfie camera, and a unique design. But does all this justify a reissue and the “Plus” label? We’re not entirely convinced. We also fear that Nothing will follow the path of many Chinese manufacturers, releasing slight variations of the same device to flood the market. This is not what we expected from this bold brand, which aspires to be the “people’s Apple”.

    Still, discounting the high expectations, the Phone (2a) Plus is a solid device with improved performance and a unique design. Considering the small price difference (around 400 NIS) compared to the previous model, the dedicated processor and improved performance justify the investment. Priced at NIS 1,749 at Bug Network, the Phone (2a) Plus is an attractive choice for the average user.



    Umito
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