Nothing Phone 2a Competes with Mid-Range Devices
The Nothing Phone 2a is the latest addition to the company’s burgeoning lineup of smartphones in the market, but this time it feels different. The Phone 2a positions itself as a solid mid-range option for buyers, but Nothing should and shouldn’t understand that competing under Rs 25,000 is different and the requirements are even higher than those spending Rs 35,000 or even Rs 50,000.
The Phone 2a has a lot going for it, and most importantly, its focus on software is refreshing. Here we talk about the key elements that can give the Phone 2a a solid shout and attract buyers in the country.
No design, now cheaper
Nothing Phone 2a brings a twist of transparent design to a new category. You don’t get Glyph lights in a bigger way, but it’s there. The camera layout now looks like two eyes staring at you, while the bottom shows screws and other parts of the panel.
The glass frame has been replaced with a polycarbonate plastic frame and panel, which doesn’t look cheap, but picks up scratches easily. Thanks to the use of the Glyph light, placing the phone on its back means that characters are easily visible. That being said, these cost cuts are more than acceptable considering the overall quality isn’t any bigger, and that counts.
No operating system is smooth
No Phones have proven their worth due to OS sharpness, and the Phone 2a is now seeing its benefits as well. This interface and software as a whole reminds us of OxygenOS from its early years. We’ve seen the software grow with the Phone 1, then the Phone 2, and now the 2a, all the flagship UI features for a lot less money. Nothing has clearly found the right tuning between the OS and the hardware, which means you get a smooth experience.
If that’s not enough, the Phone 2a has no bloatware aside from the standard Google apps. And yes, no ads either. For a long time, people in this segment have been talking about these, and now Phone 2a gives them a break from all that. The phone is promised 3 OS updates as well as 4 years of security updates, which means you’re good for a few years.
Changing the screen
Nothing has decided to switch from OLED to an AMOLED LTPO panel on the phone 2a. You get a 6.78-inch display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, which means outdoor visibility is decent.
Colors are sharp and vibrant, but the main advantage of this switch is that it puts less stress on the hardware, which extends battery life. The frames of the screen are symmetrical, which adds to the overall aesthetics of the front of the device.
Pro Hardware Speaks
Nothing to say it worked with MediaTek for the Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset with up to 12GB of RAM. The performance of the hardware has not been cut, but it can handle games without overheating.
In the ordinary course of things, Nothing’s OS tuning means hardware specs don’t share the limelight. So yes, the Phone 2a will benefit from these changes, and we think future updates should improve it. The 5,000mAh battery easily lasts more than a day of normal use, which is fine for most people.
What about the cameras?
How does the 50MP dual rear camera setup work? We found that images taken in bright conditions were sharp with details. Even the macro shots turned out well. However, we did feel a little confused in low light, but nothing a few tweaks can certainly fix, something we noticed on the Phone 2 before.
Nothing is entering a new segment with the Phone 2a, but all the ingredients suggest that its focus on mid-range buyers might be fruitful and give people something different to think about without spending a fortune.
