Nothing Phone (2A) Plus Review: A Subtle Upgrade in the Mid-Range Market
The Nothing Phone (2A) Plus has arrived, presenting itself as a more robust iteration of its predecessor, the Nothing Phone (2A). While it doesn’t revolutionize the mid-range smartphone category, it introduces notable improvements and refinements that enhance its appeal. Here's a comprehensive look at what the Nothing Phone (2A) Plus offers and how it stacks up against its older sibling.
Design and Build
The Nothing Phone (2A) Plus retains the iconic design of the original 2A, featuring the same transparent back that showcases its internal components. The design includes the signature horizontal camera bump and rounded frame. While the design remains largely unchanged, the phone's back is noted for being somewhat prone to smudges and dust. It retains an IP54 rating, providing protection against dust and water splashes. The standout feature is the return of the Glyph LEDs on the rear, which serve various functions such as notification alerts, volume feedback, and even as a ring light for the camera.
Display and Performance
The display of the Nothing Phone (2A) Plus mirrors that of the 2A with a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED screen, boasting a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. However, the brightness has seen a slight improvement, reaching over 730 nits manually and up to 1100 nits in auto mode. The screen's sharpness and HDR10+ support ensure a vibrant viewing experience. On the performance front, the phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G chipset, an upgrade from the 7200 Pro in the original model. This results in approximately a 10% boost in CPU performance and up to 30% better graphics performance. The phone handles everyday tasks and gaming smoothly, with effective thermal management.
Battery and Charging
Battery life remains one of the Phone (2A) Plus’s strong suits, housing a 5,000 mAh battery that offers impressive longevity, with an active use score of 16 hours and 48 minutes. Charging speed has been modestly improved from 45W to 50W. With the proper adapter, the phone charges from 0 to 60% in half an hour and achieves a full charge in just over an hour. Although these improvements are incremental, they contribute to a better overall user experience.
Camera Performance
The Nothing Phone (2A) Plus retains the dual rear camera setup of the original model, featuring a 50MP main sensor and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. The primary enhancement is the upgraded 50MP front-facing camera, which now supports 4K video capture. Selfie quality has improved, offering better detail and color rendition. The main camera continues to deliver solid performance with detailed, vibrant photos, though it tends to overexpose slightly. The ultra-wide camera also performs well, particularly in low-light conditions, and its 4K video capture is notably detailed for this type of camera.
Software and Storage
Running on Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14, the Phone (2A) Plus offers a close-to-stock Android experience with customized aesthetics, including monochrome icons and pixelated fonts. The base model now comes with 256GB of storage, doubling the original 128GB, although it still lacks MicroSD expandability. The device promises three years of software updates and four years of security patches, aligning with current industry standards.
Conclusion
The Nothing Phone (2A) Plus is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that builds upon the strengths of its predecessor. It offers incremental improvements in display brightness, charging speed, and chipset performance, alongside an enhanced selfie camera. While the upgrades are not groundbreaking, they are meaningful, especially given that the price of the Plus model is only slightly higher than the original. For those in the market for a stylish, well-performing mid-range device, the Nothing Phone (2A) Plus presents a compelling option.
