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Review: Nothing Phone 2a Plus - Updated Challenger

Last spring, we tested the predecessor to this Phone 2a Plus, and already now the successor is here.

Erik Mörner

Published 30 October 2024 - 11:11 Modified 24 January 2025 - 17:07

Since only a few months have passed, this is a phone that in almost every essential aspect is the same as the one we tested in the spring. Since its inception, Nothing has had a clear focus on design and price pressure. Not even the company's sharpest phones have had the absolute best performance. Instead, they have claimed that simpler components give the most value for money. Therefore, it is reasonable that most things are the same here, but that the performance gets a small boost. That and one of the cameras. The performance boost is not large, so it's not about a flagship chip but a modest upgrade, in line with the strategy. For this is still somewhat of a budget model.

Right choice

To keep the price down, you have to make priorities, compromises. Nothing does this honestly and well. A screen with 120 hertz is important, a glass back is not, so Nothing chooses plastic. An AMOLED screen is also a valuable asset and the cameras that are available all have a clear utility, there is no camera here just to let the manufacturer say "we have three cameras".

The design, attention to detail, and blinking diodes on the back, Nothing's Glyph interface clearly show that the level of ambition and functionality surpasses much of what we otherwise find in this price range.

Just like in the predecessor, the cameras in Nothing Phone 2a Plus provide images with fine dynamics, and this is particularly evident in challenging lighting environments. However, it loses quality when the light is lacking. Real optical zoom is missing, but 50 megapixels in the main camera allow you to get a little closer without losing much in detail and quality.

The system runs smoothly and is responsive. The performance is sufficient for everyday tasks like browsing, taking photos, banking, and so on, as well as a bit more. Not for anything particularly demanding, though. But with this price tag, it's completely okay.

Questions and answers:

What do the lights on the back do? They can clearly show notifications from your favorite app, blink in time with light, and display a countdown in graphical form, for example.