Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Review: A ‘plus’, that’s definitely not a pushover

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Review: British tech giant Nothing has introduced its latest smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which offers considerable improvements over the Nothing Phone (2a). The ‘Plus’ appears to be perfectly justified, as the latest launch has received features that are sure to startle you. In this review, we delve into the nuances of the updates and features the device promises to offer. 

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Review: Design

That translucent design, a signature of Nothing, is the first thing that takes your attention. The LED strip lights forming the Glyph Interface on the back of the phone enhance the aesthetics of the device. Featuring a plastic body with matte finish sides, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is comfortable to hold, offering a good grip. Weighing 190g, the device can be adjudged ‘lightweight’. On the back, you will find the camera setup featuring horizontally located shooters. 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Display

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus boasts a 6.7-inch Full HD+AMOLED screen with an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. Notably, it also comes with enhanced pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming, which can go up to 2160 Hz.

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The display is responsive, and using it for various tasks has been a breeze. The multimedia experience is smooth, ensuring vibrant colours with deep blacks. Further, the adaptive brightness adds a premium feel. 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Performance and Software

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus is a significant improvement over its predecessor and is on par with its contemporaries. The gaming experience with this device has been smooth. Notably, the battery drainage has not been an issue while playing games, which can be attributed to the new processor. The device shows no lag while multitasking or using multiple apps in the background. It runs on Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14. The UI has received major updates, making it intuitive and customizable. The UI is bloatware-free, which is a pleasant experience. The integration of AI in some of the features places this device among the next-gen capable devices in the market. The company promises three years of Android updates and four years of security patches. 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Camera

Boasting a dual camera setup, encompassing a 50MP primary sensor with OIS support complemented by a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, the camera performance is good. However, the pictures appear a bit more exposed sometimes under certain lighting conditions - likely due to post-processing that adds some extra colours to the outputs.

For selfies, you get a 50MP camera - a considerable upgrade from its predecessor - that captures decent photos, though the portrait selfies could have been better. 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Battery

The Nothing Phone 2a Plus packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 50W charging speed. The device requires about 45 minutes to get fully charged. If your smartphone usage involves social media browsing, watching content, making calls, or clicking photos, the device can give you a battery backup worth a day. 

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Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Verdict

Overall, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus makes a decent effort to balance the non-negotiable features expected from sub-Rs 30,000 devices while integrating features that give it a clear edge. The camera performance is good, and the device performs well overall. Aesthetically, it dons that unique design Nothing gets its recognition for. The UI experience is top-notch with a futuristic feel. However, the selfie portraits could be better, and some users might want to lay their hands on a glass back instead of the polycarbonate back it has. 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Pros and Cons  

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Pros

• Good performance with MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset
• Seamless UI with a bloatware-free experience 

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Review: Cons

• Camera performance could be better
• Plastic back in the sub-Rs.30,000 category