Ahead of the Nothing Phone (2a) India launch event on March 5th, the handset was showcased globally at MWC 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. The upcoming Nothing smartphone is believed to be a toned-down version of the regular Phone 2 (review) that will appeal to budget buyers. The handset will tout the glyph interface underneath the transparent back. Additionally, the handset will boast a new chipset, a flat-edged design, and two distinct camera rings positioned at the centre of the rear panel. Having spent some time with the device, we’re eager to share our Nothing Phone (2a) first impressions.
Table of Contents
Design
Although inspired by its elder sibling, the design of the Nothing Phone (2a) looks distinct and unique. Part of this distinction is due to the dual rear cameras, which are positioned horizontally and reminiscent of futuristic robots from Pixar movies. There is a hump around the cameras, but it seamlessly blends into the glossy transparent glass on the back panel. The transparent glass reveals a more simplified glyph interface in comparison to the Phone 2, with three LED lights only around the camera modules. Unlike the previous Nothing phones, there are no LED lights at the bottom half of the Phone (2a). Instead, it sports a pattern reminiscent of a ribbon connector. Additionally, the handset lacks wireless charging, which makes sense if the brand is going for an affordable price tag.
The smartphone flaunts flat edges with a matte finish, offering a comfortable good grip on the device. The volume buttons are on the right spine of the phone, while the left edge sports a power button. As for I/O, the handset features a Type-C port for charging and data transfer at the bottom edge along with a speaker grille and SIM ejector tray.
Colour variants
Similar to Nothing Phone 1 and 2, the Phone (2a) comes in two colour variants: Black and White.
Glyph Interface
The Glyph Interface on the Nothing Phone (2a) is assisted by a couple of LED modules placed in circular arcs and a straight module placed vertically on the right-hand side of the back panel. The interface offers pretty much the same functionality as the Nothing Phone 2. They light up for calls and notifications, timers, progress indicators, and more.
Performance
Performance on the Nothing Phone (2a) has been taken care of by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC. This is a slightly customised version of the Dimensity 7200 and is paired with 12GB of RAM and an additional 8GB of virtual RAM. The company claims the chipset offers better performance than its counterpart Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and Snapdragon 782G SoCs. This will be thoroughly tested in our full review, so stay tuned to 91mobiles.
No bloatware
Unlike other smartphones within the segment, the Nothing Phone (2a)’s software is said to be relatively clean. Nothing has claimed there will be no third-party apps pre-installed on the smartphone.
