Nothing Phone 2a came out a few months back and we have already got the first Plus moniker from the brand in the market. Unlike the usual Plus models, Nothing has not increased the size of the screen, or bumped up the camera specs. However, you do get some upgrades in the hardware and the charging speed. So, when Nothing decided to send us the Phone 2a Plus review unit, we were eager to see what the new device priced at Rs 27,999 offers that the regular 2a didn’t bring to the table earlier this year. Here’s what we found.
No Changes In The Display Or Back Cameras
Nothing shared the details for the Phone 2a Plus and we were eager to see if there are any physical changes. But what we found is that the screen is the same 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that we saw on the Phone 2a and even the screen resolution and the refresh rate support is unchanged. Make no mistake, the display on the Phone 2a is bright, the colours are crisp and the AMOLED panel gives you the deep black output.
Having it paired with a 120Hz refresh rate screen means the Phone 2a Plus display is fluid and offers smooth navigation and scrolling. We would have liked to see some changes, but the brand has gone with features that work.
Similarly, the back cameras on the Phone 2a Plus remain the same and offer decent quality in daylight but the low light imaging could use some improvements. However, the front camera has now been bumped up with a 50MP shooter which supports 4K recording.
Performance Boost, Barely
The main upgrade on the Phone 2a Plus comes in the form of the new MediaTek Dimensity 7350 chipset which is supposed to be an upgrade on the Dimensity 7050 version. The Phone 2a was launched with the Dimensity 7200 Pro version and going by the benchmark tests of the Phone 2a and 2a Plus, we noticed around a performance jump of around 10 percent that also became evident (slightly) during the real time tests.
For regular users, the difference might be negligible and they might not even observe the possible changes. However, we did feel the camera processing is faster on the 2a Plus and even some improvements on the camera front.
New Silver Coat Is Nice
The Phone 2a Plus comes in a new silver coating which gives it a nice sheen and makes it look different from the black version.
The metal lining sits underneath the plastic panel, giving you the classic transparent design profile which has been Nothing’s focus since day one. Once again, there is nothing wrong with the design and look of the Phone 2a but at least 2a Plus has a new coat and we liked it.
Still The Best, Bloatware-Free OS
The one important aspect of the Nothing phone that should never change is its focus on bloatware-free software. The NothingOS version is ubiquitous and we were pleased to see the brand bring the same OS experience to its affordable CMF Phone 1 model as well.
It has been hard to find a phone in the sub Rs 30,000 bracket to come without annoying ads and preloaded apps, the Phone 2a Plus is another addition to the lineup for the company. You also get new widgets and the UI optimised for AI features in the future.
Battery Charging Bump, If Any
Nothing Phone 2a Plus packs the same 5000mAh battery unit but now you get it with 50W charging support, which is a marginal 5W upgrade from the Phone 1, Phone 2, and even the Phone 2a models.
The battery life of the Phone 2a was quite good and we have noticed the same levels from the Phone 2a Plus unit as well.
Nothing claims the Phone 2a Plus was meant to launch along with the Phone 2a but after going through these features, it doesn’t feel like the Phone 2a buyers will feel aggrieved. However, if you are looking for a new phone, the 2a Plus or even the 2a is worth looking at based on the budget and colour preferences.
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