Nothing Phone 2A Plus 12/256GB

Nothing Phone 2a Plus in Kenya

Nothing Phone 2a Plus , The recently launched smartphone (released 2024, August 03) by Nothing is a mid-range smartphone as part of the continuity of the Phone 2 series. It features the signature Glyph lights and a transparent back. The device runs on the Android 14 Operating System with Nothing OS 2.6. Featuring a massive 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080×2412 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate, the device will be powered by an upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) from the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset on Phone (2a).

It is now anchored by 256GB 8GB RAM or 256GB 12GB RAM for optimal operation (without a card slot for expansion). The main camera setup includes dual 50MP sensors and a single 50MP selfie camera. The device is powered by a 5000mAh battery. Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is now available in Black and Grey.

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Unique Selling Attributes

Striking Design and Unique Software:

• The phone’s design is not just eye-catching; it’s a statement. The metallic finish, achieved through innovative nano-coating and multi-layer printing techniques, gives it a unique and premium look.
• Nothing’s Glyph Interface adds a distinct aesthetic and functionality

Impressive Hardware and Performance:

• A more robust MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G chipset than the 7200 chip on Nothing (2a) for smoother and better performance.
• 7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and over 1 billion colors.
• 50 MP front camera with improved algorithms for true-to-life photos.
• The Nothing Phone 2a Plus is a photographer’s dream. With powerful and capable dual-50MP main cameras capable of 4K video recording and a 50MP front-facing lens for selfies and video chats, it’s ready to capture every moment in stunning detail.
• 8/12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
• 5,000 mAh battery with up to 22 hours of YouTube playback
• Fast charging: 50W-1-50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min.

Absolutely Nothing OS and Software Experience

• Powered by Android 14 with 3 years of software and 4 years of security updates.
• TrueLens Engine for enhanced photography.
• Voice control integration with ChatGPT for on-the-go assistance

Affordability

Despite its high-end features, Nothing Phone 2a Plus is surprisingly affordable. It’s a budget-friendly option that makes advanced technology more accessible to a wider audience.

Nothing Phone 2a Plus Features, Specifications, and Price in Kenya

Detailed Product Specifications

Design and Build

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has been officially announced, offering a bold design and budget-friendly pricing. Building on the success of the mid-ranger Nothing (2a) model, the Nothing (2a) Plus takes it a step further with more robust features and functionalities, making it a compelling choice for tech-savvy consumers.

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus stands out with its unique design features. It introduces new Glyphs and a dual-camera system. The handset’s design includes three Glyph strips, one of which serves as a progress bar for certain apps. The phone features a plastic back and sides, while the power button and volume rockers are made of aluminum, adding a touch of elegance to the design.

Dimensionwise, it measures 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) and weighs 190g. Size and weight are almost similar, with the fewest dimensions variations. A center camera module placement allows the phone to rest flat on the surface without wobbling. Indeed, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, like the 2a model, makes a perfect match for those looking for a unique design and solid features at a more accessible price point.

Other notable examples of the uniquely designed handset are:

• Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
• Large bright glass screen display
•  IP54 – splash, water and dust-resistant rating
• 3 LED lights on the back (notifications, camera fill light)
• Colorways: Black and Grey

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus Display

The device boasts a 120Hz AMOLED display, providing a smooth and vibrant visual experience. It features a 6.7-inch screen with a 1080 x 2412 pixels resolution, ensuring sharp and clear images. This display is one of the device’s highlights, offering impressive, high-quality visuals for a mid-range smartphone. The always-on-display feature ensures you get all notifications and time even when the handset is idle. A Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the immersive screen from scratches, finger smudges, and breaking from accidental falls.

Camera Set up

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus boasts a dual-rear camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor. This camera system is designed to deliver high-quality images and supports various photography modes to enhance the user experience. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or love capturing moments, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’ camera capabilities are sure to impress. It captures stunning pictures and records 4K and 1080p videos, with gyro-EIS for image stabilization.

Performance

To ensure top performance, the Nothing handset comes equipped with:

Operating System

It runs on Android 14, complemented by Nothing OS 2.6. Nothing OS 2.6, based on Android 14, brings various new features and improvements to enhance your user experience on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. Notably, the Android 14 on the 2a Plus model will get up to 3 Android upgrades, which is commendable. Some of the key features of the OS and UI include:

• Customization: The home screen and lock screen customization page have been redesigned and improved. New wallpaper effects, such as Atmosphere and Glass, have been added, and the monochrome color theme is synonymous with Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.
• Glyph Interface: Integration with Google Calendar for the Glyph Progress bar, time presets for the Glyph Timer, and access to the Glyph Timer directly from the lock screen.
• Widgets: the OS provides new widgets for the pedometer, media player, and screen time, which can be updated through the Nothing Widgets app on the Google Play Store after installing the firmware update.

Compared to the Nothing 2.5, the Nothing 2.6 improves User Interface.

• Game Mode: Both versions have this feature, but 2.6 offers improved gaming performance.
• Pop-up View: Available in both, but 2.6 enhances multitasking with floating app windows.
• AI Vivid Mode: Introduced in 2.6, it enhances image quality for a more vibrant display.
• Battery Health: Monitors and optimizes battery usage in both versions.

Overall, Nothing continues to refine its software, with the latest upgrade on Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offering a better user experience compared to Nothing Phone (2a), which runs on Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5, and (1), which runs on Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5.2.

Processor

The MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset powers the device. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset on Nothing 2a is inferior to the more robust Dimensity 7350 Chip on Nothing (2a) Plus, providing it with more robust performance capabilities. Some fundamental details about the chipset include:

• Architecture: the chipset is built on TSMC’s advanced 4nm process technology, which offers a balance of power efficiency and performance.
• CPU Configuration: Octa-core (2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510). Such an advanced CPU makes high-level tasks and multi-tasking across multiple open apps seamless through increased and improved processing efficiency.
• GPU: The MediaTek Dimensity 7350 chipset integrates a Mali-G610 MC4, which effectively supports high-quality graphics and gaming experiences.

The Dimensity 7350 ensures powerful performance, efficient multitasking, and impressive battery life for Nothing (2a) Plus handset.

Storage Capacity

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus comes in 3 storage variants:

• 256GB 8GB RAM
• 256GB 12GB RAM

These components (RAM and internal storage) provide a smooth and efficient user experience, whether for everyday tasks or more demanding applications. This is a high performance based on its RAM, ROM capacities, robust installed Chipset, and 5G network configurations. Although it does not support additional memory (no MicroSD), the installed storage specifications on each model are sufficient to get the job done regarding the storage of apps, software, downloaded files, and multimedia file storage.

Network, Connectivity, and Communication Support on Nothing Phone (2a) Plus

The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers a comprehensive range of network, connectivity, and communication features. They include:

• Network Support: It supports a variety of 5G bands, including n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, n28, n38, n39, n40, n41, n66, n77, and n78, as well as multiple 4G (FDD and TDD), 3G, and 2G bands. HSPA, LTE-A, and 5G network speed provide the much-desired superfast uploading and downloading of large files at record speed. Also, 5G guarantees seamless video communications across various video platforms such as Google Video, Zoom, Facebook, and other supported platforms.
• Wireless Connectivity Options: The device includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC for near-field communications.
• Wired Connectivity: it comes with USB Type-C 2.0, OTG, which is a letdown considering there are upgraded and more efficient USB variants that are faster, safer, and more efficient in data transfer and power charging.
• Communication Features: Nothing Phone (2a) Plus comes with dual Nano SIM support and multiple antennas for improved signal reception. The phone also features GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS for location services.

These highlighted features ensure that the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus can provide robust connectivity and communication capabilities across various networks and regions. However, compatibility with certain network bands may vary based on regional availability and local carrier support.

Power and Battery Consumption

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is packed with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 50W wired fast charging. The large-capacity battery is designed to provide extended usage times, and the fast-charging capability allows for quick power-ups, making it convenient for users on the go. Specifically, the 50W wired unit provides 1-50% fast charging in 21 minutes and 1-100% in 56 minutes, which is quite impressive.

Power Management

Regarding power management, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus includes features to optimize battery life and ensure efficient power consumption. The device’s MediaTek Dimensity 7350 chipset has been co-engineered with MediaTek to deliver better software/hardware integration, leading to optimal power consumption. Additionally, the phone is reported to maintain at least 90% of its original battery capacity for at least 1,000 complete charge cycles, indicating a focus on longevity and sustainability.

Moreover, the device’s power management system is designed to balance performance and battery life, providing a smooth user experience without compromising the phone’s endurance. With these specifications, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers a reliable and efficient power solution, no matter how hard you push it on usage.

Pros and Cons of Nothing Phone (2a) Plus

Pros

• Great value for its price, based on its specs and the user experience it offers
• Nothing Phone (2a) Plus provides a smooth and vibrant visual experience.
• Eye-Catching Appearance: The phone boasts a striking metallic finish and a unique Glyph Interface design.
• Translucent back, through which you can see some of the internal components of the device
• It takes an impressive 4K photos suitable for social media sharing.
• More Optimized Performance: Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 chipset, it offers smooth multitasking.
• Good quality speakers for media consumption.
• Excellent battery life for extended use.
• The 5,000mAh battery charges pretty fast, ensuring less downtime.

Cons

• Nothing Phone (2a) Plus unique, rugged, polarizing design may not appeal to everyone
• The transparent back is prone to smudges and scratches
• Limited availability and accessibility on the market.
• Nothing Phone (2a) Plus caps out at 256GB, which might not be enough for all users.
• There are many concerns, especially about the long-term durability of the device.
• Underwhelming call quality.
• No Wireless Charging, which is quite unfortunate for an otherwise all-round handset.

Verdict

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a great smartphone and offers value for money as an alternative to the high-end smartphone status enjoyed by Samsung, Huawei, and Apple’s iPhones. It performs better than the (2a)  and (1) models, its predecessors. The transparent back with the Glyph interface is appreciated for its distinctiveness and retro style. While the plastic build may not feel premium, it makes the phone light and helps maintain a lower price point. In terms of performance, the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 chip provides smooth operations, and the device handles most tasks and games well. The 5000mAh battery offers solid battery life, lasting around two days with general use. Price-wise, it is affordable and value for money, with great features and specs available only on high-end models.

However, there are concerns about the phone’s durability, with the plastic back is prone to attracting dust and scratches. There are issues with underwhelming call quality, with some users pointing out subpar call clarity. Overall, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a standout budget Android phone that brings something different to the market with its design and Glyph lights, all at an affordable price. It is an upgrade to the (2a) model. If you love the brand, perhaps it is time to upgrade

Alternative Handsets

• Google Pixel 9
• Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
• Nothing Phone (2a)
• Oppo Reno 12 5G
• Xiaomi POCO X6

Check out the latest Nothing Phone in Kenya.