In a move set to shake up the smartphone market, Nothing has unveiled its latest device, the Phone (2a) Plus.
Building on the success of the Phone (2a), the new Plus version aims to deliver enhanced performance and better cameras, without losing the striking design that we’ve come to associate with Nothing phones.
Available in new Grey and Black metallic finishes, the phone’s design appears to be both sleek and functional.
The back features the distinctive Glyph Interface, which provides essential information without needing to turn on your screen, aiming to avoid the constant disruption of audible notifications.
In fact, the design doesn’t differ too much from the Phone (2a) we are already familiar with. It means there are just three lights at the top of the back of the phone, rather than the more extensive Phone (2) version.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The Phone (2a) Plus features the same 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 2.4K (2412×1084) resolution as the Phone (2a), offering stunning colour accuracy and vivid visuals. The 120Hz refresh rate also ensures smooth and responsive navigation, adapting between 30Hz and 120Hz to conserve battery life.
The screen is flat with a slim, symmetrical bezel, protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The phone also has an IP54 rating against dust and water.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
When it comes to performance, the Phone (2a) Plus boasts a MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G processor, designed exclusively for Nothing.
With cutting-edge TSMC 4nm Gen 2 technology and eight cores running up to 3.0 GHz, this phone should deliver strong performance, including when multitasking or gaming. The ARM Mali-G610 MC4 graphics unit should also help with graphic-intensive apps.
This is a step up from the Phone (2a), which uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro. It was a solid performer in our full review but likely not as powerful as the 7350 Pro in the Plus model.
Both phones offer up to 12GB of RAM, though the Plus has the capacity for an additional 8GB of virtual memory. That could be a significant advantage for power users.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The (2a) Plus has the same 50Mp main and 50Mp ultrawide rear lenses, but the selfie camera on the front has been upgraded to 50Mp from 32Mp. However, we know by now that a higher megapixel count doesn’t automatically equal better photos.
The Phone (2a) Plus also brings a new AI Vivid Mode that enhances photos with vibrant colours and higher contrast, while Ultra XDR technology, co-developed with Google, aims for more true-to-life lighting.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The Phone (2a) Plus features a 5000mAh battery and 50W wired charging that, according to Nothing, offers “day of power in under 20 minutes”, though it’s not clear what rough percentage it’s referring to.
The Phone (2a) also has a 5000mAh battery but supports slightly slower 45W charging. In our testing of this phone, it performed well in terms of battery life, but there’s still no charger in the box or wireless charging support.
Running on Nothing OS 2.6 and powered by Android 14, the Phone (2a) Plus aims to deliver a smooth, distraction-free user experience. It features the latest Game Mode improvements that block notifications and enhance frame rates for a more immersive experience.
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
Connor Jewiss / Foundry
The Phone (2a) Plus will cost £399 via the Nothing website. After a limited release on 3 August, full availability and international pricing will be revealed in September.
That’s £80 more expensive than the regular Phone (2a) was at launch, and there aren’t that many differences between the two. Unless you need more performance or a better selfie camera, you might be just as happy with the cheaper phone.
See how they compare to more alternatives in our guide to the best mid-range phones.
