Score Breakdown
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique Glyph LED interface
- Affordable at $399
- Clean Nothing OS
- Good 5000mAh battery
- Attractive transparent design
Cons
- No telephoto lens
- MediaTek chip not flagship-grade
- Glyph becomes less interesting over time
- No wireless charging
- Limited availability in US
Full Review
Design as a Feature
Nothing built a brand around transparency – literally. The Phone 2a’s frosted back reveals the internals and the Glyph LED strips can be programmed to light up in patterns for notifications, calls, and timers. It’s a genuine talking point and Nothing’s software for managing Glyph interactions is thoughtfully designed.
Nothing OS: Clean and Fast
Based on Android, Nothing OS strips away the bloat that plagues Samsung and even Google’s Pixel UI in some respects. The custom dot-matrix font and monochrome icon style create a coherent visual identity. Performance is smooth thanks to the optimised software, even on Dimensity 7200 Pro hardware.
Camera: Good Enough
The dual 50MP camera system – both main and ultrawide at 50MP – is unusual. The ultrawide captures wide-angle shots with more resolution than most phones at this price. Main camera daylight shots are clean and well-exposed. Night mode results are competitive for the price. The absence of a telephoto is the main limitation.
Key Specifications
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro |
|---|---|
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
| Display | 6.7" AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Camera | 50MP main + 50MP ultrawide |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 45W wired |
| Price | From $399 |
Verdict
The Nothing Phone 2a is the most interesting $399 phone you can buy. The Glyph interface is genuinely distinctive and Nothing OS is refreshingly uncluttered. Camera and performance don't match rivals at this price though.