The Nothing Phone (2a) is set to deliver the quintessential Nothing experience, but at a significantly reduced price point.
The UK-based smartphone manufacturer, Nothing, renowned for its distinctive smartphone designs, is poised to unveil its third offering, the Nothing Phone (2a), on March 5. During the Mobile World Congress 2024, Nothing offered a sneak peek of its forthcoming device. Although the design has been showcased, many details about the Nothing Phone (2a) remain shrouded in mystery.
Here’s a comprehensive look at what we know so far about the soon-to-be-released Nothing Phone (2a), anticipated to be the most budget-friendly option in the brand’s lineup.
A similar design
The rear panel of the Phone (2a) clearly embodies the brand’s design ethos, yet it stands out markedly from its predecessors due to the unique arrangement of its dual-camera setup at the top center, accompanied by three Glyph light bars. This horizontal camera alignment grants the phone a fresh appearance, with the design of the entire back panel appearing to be centered around the camera module.
In a promotional video, Nothing has confirmed that the Phone (2a) will feature both a plastic frame and back panel, distinguishing it from its predecessors. However, the device retains metal for its power and volume buttons, offering a sleek contrast, especially on the white variant which sports black buttons, reminiscent of the design aesthetic seen in the Pixel 4a.
Notably, the Phone (2a) is equipped with just three Glyph light bars, in contrast to the eleven found on the Phone (2). This, along with its plastic construction, suggests the new model could be significantly lighter than its predecessors. Detailed examination also reveals that the Nothing Phone (2a) will not support wireless charging, a departure from what has been a consistent feature in the brand’s previous smartphones.
Viewed from the front, the Nothing Phone (2a) mirrors the appearance of the Phone (2). Leaks suggest that the Phone (2a) is equipped with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, boasting a 120Hz refresh rate, and it also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for enhanced security and convenience.
MediaTek Chipset
Recently, Carl Pei, the CEO of Nothing, announced that the Phone (2a) is driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC, indicating a strong performance foundation. Additionally, teaser images for the Phone (2a) have revealed that the device will come with up to 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. While previous models from the brand did not feature a microSD card slot, the Phone (2a) is expected to support dual nano SIM slots, maintaining a focus on connectivity and storage flexibility.
The MediaTek Dimensity 7200, powering the Nothing Phone (2a), is an octa-core chipset manufactured by TSMC utilizing a second-generation 4nm process, boasting a maximum CPU clock speed of 2.8 GHz and an Arm Mali G610 MC4 GPU. This SoC supports UFS 3.1 storage, a feature expected to be utilized in the Phone (2a), enhancing the device’s performance and storage capabilities. Additionally, it includes the APU 650 for AI-related tasks, indicating a focus on intelligent processing and functionality.
Given the Dimensity 7200’s specifications, the Nothing Phone (2a) will support 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 6E, ensuring top-tier communication capabilities. Leaks also hint at the continuation of a dual 50 MP rear camera setup from previous models, possibly with upgraded sensors for even better photography results.
Another significant leak points to the Phone (2a) being equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, the largest battery capacity ever included in a Nothing phone, promising extended battery life. The device is also rumored to support 45W fast charging, further enhancing its user convenience and efficiency.