In this day and age where almost every smartphone looks the same, Nothing has carved out a niche for itself by focusing on consumers who prioritize design and uniqueness in their phones. Keeping in line, the company’s Phone 2 marked a significant leap in specs, making it a strong competitor in the upper-midrange segment. However, this price increase has created a void in the sub-$400 category, where the previous Phone 1 made a name for itself. Now, according to the latest rumors, Nothing is preparing to launch a new budget-friendly smartphone—the Nothing Phone 2a. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
When will the Nothing Phone 2a launch?
While the official release date is unclear, the latest rumors point to a launch on February 27th at MWC 2024 in Barcelona. However, this date might be subject to change as new rumors surface.
Nothing Phone 2a: Design and Display
Design has always been Nothing’s strong suit since it has always come out with unique and bold smartphones. The Nothing Phone 2a appears to continue this trend, with recent rumors hinting towards a black and white color scheme complemented by three Glyph LED light strips surrounding the circular camera module.
Additionally, real-life images of the rear confirm a dual-camera setup. Furthermore, similar to the Nothing Phone 2, the device is expected to offer granular-level LED control features, enabling integration with third-party apps.
Moving to the front, the phone sports a center punch-hole cutout to accommodate the selfie camera. Finally, as for the display, reports suggest a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED display, with always-on functionality hinting at an LTPO panel.
Specifications
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 2a will house the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, marking a departure from the Snapdragon chips used in its predecessors. However, to put things into perspective, the Dimensity 7200 is a midrange octa-core chip powering phones like the Vivo V27. In terms of raw performance, it scores 1186 in Geekbench’s single-core test and 2634 in the multi-core test.
Handling graphics will be the Mali-G610 MC4 GPU, capable of running most modern 3D games. Alongside the SoC, the phone is set to offer 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
Cameras
Nothing’s cameras have been a mixed bag, often lacking in certain aspects like low-light processing. However, reports suggest that the Nothing Phone 2a will feature a 50MP 1/1.5″ Samsung S5KGN9 main camera, paired with another 50MP 114˚ Samsung S5KJN1 UltraWide sensor. On the front, the device will sport a 16MP sensor capable of 1080p video recording.
Software
Nothing has taken big strides with the Nothing OS 2.5, introducing a range of new features for user customization. Keeping in line, the 2a will debut with Nothing OS 2.5 running on top of Android 14, promising three years of software support.
Battery and Charging
According to various sources, the device will pack a massive 5,000mAh battery. Unfortunately, details about the charging specifications remain undisclosed as of now.
How much will the Nothing Phone 2a cost?
The Nothing Phone 2a is expected to be priced at around $400 or 35,000 Indian Rupees. However, the official pricing might vary depending on the region.
