Since the launch of the original Nothing Phone, the tech world has been buzzing about the future of this minimalist, yet striking, tech brand. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus continues that journey, blending unique aesthetics with a performance that punches well above its weight in the competitive mid-range market. This second iteration of the Nothing Phone is designed to enhance both everyday usability and style.
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus takes what we loved about the original Nothing Phone concept and pushes it further with a bolder design, beefed-up performance, and standout features. But does this next-gen model live up to the expectations? Let’s see how that pans out.
Design: Standing Out with Glyphs and Transparency
When you first lay eyes on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, there’s no mistaking it for anything else. It’s a breath of fresh air in an industry filled with cookie-cutter designs.
Much like its predecessor, this device proudly features the transparent back panel and Glyph Interface—a series of LED lights embedded into the rear. The Glyph lights are not just a visual gimmick; they’re functional, customizable notifications that you can tailor to different apps, calls, or contacts.
You can assign different patterns to different events, allowing you to identify incoming notifications at a glance, even when the phone is placed face down.
You can even create your own mixes:
The premium materials used—Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back and a solid aluminum frame—make the device feel robust and well-constructed. Despite its unconventional looks, it doesn’t compromise on ergonomics. The phone has a balanced weight and a slim profile, making it comfortable to hold, even for extended periods. While other phones rely on trendy colors and finishes, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus keeps things understated but futuristic, an approach that truly sets it apart in the market.
Personally, I loved the way the phone feels in hand. It’s light but sturdy, and the transparent design is refreshingly different from the sea of solid, opaque devices that flood the market.
Display: Vivid Colors, Smooth Scrolling
The 6.7-inch AMOLED display on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is one of the standout features of this device. Boasting a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, the screen delivers smooth visuals whether you’re scrolling through your social media feed or playing games. The HDR10+ support further enhances the viewing experience, providing richer colors and deeper contrasts, which are especially noticeable when streaming content.
With 1300 nits of peak brightness, outdoor visibility is excellent, even under direct sunlight. The screen’s size is ample for media consumption, and the OLED panel ensures vivid, punchy colors without going overboard. Blacks are deep, and whites are clean, giving the display a high-end feel.
For me, the real pleasure of the display came from the 120Hz refresh rate. It makes everything from scrolling through emails to swiping between apps feel buttery smooth. Whether gaming or simply navigating through menus, this refresh rate elevates the overall user experience, offering fluid transitions and snappy feedback. While it may not rival the quad-HD displays on flagship models, the Full HD+ resolution is more than sufficient for most users, offering a balance between clarity and battery efficiency.
Performance: Mid-Range, but Packs a Punch
Performance on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is anchored by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro chipset, along with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB (UFS 2.2) of non-expandable internal storage. While this is clearly a mid-range processor, the everyday performance it delivers far exceeds what you might expect. Multitasking is smooth, and the device handles switching between apps and browsing with ease. Whether you’re running lightweight apps or resource-heavy games, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus keeps pace without faltering.
While gaming for prolonged periods, the phone remained relatively cool—thanks to its efficient heat management system—and maintained a stable frame rate, with only slight warm-ups after 30-minute sessions. The 120Hz display enhances gaming performance, making fast-paced games feel fluid and responsive, a noticeable improvement over budget phones with lower refresh rates.
For daily tasks—email, social media, light photo editing—it’s more than sufficient. The Dimensity 7350 Pro holds its own exceptionally well, particularly when balanced with the phone’s other optimized hardware.
Software: Clean, Minimalist, and Fast
The Nothing OS 2.6 is a core part of the phone’s experience, and it’s one of the most refined, lightweight interfaces we’ve come across. Built on Android 14, the software is incredibly minimalistic, almost a throwback to the days of pure Android, yet it maintains its own unique identity. There’s no bloatware here, which is a rare but welcome feature in today’s smartphone landscape. From the moment you set up the phone, it feels fast, with no unnecessary apps or animations bogging it down.
One of the unique aspects of the Nothing OS is how deeply integrated the Glyph Interface is with the software. Customization options allow you to link the LED patterns to various apps, notifications, and even music. It’s more than just a gimmick—the Glyph lights genuinely add value to the overall experience by providing a non-intrusive notification system.
Camera: Decent in Daylight, Mixed in Low-Light
The 50MP primary sensor and 50MP ultrawide sensor offer versatility in photography, and in daylight conditions, this phone can produce some excellent results. The primary sensor captures vivid, well-detailed images with good dynamic range, particularly when taking outdoor shots. The color reproduction feels natural, with a slight bias toward more saturated tones, which makes photos “pop” without looking overly processed.
The ultrawide lens is useful for capturing larger scenes, but like most phones in this range, there’s a noticeable drop in detail around the edges. That said, for a mid-range device, the ultrawide performance is commendable.
Where the phone struggles a bit is in low-light photography. While the Night Mode works to brighten darker scenes, there’s still noticeable noise and some loss of detail. It’s clear that this phone’s camera system performs best in well-lit environments, and while the Night Mode is a decent tool, it doesn’t quite match up to what you’d expect from higher-end devices. For casual photographers or those who take most of their pictures in decent lighting, it will suffice, but serious shutterbugs may want to look elsewhere.
The 16MP front camera is great for selfies, offering decent detail and relatively accurate skin tones. However, like the rear cameras, low-light performance isn’t its strong suit.
Here are some photos taken on the Phone (2a) Plus:
Battery Life: Enduring and Efficient
The 5000mAh battery on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is designed to last through a day of moderate to heavy use, and it delivers just that. During my time with the phone, I typically achieved 7-8 hours of screen-on time, with mixed usage that included social media, gaming, and video streaming. For light users, this phone could easily stretch into a second day.
Charging is relatively fast, thanks to 50W wired charging support. You can expect a 50% charge in about 30 minutes, but note that the phone does not support wireless charging. It can, however, charge other devices at 5W with a wire.
Audio and Extras: Loud and Clear
The dual stereo speakers on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus are loud and clear, making it great for media consumption. There’s good separation of sound, though it lacks the bass depth of premium phones. The in-display fingerprint sensor works quickly and reliably, unlocking the phone almost instantaneously. There’s also face unlock, though it’s less secure.
Other extras, such as Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6, ensure you’re getting the latest connectivity options, making this phone future-proof in terms of wireless capabilities.
Pricing and Availability
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is available here at S$569.
Conclusion: A Mid-Range Marvel with Personality
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus delivers where it counts: a striking design, solid performance, a smooth display, and excellent battery life. While it may fall slightly short in the camera department when dealing with low-light environments, its overall experience is smooth, engaging, and refreshingly different from the standard mid-range offerings.
For those looking for a phone that’s as much about style as it is about substance, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus is a great option. It’s not just a good phone; it’s a statement piece that performs well enough to back up its bold design choices.
