Nothing Phone (2) vs Nothing Phone (4a)

Nothing Phone (2)

Dual 50MP setup (main + ultrawide) with no telephoto — solid daylight performance per GSMArena + 6 Months Later, but the missing zoom lens limits versatility against $499 Pixel 7a hybrid zoom or $799 Pixel 8 Pro periscope.

• 50MP f/1.88 main with OIS + 50MP f/2.2 ultrawide — saves 12.5MP by default, those output 'excellent' per GSMArena.
• No telephoto camera — biggest hardware gap vs $499 Pixel 7a (2× hybrid zoom) and $799 Pixel 8 Pro (5× periscope).
• Auto Night Mode delivers excellent ultrawide shots with detail, exposure, dynamic range — competitive low-light for the class.
• 4K @ 60fps main + ultrawide; 1080p selfie video — competitive video specs for the $599 class.
• 4K video stutter + dropped frames during recording — MrMobile flagged this as the most annoying day-to-day camera issue.
• 6 Months Later: 'as good if not better than Pixel 8 for daytime video with contrast and fewer digital artifacts' — surprising creator comparison.
• Portrait mode relies entirely on AI (no depth sensor) — works on humans but inconsistent on objects/pets.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A standout 3.5x periscope telephoto at this price and a solid main camera, undercut by an under-optimised zoom and a basic ultrawide.

• A triple setup — 50MP main, a 50MP periscope telephoto and an 8MP ultrawide — undoubtedly one of the best experiences at this level.
• The telephoto has been tweaked to a much better 3.5x (80mm) zoom factor.
• A telephoto with optical zoom at this price is great, but this is the worst optimisation I've seen on a 3.5x camera — expect disappointment if you buy for the zoom.
• The 3.5x optical-zoom telephoto is one of the biggest highlights, adding much more flexibility than most competitors in this price range, and the cameras are surprisingly capable.
• Each camera here feels better than what you'd get on Samsung at the price, and the main is solid with nice detail.

Nothing Phone (2)

Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 + 12GB RAM is last-gen flagship silicon — the deliberate cost choice that keeps the Phone (2) at $599 vs $799+ for a 2023 SD 8 Gen 2 device. Real-world performance is excellent and battery efficiency is strong.

• Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm, last year's flagship) + 12GB RAM + 256/512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
• 9to5Mac speed test: beat iPhone 14 Plus by 6 seconds at $200 less — strong 2023 real-world performance.
• SD 8 Gen 2 was deliberately skipped to keep the price at $599 — pros call it a smart choice, critics call it 'not a true flagship' (SuperSaf).

Nothing Phone (4a)

A capable mid-range chip that handles everyday use and casual gaming well — not a powerhouse, but appropriate for the price.

• Gaming is absolutely possible on this device, with solid everyday performance for the class.
• There's no shortage of substantial hardware upgrades over the 3a, even if the design doesn't stand out as much as the Pro.
• After 24 hours the home screen is extremely customisable and feels massively more functional than iOS, with no responsiveness complaints.
• Gesture-based navigation is fully supported and the overall experience is good thanks to Nothing's optimisations.

Nothing Phone (2)

5,000mAh battery + 4nm-chip efficiency delivers ~1.5-day endurance per MrMobile and Cashify — but 33W wired + 15W wireless charging is firmly mid-tier vs OnePlus 11's 80W or Galaxy S23 Ultra's 45W.

• 5,000mAh battery + 4nm SD 8+ Gen 1 efficiency — MrMobile reported 'a day and a half' typical endurance.
• Cashify long-term: '4,700mAh battery + 4nm chipset + lightweight software can last an entire day' — confirms all-day endurance after months.
• 33W wired charging: full charge in ~55 minutes per SuperSaf — slow vs OnePlus 11's 80W (~25 min) and Galaxy S23 Ultra's 45W.
• 15W wireless + 5W reverse wireless charging — included, a feature OnePlus 11 dropped.
• No charger in the box — buyers must source their own 33W+ USB-C PD brick.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A ~5,080mAh cell with 50W wired charging — reviewers call endurance strong, but a notable group of owners report disappointing screen-on time.

• The Nothing Phone (4a) features a ~5,080mAh cell which delivers very strong endurance in everyday use.
• The battery grew slightly — about 80mAh in most markets but a more meaningful 400mAh in India — with a 50W PD unit recommended on the box.
• Several owners report only 4–6.5 hours of screen-on time with moderate use — worse than other phones with similar ~5,000mAh batteries.
• Battery life on this phone is excellent in everyday use.