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

Nothing Phone (2a)

A 6.7-inch 1080x2412 AMOLED at 120Hz with HDR10+ and Ultra HDR support — consistently called one of the best screens at this price.

• 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2412 — a strong panel for a sub-$400 phone, with Always-On Display.
• Between its gorgeous display and excellent battery life, the Phone (2a) hits enough highs to stand up to the best in its price bracket.
• It supports Google's Ultra HDR format out of the box — a feature not even guaranteed on the pricier Phone (2).
• Long-term owners call it 'one of the best screens I've seen on the phone market'.

Nothing Phone (4a)

A genuine highlight for the price — a big 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED that's bright, sharp and HDR-capable, beating similarly priced rivals.

• 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits typical / 1,600 nits HBM / 4,500 nits peak at 1224x2720 (440ppi).
• The 6.78-inch display is 23% brighter than the 3a, reaching 1,600 nits outdoors with a 4,500-nit HDR peak.
• Brightness goes up to 4,500 nits peak, remaining easily readable outdoors — the display is very strong for this price range and one of the standout features.
• In the real world it hits around 700 nits peak SDR and ~1,550–1,600 nits in HDR, with 460ppi and dynamic 120Hz.

Nothing Phone (2a)

A dual 50MP system that's the phone's clearest compromise — acceptable for everyday use and decent for video, but the area where rivals and Pixel 'a' phones pull ahead.

• The camera 'isn't the best but it's more than acceptable for most' — a fair summary of the everyday experience.
• After a year, owners rate the camera best-in-class for video around the 20–25K INR price, with a detailed 50MP ultrawide.
• New owners note photo quality from the rear camera is the one area that isn't a smooth experience.
• Long-term owner score: camera 8/10 — 'not a lot to say about the camera', the device's weakest pillar alongside speakers.
• Versus the Galaxy A55, owners flag the 'okayish camera on Phone (2a)' as a key drawback.

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 (2a)

The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro with up to 12GB RAM handles daily use and gaming well for the class, though it's not flagship-grade and a minority report stutters or app issues.

• Notebookcheck scored the Dimensity 7200 / Mali-G610 MP4 build 86.9% — strong for a phone from €329.
• Owners say it 'gives out the best performance an Android user needs' for everyday tasks.
• Long-term performance scored 9/10 with only minor stutter observed — solid mid-range muscle.
• A minority of users report apps crashing and not fitting the screen size properly — quality-control variance.

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 (2a)

A 5,000mAh battery — the first in the 2a line — delivers excellent all-day endurance, with reasonable if not blazing 45W wired charging (no charger in the box).

• The Phone (2a) is the first among its siblings to reach 5,000mAh, up from 4,500/4,700mAh predecessors.
• Battery test: ~13h33m web browsing and ~8h47m video — solid endurance without the Phone (2)'s extreme highs or lows.
• It refuels at 45W with the right brick (none included), reaching ~41% in 30 minutes and full in ~1h26m.
• Long-term owners simply call the battery 'very good' — comfortably all-day for normal use.

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.

Nothing Phone (2a)

At $349 it's one of the best-value phones of 2024 — its design, display and software outclass rivals, though spec-sheet shoppers can find more raw hardware (camera, charger-in-box) from Redmi/Poco.

• 9to5Google: 'The $349 device offered specs better than the price suggested, with excellent hardware and software too.'
• Nothing 'makes some of the best budget phones right now' and the Phone (2a) 'was terrific'.
• Stuff's verdict: if you're determined to spend less than £350/$399, the Phone (2a) is an excellent choice.
• The spec-sheet counterpoint: a Redmi/Poco offers a better screen, camera, bigger battery and a charger in the box for similar money.
• US buyers should note limited carrier support, with T-Mobile the best option.
• Switchers are convinced — one former Apple user was 'so impressed I sold my iPhone afterwards'.

Nothing Phone (4a)

Aggressively priced below the Pixel 10a with a more distinctive design and a real telephoto — the standout budget pick for buyers who want personality.

• It's a good chunk of change cheaper than the $500 Pixel 10a.
• It fits the perfect budget for buyers who can't afford the ~$1,000 needed for an entry-level iPhone 17, with good hardware and excellent battery.
• A very strong mid-range smartphone that stands out with unique design, great display, solid performance and surprisingly capable cameras — definitely worth a closer look.
• Nothing stands out among the crowd with a brand identity strong enough to turn consumers into fans.