Nothing Phone (2a) hits a sweet spot: Is this mid-ranger the best value for your money?

Are you in the UK and looking for a smartphone with a standout design, solid display, good battery life, and smooth software? Then the Nothing Phone (2a) stands out as a solid mid-range option, especially considering it’s discounted 36% from £349 to £222.

To clarify, this is the 12GB+256GB Nothing Phone (2a), not the weaker 8GB+128GB model. I’ll cover what’s included with this phone, but if you’re convinced to pick it up, be aware that this is marked as a limited-time deal so don’t sit on your hands.

What the Nothing Phone (2a) delivers (and where it stands out)

Powering the Nothing Phone (2a) is a mid-range Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, 12GB of RAM with an 8GB RAM booster, and an advanced cooling system to boost game performance and longevity.

In terms of battery life, the Nothing Phone (2a) packs a 5,000 mAh battery that will keep the device running for up to two days. When the battery does drain, you have 45W fast charging which will take 40 minutes to get you to 100% battery.

On the back of the phone there is a 50 MP Main (OIS & EIS) camera as well as a 50 MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, you get a 32 MP camera. This phone tries to punch above its weight with the camera with features like Ultra XDR and Portrait Optimiser.

The display is pretty good too, it includes a 6.7-inch AMOLED with 1,300 nits peak brightness and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. This screen is ideal for gaming with its higher refresh rate and that cooling system I mentioned earlier will help it keep chugging along nicely.

This phone came out in the first half of 2024, so you may be wondering what the software situation is. It initially shipped with Nothing OS 2.5 which is powered by Android 14, but this has since been upgraded to Nothing OS 3.0, powered by Android 15. Nothing has promised three major OS upgrades for this device, but one has been used up so expect Nothing OS releases based on Android 16 and Android 17 in the coming years.

For those not familiar with Nothing OS, it has a strong reputation for being clean, smooth, and well-optimised, with little to no bloatware. If you’re coming from a brand like Xiaomi which packs its devices with bloatware and even ads, then the Nothing Phone (2a) should feel very clean.

Finally, environmentalism has come more into focus over the last decade and while buying a second hand phone is best, Nothing has made decent efforts with this device by using recycled materials to keep the carbon footprint low.

Should you buy it?

At £222, the Nothing Phone (2a) is significantly reduced in price, making it a solid option for people looking for a mid-range device. If you like the unique design, clean software, good camera, and a strong battery life, then this device is definitely for you.

The deal is marked as a limited-time deal and Amazon has marked it as an Amazon Choice suggesting that it’s a good phone to buy. It’s also at its lowest price, so you definitely aren’t paying over the odds. If you’re convinced, check the buying link below!

• Nothing Phone (2a): £222 (36% off, Amazon UK) / MSRP: £349

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