Nothing Phone (2a) Plus

GSMTechTok analysis

Who it's for

The Phone (2a) Plus is for a buyer who wants the fastest processor and charging Nothing's mid-range lineup offers, and who values the brand's design identity over class-leading camera quality. TechRadar's review calls it "the best value Nothing Phone available right now," even while noting the upgrades over the standard 2a are ones "nobody asked for." It suits someone upgrading from an older phone who wants genuinely improved day-to-day speed — Tom's Guide's own benchmark testing found the new Dimensity 7350 Pro chip made a real, measurable difference over the original 2a's processor. It's a weaker fit for anyone prioritizing camera quality or a reliable fingerprint sensor, since multiple independent reviews flag real, specific problems in exactly those areas.

Standout features

Performance is a genuine, measured upgrade over the base Phone (2a) — TheShortcut's testing found the exclusive Dimensity 7350 Pro chip offers better CPU and GPU performance than most phones in its price range, and Tom's Guide's own benchmarks confirmed the promised 10% CPU and 30% GPU improvement translated into smoother real-world use. Charging speed saw a real, measured bump too: TechRadar's testing confirms 50W charging versus 45W on the standard 2a, shaving a few minutes off a full charge. The display remains a genuine strength as well — 91mobiles found the 6.7-inch AMOLED panel delivers excellent viewing angles with dynamic colors and deep blacks, backed by a peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The selfie camera saw a real, disclosed upgrade too: 91mobiles confirms the jump from 32MP to 50MP produces genuinely more detailed selfies, with the outlet's own comparison finding it outperforms rivals like the POCO F6 in facial detail capture.

Trade-offs

The fingerprint scanner is the most severe, specific problem disclosed across reviews — Gizmodo's testing found it "completely failed" to read one reviewer's right thumb across hundreds of attempts, even after deleting and re-adding the fingerprint, a genuine hardware reliability issue rather than a one-off glitch. Camera quality remains a real, disclosed weak point too: TheShortcut's review states plainly "camera quality has never been Nothing's strong suit," and 91mobiles found the camera app itself buggy, with portrait mode sometimes blurring the subject in the viewfinder. Build material is a genuine trade-off as well — Tom's Guide's cons list notes the phone "is a fingerprint magnet," and TechRadar separately flags that the plastic build attracts smudges more than pricier rivals. Performance, while improved, still trails direct competitors: TechRadar's own cons list states "rivals boast better performance," and outdoor display readability under direct sunlight isn't the segment's best, per 91mobiles' testing. Availability is also a real, practical limitation — Tom's Guide notes the phone isn't easy to obtain in the US, requiring buyers to go through Nothing's community access program rather than a standard retail channel.