Nothing Phone (2a)vsHonor X9b
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Honor X9b wins
Verdict
Honor X9b wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Honor X9b is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 299, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Too close to call between Honor X9b and Nothing Phone (2a).
- Honor X9b takes Display — led by pixel density (431 ppi).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Camera — led by selfie camera (32 MP).
- Honor X9b takes Battery — led by battery (5,800 mAh).
- Honor X9b takes Price — led by price (299 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 550,000 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,300 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 16 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 35 W.
Choose Honor X9b if you want…
- Choose Honor X9b if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Honor X9b if you want a bigger screen — 6.78 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose Honor X9b if you want a sharper screen — 431 ppi vs 394 ppi.
- Choose Honor X9b if you want better video quality — 86 pts vs 82 pts.
- Choose Honor X9b if you want longer battery life — 5,800 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Honor X9b if you want a lower price — 299 USD vs 349 USD.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Honor X9b
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Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Nothing Phone (2a)
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if camera matters most. It costs USD 349.
Honor X9b
Choose Honor X9b if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 299, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
Honor X9b
- Durable build
- 5,800 mAh battery
- Curved display
- Slow chipset
- 35 W charging
- Average cameras