Nothing Phone (2a)vsiQOO Z9
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
iQOO Z9 wins
Verdict
iQOO Z9 wins 2 of 5 categories — our overall pick
iQOO Z9 is the overall winner, 2 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 299, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and iQOO Z9.
- iQOO Z9 takes Display — led by peak brightness (1,800 nits).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Camera — led by video score (82 pts).
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and iQOO Z9.
- iQOO Z9 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 bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.67 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 16 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want better video quality — 82 pts vs 62 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a better camera — 112 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 44 W.
Choose iQOO Z9 if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a lower price — 299 USD vs 349 USD.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- iQOO Z9
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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.
iQOO Z9
Choose iQOO Z9 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
iQOO Z9
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Strong chip for the price
- 44 W charging
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
- Average low-light camera