Nothing Phone (2a)vsNothing Phone (1)
TOO CLOSEUpdated September 8, 2026
Your call
Verdict
Too close to call — it comes down to your priorities
Nothing Phone (2a) and Nothing Phone (1) trade category wins — Nothing Phone (2a) in Price; Nothing Phone (1) in Battery. Decide by the category you actually use most, then check the price.
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Performance — led by performance score (700,000 pts).
- Too close to call between Nothing Phone (2a) and Nothing Phone (1).
- Nothing Phone (1) takes Camera — led by video score (88 pts).
- Nothing Phone (1) takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Price — led by price (349 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 bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.55 in.
- 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 longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,500 mAh.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 33 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a lower price — 349 USD vs 399 USD.
Choose Nothing Phone (1) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (1) if you want a sharper screen — 402 ppi vs 394 ppi.
- Choose Nothing Phone (1) if you want better video quality — 88 pts vs 82 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (1) if you want a better camera — 121 pts vs 112 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (1) if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Nothing Phone (1)
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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 price matters most. It costs USD 349, the lowest price in this group.
Nothing Phone (1)
Choose Nothing Phone (1) if battery matters most. It costs USD 399.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
Nothing Phone (1)
- Unique Glyph design
- Wireless charging
- Clean Android
- Aging chipset
- 33 W charging
- Average battery