7 Ways Nothing Phone 2a Outperforms Pixel 7a

When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, the Pixel 7a has proven its incredible value countless times. That’s why it secured the second spot in our best guide to budget phones. With the introduction of the Nothing Phone 2a, there’s certainly curiosity about how this new Android-powered smartphone holds up in this category.

In our assessment of the Nothing Phone 2a, we dive into how its cameras stack up against the top-notch Nothing Phone 2, and we throw in some comparisons with the Pixel 7a for good measure. We’ve spent a lot of time with budget phones, to the point where we have a newfound appreciation for phone designs.

Although its availability in the United States is limited, people abroad who have a greater chance to purchase the Nothing Phone 2a may wonder how it stands up against the cheaper Pixel 7a. Here are all the ways in which the Nothing Phone 2a outshines the Pixel 7a:

1. It’s Much Cheaper:
This is an easy one because the Pixel 7a starts at $449, while the Nothing Phone 2a goes for $349 through Nothing’s Developer program. We genuinely hope its price remains the same if and when there’s expanded availability in the United States.

However, this price difference undoubtedly benefits the Nothing Phone 2a. With the savings, you could snag one of the best wireless earbuds out there and still have some extra cash for a combo meal at McDonald’s.

2. Sleeker Design:
It’s almost unfathomable for the Nothing Phone 2a to be sold at this low price point, but it’s impressive because the design doesn’t reflect its budget cost. Simply put, it’s incomparable to the Pixel 7a because the Nothing Phone 2a’s design is amplified through its transparent casing.

In fact, it’s hard not to notice the unique design of the Nothing Phone 2a, enhanced by the Glyph Interface present on the back of the phone. If that’s not enough to convince you of its more distinctive design, the Nothing Phone 2 is also sleeker and lighter in build.

3. Much Longer Battery Life:
It’s odd that the Pixel 7a boasts a larger 5500mAh battery capacity, yet fails to come close to matching the endurance of the smaller 5000mAh battery capacity of the Nothing Phone 2a. In our standard testing, the Nothing Phone 2a achieves an impressive 15 hours, while the Pixel 7a taps out significantly earlier at 10 hours and 5 minutes under the same test.

This is a significant difference in battery life between these budget phones, so it’s almost unbelievable how the Nothing Phone 2a manages to outperform its competitor by such a wide margin.

4. Faster Wired Charging at 45W:
Budget phones aren’t known for their battery durability or charging speeds. However, the Nothing Phone 2a proves they can still participate in these premium offerings because it charges much faster than the Pixel 7a. It benefits from faster wired charging at 45W compared to the slow charging of the Pixel 7a at 18W.

This means the Nothing Phone reaches 61% of its capacity after 30 minutes of charging, while the Pixel 7a reaches only 43% in the same amount of time. When you’re pressed for time, it’s great to know you’ll get more charging done with the Nothing Phone 2a.

5. Full Manual Controls with Camera:
On the surface, both these phones offer the same set of camera features. We’re talking about panoramas, portrait mode, time-lapse, and much more. However, the one significant camera feature missing from the Pixel 7a is true manual mode.

You can get that with the Nothing Phone 2a, which gives camera enthusiasts the ability to control key parameters like shutter speed, focus, and ISO level. These are essential for getting just the right look for your photos, rather than relying on the phone’s automatic mode.

6. Better-Looking Interface:
Over the past few years, many Android manufacturers have resorted to mimicking the look and feel of vanilla Android, which is exactly what you get with the Pixel 7a. Don’t get us wrong, it’s simple and straightforward enough, but there’s something refreshing about how Nothing OS 2.5 runs on the Nothing Phone 2a.

Its minimalist design deserves appreciation because it starkly contrasts with what we know about other Android phones. The small details, like the grid layout of the line used, make the style visually appealing and unlike anything else out there. And similar to the original Android look of the Pixel 7a, there’s no extra bloat added to the Nothing Phone 2a experience.

7. Enhanced Notifications with Glyph Interface:
All Android phones employ the same accessible notification system accessed by swiping down on the screen at any time. But the Nothing Phone 2a adds to this standard approach through the enhanced system of the Glyph Interface.

The LED strips surrounding the rear cameras not only serve to enhance the phone’s aesthetics but also serve another purpose: notifying you of your notifications. In fact, you can customize the lighting patterns of the Glyph Interface, along with the accompanying tones. This way, you can know exactly what’s what.