Good For Nothing

After a rocky start with the Nothing Phone (1), the company turned things around by releasing the incredible Nothing Phone (2).

- CHERYL TAN

Now, Nothing is looking to repeat that success in the midrange segment with the new Nothing Phone (2a), with an incredibly attractive starting price from just $499.The Nothing Phone (2a) retains the transparent rear cover, a hallmark of Nothing's design. This time, however, the back is made of clear plastic, a cost-saving measure that makes it prone to smudging and scuffing. The sides are constructed from matte plastic instead of aluminium, featuring a unique "90° angle unibody cover" that wraps around the edges.

This design choice looks cool but can exhibit a rainbow after-effect when viewed at certain angles. Despite these material choices, the Phone (2a) is comfortable to hold and impressively light at just 190g. However, the plastic build does make the phone feel a bit like a dummy unit, lacking the premium feel of higher-end devices.

The 6.7-inch AMOLED display boasts a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, making it usable even in bright sunlight. While it's not an LTPO panel, meaning the refresh rate isn't as dynamic (ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz), the screen is still vibrant and sharp with support for 10-bit colour and HDR10+. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring durability against everyday scratches and minor drops.