When it comes to sheer novelty, Nothing’s smartphones are in a league of their own. The cool glyph on the back is a real conversation starter, but if you’re looking for something more practical (or live in North America where the phone isn’t officially available), there are plenty of other options. With that in mind, here are the best Nothing Phone 2a alternatives you can buy.
The best Nothing Phone 2a alternatives
Looking to make a quick decision? Here are our top alternatives to the Nothing Phone 2a and a brief breakdown of who we recommend it to:
Google Pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a delivers more premium features than ever for under $500, such as wireless charging support, a 90Hz refresh rate display, and a 64MP camera. The Nothing Phone 2a isn’t a bad camera phone by any means, but if you want the best budget camera phone you can get, the Google Pixel 7a is it. Much like the Nothing Phone 2a, it’s a cheaper version of Google’s mainline Pixel series, but it keeps the same Tensor G2 SoC as the Pixel 7, which gives it far more AI smarts than any other phone in its price bracket.
That translates into unique software features like better camera processing, Magic Eraser, live translations, and other machine learning applications. Of course, we also found it to perform flawlessly for standard apps, although it does tend to run hot. Given the SoC’s focus on machine learning over raw power, don’t expect the best performance on demanding mobile games, either.
Size-wise it’s significantly smaller at 6.1-inches. That makes it much easier to use with one hand, earning it a spot among our favorite small phones. However, the screen isn’t nearly as bright as the Nothing Phone 2a, and it doesn’t feature a variable refresh rate, instead coming in at 90Hz. It also uses an older version of Gorilla Glass, so you’ll want to slap a case on it to keep it safe over time.
Although the battery life and charging speeds of the Pixel 7a don’t hold a candle to the 45W charging on the Nothing Phone 2a, it does have wireless charging if that’s your thing. It retails for $499, although you can almost certainly find it for less at this point (currently $477 at Amazon). If you want to save even more, the Pixel 6a ($314 at Amazon) is still a great budget buy in 2024.
Google Pixel 7a vs Nothing Phone 2a: Advantages
- The Pixel 7a has superior camera performance
- The Pixel 7a has unique Google software features
- The Pixel 7a has wireless charging
Google Pixel 7a vs Nothing Phone 2a: Disadvantages
- The Pixel 7a has slower charging
- The Pixel 7a has worse battery life
- The Pixel 7a is more expensive