When Nothing brought to life its second smartphone — the insipidly-named Nothing Phone (2) — we won’t pretend it didn’t sting just a smidge. While the rest of the world was digging into the Phone 2, we were stuck with the country’s reliably expensive grey importers to bring the devices in. That’s changing soon. The flagship Nothing Phone (2) and mid-range Phone (2a) are launching in South Africa as soon as June of this year.
Nothing 2 it
We usually hold off on our thoughts on a phone’s design until the device is in hand. When it comes to the Phone 2, however, it’s different. The somewhat barebones abstract design, see-through backing to the nuts and bolts of the operation and customizable Glyph Interface comprising 11 LEDs are arguably the company’s whole schtick. Sure, it’s got other features going for it — but a good first impression is always important.
There’s no denying the Phone 2’s resemblance to the newer iPhones. Curved corners and flat, metallic edges put us in mind of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but it’s the shared 6.7in display that sells the likeness. Looks are where the differences end, though. The Phone 2 uses an LTPO OLED panel, supports 120Hz, HDR10+ and has 1,600 nits peak brightness.
Not to mention that this is inherently an Android affair, running its own Android skin: Nothing OS. Powering all that is the still-excellent 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, 12GB of RAM and two storage flavours: 256/512GB. Battery life could prove slightly disappointing with the 4,700mAh battery and 45W fast-charging, though Snapdragon’s SoC makes a case for lengthening that life. We’ll have to wait and see for ourselves.
Leading the camera front is the main 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, coupled with the 50MP ultrawide Samsung JN1 shooter both found ’round the back, while the front sports a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor for selfies.
Bringing those bucks down with the Phone 2(a)
The Nothing Phone (2a) is the Phone 2’s younger, cheaper and minimally less attractive sibling. Launching in March of this year, it’s likely to be South Africa’s go-to Nothing Phone thanks to an extremely competitive pricing scheme. But we’ll get to that.
Unsurprisingly, the Phone 2a retains a whole lot of the Phone 2’s DNA. Where the Phone 2 offers more pizazz, a glass back, and a brighter Glyph interface, the Phone 2a only has three LEDs fixed to its rear. It’s also rocking a polycarbonate back, not a glass one. Otherwise, however, the displays are the same size, feature 120Hz support — and only differ from the Phone 2 with its AMOLED tech.
The biggest difference is the processor and RAM options lodged in this mid-ranger. It’s using MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC and features two RAM and storage options in South Africa: 8/128GB and 12/256GB. Battery too, has seen an improvement, with a 5,000mAh cell compared to the Phone 2’s smaller 4,700mAh one with the same 45W charging.
The rest… meaning the cameras, are no different to their older sibling.
Both the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a) will be available for purchase from “early June” according to Cernotech, the distributors responsible for officially bringing the phones over the border. Both will be available through Vodacom and possibly another major operator at launch while Cernotech will be selling both devices at retail prices on their site here. Speaking of which, here’s what you can expect to pay when the phones launch in June:
- Nothing Phone (2) 12/256GB –R16,100
- Nothing Phone (2) 12/512GB – R17,800
- Nothing Phone (2a) 8/128GB – R8,700
- Nothing Phone (2a) 12/256GB – R10,000