Nothing Phone 2a Review: Something Else
![MrMobile [Michael Fisher]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/Bf8B_79jyHxP6CVnjV5WKws93l9Vxlk0d7aPmcBygTBDKzgsGrpazdJRFUrfg1sUNlo8YX8rji8=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- Sponsored by Surfshark. Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code MRMOBILE for an extra 3 months free at surfshark.deals/mrmobile
[NOTHING PHONE (2A) REVIEW]
The last time I reviewed a true midrange smartphone was nearly two years ago, with the Google Pixel 6a. So when London-based design, tech, clothing (and phone) company Nothing announced a more affordable version of its flashy Phone (2) … I spent a few days with it between New York and San Francisco to see what $349 gets ya in 2024.
Spoiler alert: quite a bit!
[ABOUT MRMOBILE'S NOTHING PHONE (2A) REVIEW]
This video was produced following eight days with a Nothing Phone 2a review sample provided by Nothing. The device was tested on T-Mobile US between New York City and San Francisco.
MrMobile does not offer manufacturers the opportunity to preview, edit or approve content before publication. Neither Nothing nor any other manufacturer provided compensation in exchange for this coverage. The lone sponsor of this video is Surfshark.
[CHAPTERS]
00:00 It's a good year to spend $349
00:39 Depth of Design
01:52 Let there be (3) lights
03:34 Android ... but not!
04:46 Not much "mid" in this midrange
06:00 Surfshark
06:57 Even the cameras ain't bad
09:01 (Almost) Nothing to complain about
10:24 Disclosures
[SOCIALIZE]
/ themrmobile
/ themrmobile
/ captain2phones
threads.com/themrmobile
threads.com/captain2phones
/ themrmobile
/ captain2phones
mrmobile.tech
[DISCLOSURES]
This post may contain affiliate links, which afford Future plc a commission should you make a purchase. This does not affect MrMobile’s editorial content. See Future's disclosure policy for more details:
www.futureplc.com/terms-condi...
Additional information concerning MrMobile’s ethics policy can be found here:
mrmobile.tech/ethics
#nothing #nothingphone2 #nothingphone2a #nothingphone1 #android #tech #smartphone - Наука та технологія
"Gimmick isn't a dirty word." Very well said.
To this day I miss 3D Touch on iOS devices. Gimmicks can definitely have their place.
I love gimmicks & quirky things, they make life more fun
As long as it doesn't become bloat, yes.
@@muneeb-khanI think that was more than a gimmick, it was genuinely useful to be able to press on links to be able to see what the website is before actually visiting it.
Glad they are making more affordable solid options. Spending $1200 on a phone is making less and less sense.
Considering how much more your phone can do, need to do and how secure it needs to be these days, I would argue, phone price going up makes more and more sense..
@entertainment6630 Cameras are becoming really good in flagships
@@entertainment6630Doesn't make sense at all.
@@entertainment6630 security wise... every individual must know not to click on suspicious links and download stupid apps. No security system put in place can help an idiot customer, not even Apple or Samsung. Phone price doesnt matter if there r security updates for the current gen against targeted attacks.
But when i see that even a premium midrange phone’s camera cant compete with my iPhone 11 pro’s camera really disheartens me.
I keep banging on about this but there’s something about this guy that feels so old school tech reviewer. Feels like I’m sat watching UA-cam from 2011-2012. Love the nostalgia
I get the same vibe from him! It really does feel like 2012ish UA-cam in his videos
He used to do car review videos back in maybe 2000 or something. He is a pioneer and keeps that old school touch. I felt the same way until I was looking for an old card video and found out the reviewer was him lol
It's the voiceover and the music
What channel? @@figoxor
Pretty simple really, he was born in the 80's.
80's kids got it all, values, responsibility, appreciation, respect for others and most importantly the tech bug.
Mr Mobile reviewing a phone later than most reviewers. You know his priority is not the views but the quality of his content.
This! 💯
I've been sucked into the world of foldables, but I am very attracted to Nothing's design language. I can't wait for them to enter the foldable market.
Me too! That UI looks so good....
I'm out of the world of foldables until they figure out how to make the mandatory screen protector not peel off after a few months. 🙄
Even Z Flip5 still feels like a prototype when it comes to certain parts.
100% and if the make a foldable with a Stylus that you can see when you put it into the phone that would be sick and possibly being able to see part of the fold mechanism would be cool to(probably embedded to deep into the phone ut one can dream lol)
@@BojanTomic It's so funny how hit and miss they are now. Me and my wife got a flip 5 at the same time and her screen protector is peeling and there's a dead pixel (repair fully covered but still). Meanwhile mine doesn't even have scratches on it. I don't baby the thing either I think we both drop ours at the exact same rate.
What makes it funnier is how my battery life lasts half as long as hers so it's like I got the indestructible model in exchange for not being able to use it for more than 7 hours a day.
@@starwars4427 fhes snapchatting other men behind ur back so her battery takes a hit
It's a great phone. I think we're getting to the point where a lot of these devices are getting better and better performance for less and less cost. So manufacturers are going to figure out different ways to figure out how to sell us a phone
Yeah, that's why phone makers are seeling us that AI bullcrap as if our life depended on it.
@@reybenedictaccount lmao for real you ain't lying there
@@reybenedictaccount, tbh alot of it is helpful, but not worth paying extra for like Samsung is planning next year
My S22 Ultra met an unfortunate demise in a washing machine. Have one of these on the way now. A lot of the other buyers I've seen seem to be 'downgrading' from flagships to this and absolutely loving it, seems to be an amazing product at an amazing price point and actually FUN
Most people don't need flagship phones.
I'm using the same mid range phone since 2020, I bought it when it was already previous gen.
Good enough for anything. Only drawback is to wait some seconds for some apps sometimes.
I'm also still using a tiny gt-i5510 as my second phone because its battery still holds up for weeks. I've had S series and Note series samsungs, they were great, but didn't convince me to stay with top of the line.
I almost always carry a sony a6100 camera with me, so I don't care for the cameras. But when I use the camera on the phone, the 50mpx are good enough.
LOL how?
Most people don't need a new phone either
Only if the camera was slightly better
@@industrialvectors I bought a used flagship because a mid-range would be the same or more (50% off because the phone was slightly used and 9 months old). It's an upgrade from a Galaxy Note 3 so it was pretty much warranted, especially with the 3G network shutting down where I am.
@@deanchur Used is great too when you can. In my country right now, used isn't a great option.
I think Nothing's doing a pretty good job at making midrange phone, from Phone (1) to (2) and now even a more affordable 2(a). Who says cheaper phones can't be fun and exciting? 💯
only cheaper phones can be fun .. the more expensive a phone gets, more safe the company gets with their choice
'After the jump,' Michael was the most amusing, clever and simple segue to a sponsor spot that I've heard in quite some time. After all these years, you still tend to surprise even the most avid of your viewers. I suppose that's why so many of us have followed, and will continue to follow, your work. Cheers, my friend.
If I hadn't bought a flagship a year ago, I would've picked this up in a heartbeat. Tired of spending $1000+ on 6.7"+ phones
Absolutely!! Own iPhone yet I am tempted to order this
The fact you can get the bigger storage and ram version for £349 in the UK is pretty insane
The reference to Windows Phone is indeed a smart one, the nothing phone indeed embraces the design with digital pixels with the same pride and boldness as in Window phones. It looks fun in a honest way.
I have a pixel 8 pro and an iPhone 15. Since putting my sim in the Nothing Phone 2a I have not felt compelled once to put my sim back into those other phones. This phone is amazing. Nothing has been great at updates with it too. I think it has had 3 since it's release.
Glad to see Mr Mobile agree at how great of a value this phone is.
"Since putting my SIM in the Nothing Phone 2a I have not felt compelled once to put my SIM back into those other phones" .
It's not like those other phones.....
I'm so pleased you found The One (or 2a).
Sorry, I couldn't resist that.
Yeah, if it wasn't for the camera apps on my Xperia 1v I would have kept using my NP1. More than my fold 3 and iPhone 14 pro max and galaxy s24 ultra...
Really goes to show that depending on your use case you really don't have to drop a grand to get a good smartphone experience. We're in desperate need of more choice in the US.
Mr. MOBILE is one the best Tech UA-camr... Such a fan of his articulate analysis. He deserves more subscribers.
This is my default face every time I'm enjoying a great MrMobile video
> Michael gushes about a cool phone despite it's compromises
Me: :D
> Michael: but it won't be sold in carrier stores
Me: D:
I own a S24 Ultra, with all it's fancy features and AI talk. I'm tempted to order this phone because it looks... FUN. Thanks for the great content Michael.
I switched from ultra to plus and could afford it with the difference lol
𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩
Don't. It's just another phone, does all the same things but worse.
@@musguelha14fr don't "upgrade" your phone unless it's actually slow. People out here with flagships buying a new one every year
@@pongchannel.I'm on an S20 Plus 👍 no need to upgrade
Love your videos! Your sound design for them is a highly underrated aspect! Love the blips and bloops; it always inspires me to turn on my ringer 😂
Lovely review michael. Love Nothing products. I hope you keep covering them.
So happy someone mentioned the windows nokia lumia phones. The lumia 1520 was my favourite phone ever. Im going to get a 2a.
Got one last week and its been such a solid experience all around. The design and software experience make me forget its price. Its also recieved 4 big updates already!
4!😱
How?
through wifi i guess...oh not os upgrades lol....but patches 😅😅@@sexyscientist
that's how....🫣💀🤦
Thank you for this very great video and the good footage you included! I also still remeber the good times as a Windows Phone and now consider buying the Nothing Phone 2a. 🙂
Honestly if Nothing makes a smaller phone.. they'll prolly sky rocketing their sells..
Small phone don't sell ,no matter how much techie's like it.
Nice review Michael always watching on my Pixel Fold. That's a great midrange Phone.
Thanks for reviewing this one, Michael! 2a looks like a nice upgrade path from my Pixel 5a 🤙🏻
As someone who upgraded from a Pixel 4a to the 8 pro, I have come to appreciate midrange phones personalities more. The photos just have a kind of style that isn't crazily detailed like the 8 pro or lack of in a lot of cheaper Samsung A phones, but a balance of detail and color science that is just special. I am really glad that Nothing has joined Google in keeping these midrange phones competitive when companies like Apple and Samsung seem to just make them fit the price.
I also have the 4a but don't like the battery life or phone size on the new pixels. Wish their "a" series were still smaller form factors. I'm hoping the P9 or next "a" series is a step back to the right direction, but this Nothing looks like something I'd be interested in too.
As always, I enjoyed your take on it more than the capabilities of the phone! Kudos, MrMobile!
I’ve watched numerous reviews of the Nothing Phone (2a) and other products, but there’s something uniquely captivating about your presentation.
What an aesthetic video! And your voice😊
I'm genuinely impressed with this phone. I've already recommended it to a few friends, but I'll be sure to update them on the band issues, as I didn't know that until this video. Pretty sure they all have T-Mobile anyway, but just in case. Thanks again, Mr. Mobile
That bit where you rotate some colored lights around the back plastic and the bit where you turn the frosted glass on in the RV have combined to give me an idea for a new phone gimmick (in the MrMobile sense of the word!). What if a company modified that glass frosting technology and found a way to combine color with it, and installed that in the back glass of a phone?
Customers would pick a light or dark body at time of purchase, but then could choose any color they wanted for the glass itself by picking from a few recommended shades or setting custom RGB, hex, or (for the designers in the crowd) Pantone values in the phone's software. Hit Confirm and the glass frosts that color. Bonus points if the design includes something worth looking at through the glass, and offers opacity settings for the frosting as well.
No idea how technically possible this is, or how expensive it would make the phone. But I think it would be cool to see.
Love your transparency, thank you sir🙏
Really love your way of reviewing it
Waiting for this review from you ❤
That's the kind of video I was missing, great review👏🏼👏🏼👏
the camera is better than what I expected
Reminds me of the first Pocophone and that was an unbeatable value proposition.
Hopefully we won't have to wait another 5-odd years to see another such phone!
gotta appreciate the even bezels all around the screen. it's truly awesome display for a phone at this pricepoint
Simpl;y the best review of this phone!!!
Your videos are always topnotch
Great review! My takeaway is that I miss my Pebble Time 😢.
The day they cut support after Fitbit bought them, my heart broke.
I still have one in my wrist. Best watch ever
@@ArnauDisrepairyou Rebble you!
thank you mr mobile for keeping smartphones interesting
First video I’ve watched off toured in a while and I wasn’t disappointed 👍🏻
Another absolutely amazing thing is that Nothing is working with the community to come up with a Community Edition of the Phone 2a.
We get to pick and design custom textures and colours for the phone, we make the wallpaper, the packaging and also the marketing! Ofcourse not alone, the winners will be working with Nothing but I think this is just so cool!
Voting for what hardware changes win will start on 18th this month. I also have my entry there going by Coco lol
It's a breath of fresh air to have a phone try cool features like this one
the OnePlus 12r seems like a better buy.... it charges faster, the screen is brighter and charger is included and they offer trade in discounts
bro the oneplus 12r cost like 800 dollar for me
This makes me sad: $875 is the base price in Canada, definitely not a mid-range phone price here. We get a better network but no other value from our closed, tiny market here. I wish we'd fully integrate with Europe or Japan standards so we could get cool stuff and less expensive access. It's ridiculous here.
There's "nothing" like Staying Mr"Mobile" 😊
I wish we had more phones for Michael to review. I credit him for helping me sway towards the HTC One M8 over the Galaxy S5 after my Nexus 5 smashed. Alas. the competitive days of phones are at an end.
Now. This or the Pixel 8a? Thanks for the review iron man.
Great video as always.
As always, a superb video all throughout.
@TheMrMobile, about the charging speed, the USB-PD charger should also have a PPS standard ala Samsung. Very weird to have that feature needed when it's SO hard to find anywhere.
The only tech reviewer i keep watching videos of!
I would rather have an RGB notification light on the front that her than 3 very bright lights on the back to tell me I have a notification. I tire of seeing someone's phone camera flash when they get a notification. It needs to be more subtle like it used to be.
What is the phone in the video with the yellow cover that has a keyboard? Would love to get the keyboard case!!
Love that pebble real comfy.
I pulled the (rather affordable) trigger on the Nothing Phone 2A (NP2A from here on out) and absolutely enjoy using it! Although my S24 Ultra remains my main phone and mainly because I value the additional camera performance and need the S-Pen for anotating shop drawings etc, the Nothing Phone 2A feels much nicer in the hand, handles a lot better and is a lot more "fun" to use. Apple and Samsung could learn a thing or two from Nothing. This price point also really made it appealing to have a second smartphone again. I find myself reaching for the NP2A. It has all the flexibility and "openess" that one expects out of Android while having the stylishness (and perhaps even more so) that Apple is known for. Sure, the rear might be made of plastic, but the phone feels very comfortable in hand and the design will win you over very quickly if you enjoy a bit of character.
It's good that Nothing has a design philosophy and style that stands out and has made transparency cool again.
I can't wait for Nothing to come up with a true Flagship model and potentially undercut the likes the Samsung and Apple flagships.
A wishlist would include bot just a Flagship processor and build quality, but a solid Tier-1 triple camera setup and expandable storage via Micro SD and IP67.
If they do that, it's game over for the other brands.
The rest of their ecosystem is looking solid. With a bit more support from the aftermarket accessory makers, Nothing should be able to establish themselves as a clear contender in this very competitive space.
I wait for Mr. Mobile reviews before any other
Seems like a stylized Oneplus 8t. Especially the SOC lol. But it does look pretty nice.
Thanks, Michael!
LOVE that aspect ratio. Pixel and Galaxy phones are far too narrow for my preference. Just wish it worked with verizon :(
Yeah I wish it worked with Verizon as well.. Aesthetic-wise, it's one of the nicest budget phones out there right now.
I like my phones narrow. I need to feel confident that I'm holding it snugly.
It's the same aspect ratio? In fact most Galaxy phones have wider aspect ratios.
I’d love to see a video of how you use your Android phone/s with that Mac.
I love the screen layout and the gliph lights but no wireless charging at this point for me would be a deal breaker.
I really wanted a phone better than my Galaxy A53 and this could've been it. Sadly I doubt it would work with Visible, no wireless charging and loosing some features with my Samsung galaxy watch and buds pro I feel like the deal I got on the s23fe unlocked from the Samsung site excellent for me.
If Samsung has a hard time maintaining it's accessories supply like pens and nib replacements where I am at, I will switch to these mid-range phone next time. The phone cover art with those 2a eyes on the back is going to be awesome.
Auto-leveling systems for trailers have existed for decades. It's just as easy to stick a bubble level inside the fridge and turn the cranks on the corners.
Hitching up to a trailer is so easy a 13 year old can do it. Source: I've been hooking our trucks up to our trailers since before I could drive.
I'm just worried that the existence of this phone will push the price up for the Nothing Phone 3.
Good point!
NP3 will probably hot the 600-700$ . Nothing was always overpriced
I wish it wasn't currently on a wait-list for the US developer program. I missed the boat for now 😭
I think the nothing phones have some of the coolest designs of recent
I'm currently using the phone!!❤
Amazing review by amazing phone 🥰
I'm thinking of my next phone after the Pixel 7a. This looks intriguing but not having wireless charging is now a deal-breaker. Other than that looks like a fun phone.
Please do a video on the current state of foldables
The lights are cool. One smartphone thing I hate is the Blackberry style LED notification indicator. I hate audible notifications. And vibrating notifications. The LED is perfect. My work Android doesn't have an always on display and I wish I had a cheap, tiny LED as a notification bar. As for my apple...I guess I press the screen to see if I have a notification.
If the processor was of Qualcomm Snapdragon and storage type was UFS 3.1 then I'd consider it for sure otherwise without a charger it's not a gd deal for me.
Glad you liked it. If I hadn't just bought a Xiaomi 13t, I would've gone with this instead. Such a missed opportunity.
13t is better. This is at the price of Xiaomi note 13 pro.
they should have matte plastic back to prevent fingerprints
those photos are wonderful. i think they had to do a good budget phone since they're big sellers because the majority of people don't have $1200 to spend on phones. realmi, sammy, apple, google all know the value of good budget phones
After so many years, it looks like phones can be fun again
I still wished that more phone would put a dedicated camera shutter button
Are you going to review any of the latest Unihertz phones? 🙂
Great review. I wish every phone would give me option to remove wireless charging for a lower price, that most gimmicky of all gimmicks
i think that processing lag is with the software side. Think give it 2-3 months an update will fix it.
I'm on GoogleFi and I've been using the Nothing 2a for almost a month now and it works fine for me.
What's that windows laptop? It looks sick.
Love the OS style. 🤩 Only real bummer is that lack of wireless charging.
i dont know if you do it knowingly or not. i like that there is still a twitter icon not an X icon at the outro of the videos.
i still cant believe elon voluntarily ruined a nice and established brand like that.
really good video btw. i hate that everyone is so focused on performance and normality. i hate modern phone designs. i just like nothings phones simply because they did something different from everyone else. but i still feel they can do more.
its like every phone brand has a base design now and they just change it from there. every phone has a port at the bottum middle of the phone everyphone has a power button on the right side of the phone every brand puts the cameras on the upper left of the phone ( not all of em obviously like the nothing phone 2a)
its just that so many design choices are sacrificed because we reduced the bezels of the phones. i like how they look but i miss the variety we had before.
The fact this phone got laughed at before release and in reality it's actually an incredible phone for the price, I'd consider it and I have a Pixel 8
"What can 349 give you?"
"Nothing, but also a bit of something"
Where did you say can we find that Pebble coverage?
The king of reviewers
I'd be down for a Pebble video!
They should release a Something Phone now
More phones should be design forward. Now that hardware and cameras are becoming more homogenized, that would be a good way to stand out.
Are you gonna review the OnePlus 12 ?
Is the White available? The Nothing website only shows the Black and Milk. Thanks in advance.
Hello to the finger blocking the top of the shot at 6:03
I bought it just for Fun and i love it!
A couple of things, though:
1st) it charges from 0 to 100 in around an hour (it's quite fast to me for a midrange phone)
2nd) VPN might be illegal in some countries , double check before going abroad 😂
Great Video!
Finally, someone actually ‘Reviewed’ it
This is a great phone I'm telling you i would call it a high range phone, not a flag ship because of the camera is not 100% around 80% front camera is great. Screen is amazing. I can't feel the back because i have a case. And the led lights are great, but they should have led light up when you use the back button.
Watching from NP2A. loving it.
How is the gaming experience?
( Did you play any game on it )
pls pls pls dont ever ask about gaming in a midrange phone. nothing doesn't really focused on gaming performance
@@dorath2237 Some people were saying it can handle casual gaming which more than enough but i wanted to make sure about it
I did not know it was this cheap. Gotta get myself one of these.