This year, Nothing not only released its first mid-range phone, but also took the time to release an improved version of it, the Nothing Phone (2nd) More. In short, the Plus model features a better 50MP selfie camera, a slightly faster chipset, and a small increase in charging speed. For the long version, we’re working on a complete overhaulso expect more details soon.
The Plus model starts at £400 for the 12/256GB model, up from £350/€380 for the regular Nothing Phone (2a). In India, the base model is 8/256GB and goes for ₹28,000, up from ₹26,000. It will also be available in the US, but only as part of the Beta Program (support for US carrier bands is still patchy at best).
The Dimensity 7350 Pro is more or less the same chip as the 7200 Pro, except it runs at higher clock speeds (the 2x Cortex-A715 cluster goes from 2.8GHz to 3.0GHz, for example).
We’re not sure if it’s because of the new chip or the new 50MP sensor, but the selfie camera can now shoot 4K video (at 30fps), matching the rear camera. The upgrade to charging is pretty minor – there’s still no wireless charging, instead the wired options have received a 5W boost to 50W. That means the 5,000mAh battery needs 2 minutes less to reach 50% (21 minutes) and 4 minutes less to reach 100% (56 minutes).
The OnePlus Nord 4 is a little more expensive, costing £430/€500 for the 12/256GB model and ₹33,000 for the 8/256GB model. However, it features a sleek aluminium unibody instead of the Nothing’s plastic build, and better IP65 dust and water resistance (vs. IP54). The Nord also has a higher-resolution 6.74-inch display, a faster Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, and a larger 5,500mAh battery with faster 100W charging. The camera system is less impressive, with a 50MP main shooter (smaller 1/1.95” sensor) and just an 8MP ultrawide and 16MP selfie cameras.
OnePlus Nord 4 • Xiaomi Poco F6
The Poco F6 cost £370/€420/₹30,000 for a 12/512GB unit at launch. It comes with the near-flagship Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, a 6.67-inch 12-bit OLED display that’s sharper than the Nothing’s, a better IP64 rating, and a 5,000mAh battery with 90W charging. The camera system is once again the weak point, with a 50MP (1/1.95”) main, 8MP ultrawide, and 20MP selfie cameras.
The Samsung Galaxy A55 costs £414/€450/₹43,000 from Samsung itself, though it’s easy to find lower prices from retailers. The Exynos 1480 isn’t quite as fast as the Snapdragons, but it’s basically on par with the Dimensity of the Nothing phone. It has the best water resistance yet, at IP67, but the 5,000mAh battery only supports relatively slow 25W charging. The 50MP main camera has a comparable 1/1.56” sensor, but the 12MP ultrawide still lags behind. On the plus side, the 32MP selfie camera supports 4K video.
Samsung Galaxy A55 • Realme 13 Pro
The Realme 13 Pro has just launched in India, and an 8/256GB unit can be yours for ₹29,000. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 isn’t faster than the Dimensity 7350 Pro, and the 6.7-inch FHD+ OLED display isn’t any sharper than the Nothing’s. The battery is slightly bigger at 5,200mAh, and with 45W charging, it takes 27 minutes to reach 50% charge. The IP65 rating provides better protection. The camera has a 50MP main (small 1/1.95” sensor), 8MP ultrawide, and 32MP selfie modules (1080p video only at 30fps).
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus launched in the UK this weekend and will be released in India on Wednesday. Will you be among the early adopters of the phone or what?