Nothing, the London-based tech company founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, is gearing up to launch its next flagship smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2a), on March 5. The company has been teasing and revealing some of the features and specifications of the device through unconventional marketing strategies, such as debunking rumors on Twitter and giving exclusive interviews to tech media outlets.
One of the most surprising and impressive aspects of the Nothing Phone (2a) is its processor, which is a custom-made Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset, developed by Nothing in collaboration with MediaTek, the leading semiconductor company in China. This is the first time that Nothing has partnered with MediaTek, after using Qualcomm Snapdragon processors for its previous devices, the Nothing Phone (1) and Phone (2).
According to Pei, the Dimensity 7200 Pro is a unique processor that no other device has ever used, and it was “co-engineered” by MediaTek and Nothing specifically for the (upper) mid-range 2a. Pei said that the decision to switch to MediaTek was based on finding the best “balance between power efficiency and speed.” He also added that the production costs were lower than using Qualcomm chips, which would allow Nothing to offer the Phone (2a) at a more affordable price than its predecessors.
The Dimensity 7200 Pro is built on TSMC’s latest second-generation 4nm process technology, which enables the device to handle any task with remarkable power efficiency and lightning-fast speeds. The processor has an 8-core chip that can reach speeds up to 2.8 GHz, and it is paired with the innovative RAM Booster technology, which allows the device to have up to 20GB of RAM. Pei claimed that the Phone (2a) is a clear upgrade from the Phone (1), as it offers 13 percent more raw power and a 16 percent gain in efficiency “in terms of battery consumption.”
The Phone (2a) also boasts a stunning design that reflects Nothing’s “core” aesthetic values of transparency and minimalism. The device has a dual-camera setup on the back, with two 50MP lenses, one for wide-angle and one for ultra-wide-angle shots. The front-facing camera has a 32MP sensor for high-quality selfies and video calls. The device also features a reduced number of glyph lights on the back, which are Nothing’s signature LED indicators that show the battery level and other notifications.
The device has a 6.7-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz, which provides a vibrant and smooth viewing experience. The device also supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C 2.0, and OTG support. The device is powered by a 5000mAh battery that supports fast charging.
Pei said that the target audience of the Phone (2a) is “people less concerned about the latest specs, and more about core functionalities matched with great performance and Nothing’s signature design both inside and out.” He also said that the device will be launched at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) expo in Barcelona, which starts on February 27. He said that the device will be available in two storage and memory options, 128GB with 8GB RAM and 256GB with 12GB RAM, and in two colors, black and white.
The price of the Phone (2a) has not been revealed yet, but some sources suggest that it will be around Rs. 25,000 in India, which is lower than the Phone (1) and Phone (2), which were priced at Rs. 34,999 and Rs. 39,999 respectively. The device will compete with other mid-range smartphones in the market, such as the iQOO Z9 5G, which also features a MediaTek processor and a 120Hz display.
The Phone (2a) is the third smartphone from Nothing, which was founded by Pei in 2020 after he left OnePlus. The company has also launched other products, such as the Nothing Ear (1) and Ear (2) wireless earbuds, and the Nothing Watch, a smartwatch with a transparent design. The company has also announced that it will launch two new earphones, the Neckband Pro and the Buds, along with the Phone (2a) on March 5. The company has also unveiled its next-generation Phone (2a) with a custom dimensity 7200 Pro processor.