Best ADVICE about NOTHING PHONE 2a after 15 Days of use!

Summary

The reviewer, Sanj, shares his comprehensive experience with the Nothing Phone (2a), focusing on its design, software updates, and performance. He praises the phone's lightweight polycarbonate body, Glyph Light notifications, and impressive battery life. However, he points out issues like visible smudges on the black model, software bugs that have been addressed with updates, and slow charging without a fast charger. The camera performs well in various lighting conditions, but struggles with skin tones in certain indoor shots. Overall, he recommends the phone for its value, especially appreciating the software experience and design.

Takeaways

• 📱 The Nothing Phone (2a) has received several software updates in the past month, addressing bugs and enhancing the user experience.
• 🔍 The phone is lightweight, which the reviewer prioritizes in design, making it comfortable for long-term use.
• 🏅 The build quality is robust, with a polycarbonate body that resists scratches, although the reviewer notes that a screen guard and case are important for protection.
• 👀 The Glyph Light feature is highlighted as both attractive and functional, providing notifications and alerts in an innovative way.
• 📶 The phone has reliable networks with good call quality, but the reviewer consistently faces an issue where their voice isn't transmitted clearly to the other party.
• 🔆 The display is bright, reaching up to 1300 nits, and performs well in both indoor and outdoor conditions, though direct sunlight can affect visibility.
• 🔋 The 5000mAh battery provides good backup, offering around 7 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage, including 5G and WiFi, and the screen always on.
• 🔌 A significant drawback is the slow charging time; the phone does not include a charger, and a fast charger is recommended for efficient charging.
• 📸 The camera performance is decent for the price segment, with good detail capture and color accuracy, but struggles in certain lighting conditions and with skin tones in indoor shots.
• 📹 The front camera takes detailed selfies, and the video performance is satisfactory, with skin tones appearing more accurate than on the rear camera.
• 💭 For users who value software experience, the Nothing Phone (2a) offers a compelling package with a unique design, good camera, and performance that should remain consistent over the next 2 years.

Q & A

What has the speaker and their team been testing recently?

The speaker and their team have been testing the Nothing Phone (2a) and its software updates for the past few days.

How many software updates has the Nothing Phone (2a) received in the past month?

The Nothing Phone (2a) has received four to five software updates in the past month.

What was the initial issue with the Nothing Phone (2a) that the updates aimed to fix?

The updates aimed to fix some bugs that were present in the phone.

What is the speaker's evaluation of the Nothing Phone (2a) in terms of design?

The speaker prioritizes the lightweight design of the Nothing Phone (2a) and appreciates its unique design, including the Glyph Lights.

What material is the Nothing Phone (2a) made of, and what are its benefits?

The phone is made of polycarbonate, which is lightweight and resistant to scratches.

Does the speaker recommend using a screen guard and cover for the Nothing Phone (2a)?

Yes, the speaker recommends using a screen guard and cover due to the visible scratches on the lower back and front of the phone.

What issue does the speaker notice when taking the Nothing Phone (2a) out of the pocket?

The speaker notices smudges and dirt are visible on the phone, especially in the black color variant.

What is the speaker's opinion on the lighting feature of the Nothing Phone (2a)?

The speaker finds the Glyph Lighting feature attractive and highlights its usefulness for notifications and the progress bar.

How does the Nothing Phone (2a) perform in terms of network connectivity?

The speaker finds the network connectivity to be generally good, with 90% of the time performing well, but notes an issue with call audio quality.

What is the speaker's battery experience with the Nothing Phone (2a)?

The speaker is satisfied with the battery life, mentioning around 7 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage, including 5G and Wi-Fi, and screen always on.

What issue does the speaker have with the charging of the Nothing Phone (2a)?

The speaker is irritated by the slow charging speed of the Nothing Phone (2a), which does not come with a charger in the box and requires a purchase of a fast charger for efficient charging.

What software issues did the Nothing Phone (2a) have initially, and how were they addressed?

The phone had issues like frame drops in benchmarks and slow app opening, which were addressed through software updates that fixed most of the problems.

What is the speaker's overall recommendation for the Nothing Phone (2a) considering its software experience?

The speaker is impressed with the software experience and recommends the phone for its design, camera, and overall performance, despite some issues.