Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Price, Specifications, Camera, Features Compared
It would seem that the Nothing Phone (2) beats or matches the Pixel 7a on most parameters, but it is not as simple as that.
They are perhaps the first two phones that will come to most people's minds when they go shopping for a phone for a budget of around Rs 45,000. One comes from the brand that gave us Android itself, while the other comes from one of the newest brands in the smartphone zone. While both revolve around a clean, bloat-free software experience, one focuses on delivering a classic Android experience, while the other tries to add a whole new UI to the way in which we use smartphones. So which of the two phones should you go for — the Pixel 7a from Google, or the just-launched Phone (2) from Nothing? Let us work that out for you:
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Design & Appearance
Both phones stand out in the smartphone crowd, thanks to their super distinct backs. The Nothing Phone (2) has a transparent back with LEDs that light up as part of its famous Glyph UI. On the other hand, the Pixel 7a sports the metal camera bar that is a Pixel trademark now and is also relatively compact in size. Which one looks better is totally a matter of personal preference.
If you are looking for a compact phone, then the Pixel 7a wins very easily. At 152 mm, it is significantly smaller than the 162.1 mm tall Nothing Phone (2). It is also less wide (72.9 mm against 76.4 mm). That said, it is actually thicker than the Phone (2) at 9mm, while the Phone (2) is 8.6 mm thin. The Pixel 7a is also surprisingly heavy for its compact size at 193.5 grams, making it only very slightly lighter than the Phone (2) which weighs 201.2 grams. Both phones are very striking, with each having a very distinct style of its own. Some might find the glass back of the Phone (2) more premium than the carbonate one on the Pixel 7a but we could not tell the difference.
More significantly, the Nothing Phone (2) has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front as well as black, while the Pixel 7a has a rather dated Gorilla Glass 3 on front and sports a carbonate back. Both phones have metal frames. In terms of glass and dust resistance, the Pixel 7a has clear edge over the Phone (2), as it comes with an IP67 rating, while the Phone (2) has an IP54 - the Pixel 7a can therefore survive falling into water, while the Phone (2) has splash resistance.
We are giving this round to the Phone (2) for its very innovative back, but this is a super close call, given the Pixel's better dust and water resistance and compact form factor.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Display
The Pixel 7a comes with a very good 6.1 inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, but it is no match for the 6.7 inch FHD+ LTPO OLED one on the Nothing Phone (2). The Nothing Phone (2)'s display not only has a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz but also us able to change from 1 Hz to 120 Hz depending on the content being displayed on it, an ability that the Pixel 7a's display totally lacks.
The display of the Nothing Phone (2) also seemed discernibly brighter than the Pixel 7a, although the Pixel 7a seemed a little more vibrant in terms of handling colours. This is an easy win for the Nothing Phone (2).
Winner: Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Processor
This is a clash between a powerful processor and a smart one. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip in the Nothing Phone (2) has got the better benchmark scores and is more capable of handling hefty tasks like video editing, but the Tensor G2 on the Pixel 7a enables the phone to carry out some very smart tasks, ranging from special photo edits to gestures and transcriptions.
The greater performance potential of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor over most routine tasks wins it this round. The Tensor G2 is really for those who want Google's smarts.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: RAM & Storage
This is beginning to look like a massacre as the Nothing Phone (2) notches up yet another win. The Phone (2) has three RAM and storage variants - 8 GB/ 128 GB, 12 GB / 256 GB and 12 GB/ 512 GB. On the other hand, the Pixel 7a comes in a single 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant. There is only one winner here.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Cameras & Photography
The Pixel makes its appearance on the scorecard and does so very emphatically. On paper, the Nothing Phone (2) would seem to be better endowed in the camera department with two 50-megapixel sensors on the back, one of them being a flagship-level Sony IMX890 with OIS, as compared to the 64-megapixel main sensor with OIS and a 13 megapixel ultrawide. Similarly in the front, the Nothing Phone (2) brings a 32-megapixel camera while the Pixel 7a has a more modest 13-megapixel one.
The numbers, however, do not tell the story at all. The Pixel 7a totally outclasses the Phone (2) on all photographic fronts, delivering better colours and details, both on front and rear cameras. The Nothing Phone (2) does not do a bad job, but it is no match for the Pixel 7a's legendary computational photography. Even Google's special photo editing options such as magic eraser, work better on the Pixel 7a.
Winner: Pixel 7a
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Gaming & Multimedia
The Phone (2) takes this round comfortably thanks to its larger and brighter display and of course, its way more game-friendly processor. Although it can run titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty (with a bit of tweaking in the settings), the Pixel 7a is not really a gaming beast. The Phone (2) on the other hand, handles high-end gaming much more comfortably and its dual speakers also sound better than the ones on the Pixel 7a. The bigger display also makes the Nothing Phone (2) a better option for those who want to consume a lot of content on their phones. The Pixel 7a is a decent performer, but the Phone (2) totally outguns it in this department.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Software
Thanks to its clean interface and assured updates, a Pixel normally would beat any other Android phone in the software department. However, the Nothing Phone (2) is an exception. It too comes with a clean interface and has a very good record of updates, albeit not as swift as the Pixel. The Nothing Phone (2) also has the Glyph UI on its back with LEDs lighting up for different notifications and functions.
While the Glyph UI remains unique, the Pixel 7a has some very clever image editing and smart features up its Android sleeves and what's more, is still likely to get new Android features before the Nothing Phone (2) does. Which is why we are calling this round a tie.
Winner: Tie
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Battery & Charging
The Pixel 7a comes with a 4385 mAh battery that gets it comfortably through more than a day of normal usage. The Nothing Phone (2) comes with a larger 4700 mAh battery but perhaps the larger display and that Glyph UI on the back drain it more, as it just about gets the Phone (2) through a day of normal use. The Nothing Phone (2) comes with support for 45W charging which can charge it in about an hour. The Pixel 7a on the other hand comes with support for only 18W charging, which takes close to two hours to charge it.
However, neither device comes with a charger in the box. Both phones also support wireless charging, but here too the Nothing Phone (2) supports a faster charging speed of 15W as compared to 7.5W of the Pixel 7a. The Phone (2) also supports reverse wireless charging, which the Pixel 7a does not. In short, the Phone (2) has the larger battery and faster charging, but the Pixel 7a has a better battery life. And neither has a charger. We are calling this one a tie overall.
Winner: Tie
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Day-To-Day Usage
Both phones sail through routine tasks like web browsing, tracking social networks, and swapping mails and messages. However, we felt that the smaller form factor of the Pixel 7a made it easier to use in general. The fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 7a also seemed to work more smoothly than the Nothing Phone (2), although Nothing has recently improved the device's performance in this regard with a software update. Some might like the larger and wider display of the Phone (2), but on the flip side, all Google's apps from Search to Photos, work much better on the Pixel. Both phones come with 5G support too.
We are calling this one a tie, although those who like to keep their phones face down on the table might value the functionality of the Glyph UI.
Winner: Tie
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Price
The Nothing Phone (2) starts at Rs 44,999 for its 8 GB/ 128 GB variant, while its 12 GB/ 256 GB variant is priced at Rs 49,999 and its 12 GB/ 512 GB variant is available for Rs 54,999. The Pixel 7a on the other hand has a single RAM and storage variant of 8 GB/ 128 GB, which at the time of writing was available at Rs 43,999. In terms of sheer price, you can get a Pixel 7a at a lower price than a similar RAM and storage variant of the Phone (2), which is why the Pixel 7a wins this round.
Winner: Pixel 7a
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: Final Verdict
So which of the two should you be going for? It would seem that the Nothing Phone (2) beats or matches the Pixel 7a on most parameters, but it is not as simple as that.
The Pixel 7a wins the crucial photography round by a huge margin, ties on software and battery, does not come too far behind in design, and actually wins on day-to-day usage and price, which are all critically important parameters for many users. We would say that which of the two phones you should do for is going to depend on how much you value factors like photography and design. The Pixel 7a is perfect for those who want a compact phone with the latest software and great cameras.
On the other hand, if someone is looking for a head-turning phone with a larger display and more hardware muscle, the Nothing Phone (2) is a better choice. No matter which device you go for, you are going to end up with an exceptional phone.
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