As the launch of Nothing’s mid-range smartphone, the Nothing Phone (2a), draws near. Nothing has released a 10-minute video, in which it hinted at creating a truly special device for its community.
The official launch of the Nothing Phone (2a) is set for March 5, 2024, with a global release expected to follow. However, for US customers, a unique twist awaits – the need to enrol in a “Developer Program” to acquire the device. This echoes the approach taken during the Phone (1) launch, signalling a strategic move in the US market.
A notable change highlighted in the video is the absence of the “Beta Membership” label used during the Phone (1) launch, suggesting enhanced US network support.
Adding to the intrigue, Nothing teased a crucial detail – the price. While the exact cost remains undisclosed, the company assured viewers that the Phone (2a) would come at a more affordable price point than its predecessor, the Phone (1), initially priced at $299 in the US.
Leaked information has started to surface, providing a sneak peek into the Phone (2a). According to tipster Yogesh Brar, the device is rumoured to feature a 6.7-inch OLED panel, Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC, 50MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP selfie shooter. With a promising 45W fast charging support, the Phone (2a) is shaping up to be a compelling mid-range option.
Source: X.com
As the countdown to March 5 continues, speculations abound on what Nothing will unveil next. Will they manage to keep the mystery intact, or will leaks gradually unravel the excitement?
Stay tuned for more updates as Nothing drops hints, promising a unique device that combines affordability with cutting-edge features.
The Nothing Phone (2) was only just announced last week. The smartphone made its Malaysian debut at the Nothing Drop on the 15th of July at Crossover in Mid Valley Megamall in Malaysia. The drop was sold out in a matter of hours. Now, the smartphone is becoming more accessible with a partnership with Yes 5G by YTL Communications.
Source: Yes 5G
The partnership will bring the Nothing Phone (2) to consumers at no cost – just a subscription to Yes 5G’s Infinite+ Ultra Plan for MYR178. The subscription comes with unlimited, unthrottled data on both 5G and 4G networks, 110GB data for hotspot and tethering, unlimited domestic calls, and – if you need it – supplementary lines at MYR20. Of course, to be eligible for the free Nothing Phone (2), you will need to sign a contract for 3 years.
That said if you don’t want to be on a contract for 3 years, you can opt to get the Nothing Phone (2) with their Yes Infinite Basic Plan at a discounted subscription price of MYR38. The plan comes with similar features as the Infinite+ Ultra plan with a more limited 20GB of data for tethering and hotspot. Subscribing to this plan with entitle you to a Nothing Phone (2) at MYR3,499. However, you do get an MYR20 rebate on the MYR58 plan for 12 months, giving you savings of MYR240.
Source: Yes 5G Online Store
The offer is available online from the Yes Online Store, Yes Exclusive Stores and at selected Yes Flagship stores starting on July 22, 2023. If you can’t wait until then, you can pre-register for Yes 5G’s open sale happening on July 22, 2023. The first 100 customers at the Yes Experience Store at Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur can purchase the Nothing Phone (2) with the exclusive Nothing Launch Edition set which comes bundles with the Ear (Stick), a 45W adapter and a case for the Phone (2).
The first-generation Nothing Phone (1) launched with not too much fanfare. But it did attract a lot of attention with its bold transparent design and all the LEDs that lights the back of the device up like nothing we have ever seen before. The LED lights and the different combinations you can get with the LEDs can be used as notification indicators for different apps. In regular devices with LEDs,
The Nothing Phone (1) did not pack hardware that is worth shouting about though. It made and sold squarely in the mid-range smartphone segment category. Still, the mid-range smartphone segment is currently the most competitive segment of the industry, even more so than the flagship segment. Innovation in the segment does not come in the form of powerful hardware or Megapixel on cameras. Innovation in this market is offering the more creative solution to common problems, offering flagship smartphone experiences, while ensuring that the device itself is still affordable and accessible to general users. That was the Nothing Phone tough, an innovative mid-range offering that ticks all of the boxes of a smartphone and even more with its unique approach to design. The Nothing Phone (2) that just launched continues that design philosophy.
Source: Nothing
Source: Nothing
Source: Nothing
Source: Nothing
Source: Nothing
Source: Nothing
The Nothing Phone (2) follows almost the same recipe that made the first Nothing Phone a great success. It has innovative transparent design, and an updated hardware that is still no slouch in anyway you look at it. Everything is better than before though on the new Phone (2).
For starters, you get a flagship class Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 system on a chip (SoC) that is still a relevant chipset today, even with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Paired up with a 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage, you are getting flagship levels of performance. All that keeps the Nothing OS 2.0 based on Android 13 running smoothly on the 6.7-inch OLED LTPO display boasting up to 120hz in refresh rate. They also say that the new interface is twice faster to start up than the older interface on the older device.
Out the back is a dual camera set up that offers 50-Megapixel photos on both ends. Of course, one is a regular wide camera offering 24mm in focal length, while the other is an Ultra-Wide shooter that should offer you more creative freedom when the photography bug hits you. Out the front is a 32-Megapixel shooter for clearer selfies or better-looking video calls. With the new interface, the camera also gets a few extra features like Advanced HDR and Motion Capture 2.0. The new 50-Megapixel main shooter also offers an advanced 18-bit Image Signal Processor that allows the Nothing Phone (2) to process up to 4,000 times more data than the first-generation Nothing Phone offering better accuracy in both photos and videos. Its combined Electronic (EIS) and Optical (OIS) image stabilizers allows you to record smooth 4K videos at 60fps.
Source: Nothing
Underneath the transparent body is a large 4,700 mAh battery that offers an entire day of battery life or more depending on your use case. When you do run out, charging it to 50% takes just 20 minutes. You can even charge it wirelessly if you want to.
The unique aspect of the Nothing Phone (2) is still the iconic Glyph Interface inherited from the first Nothing Phone. They have improved the Glyph Interface for the second-generation Nothing flagship smartphone though. There are more LED segments than before, allowing better customizability and even more options for users. It can also work as a countdown timer for anything from rides via a hailing service, or delivery progress. Of course, that also means that the Glyph Interface now works as a timer too. You can even check your smartphone’s volume just via the LEDs out the back. There is a new algorithm called the Essential Glyph Notifications where you can still receive notifications from select apps or even contacts. The top-right LED segment will be kept on until you address the notifications or calls. There is also something called the Glyph Composer now where you can personalize the smartphone experience by creating your own personalized Glyph Ringtones.
Availability and Price
The Nothing Phone (2) will be available in Malaysia 22nd of July 2023 onward from Nothing’s official online stores on Shopee and Lazada, along with Nothing’s authorized retailers across the nation. You can choose between two colours, however the most affordable 8GB + 128GB option is only available in black colour option. For the White colour option, you only get to choose between a 12GB + 256GB offering or a 12GB + 512GB variant. There are no mentions of its official pricing in Malaysia just yet. It will be available in select markets 17th of July 2023 onward forwith prices starting from US$ 599 (MYR 2,786*). Based on that, you can expect the Nothing Phone (2) to be priced north of MYR 2,500 onward. More on the Nothing Phone (2) can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.65 as of 12/07/2023 on xe.com
