Nothing, the consumer tech company founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, made waves in 2022 with the launch of its first smartphone, the Nothing Phone 1. Combining innovative design with solid specs and an affordable price, the Phone 1 won many fans. Now new details have emerged about Nothing’s next smartphone, expected to launch in early 2024.
Redesigned Look with New Rear Camera Setup
Photos of an alleged Nothing Phone 2a test unit obtained by MySmartPrice reveal a completely revamped design for the smartphone sequel [1]. Gone are the Phone 1’s transparent back and Glyph interface lights. Instead, the Phone 2a opts for a more traditional solid black rear panel with a large circular camera bump protruding prominently.
The rear camera setup itself appears upgraded over the Phone 1’s dual 50MP lenses. Leaked specs point to a new triple camera system:
| Camera | Details |
|---|---|
| Main | 64MP |
| Ultra-wide | 8MP |
| Depth | 2MP |
With a higher resolution main camera paired with dedicated depth and ultra-wide lenses, the Phone 2a could capture more detailed and varied types of shots compared to its predecessor. Low-light photography in particular may see significant improvements from the 64MP sensor.
Mid-range Power with MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Chip
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 2a looks set to pack a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chip based on a 6nm process [2]. The rumored octa-core processor would provide a performance boost over the Snapdragon 778G+ powering the original Nothing Phone. While not quite flagship-tier, the Dimensity 7200 should enable solid all-around performance and power efficiency.
Other leaked Phone 2a specs:
- 6.7″ FHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- 8/12GB RAM
- 128/256GB storage
- Android 13-based Nothing OS 3.0
- 4,500 mAh battery with 33W fast charging
So while not top-of-the-line, the Phone 2a still packs some nice upgrades over its predecessor in the camera, chipset, and software departments.
Launching at MWC 2024 Nothing Event
Nothing has already sent out invitations for a special event at February 2024’s Mobile World Congress trade show simply dubbed “Nothing to see” [3]. While no specifics were given, it’s widely expected this will serve as the launch venue for the Nothing Phone 2a.
A Q1 2024 release window aligns with the leaked test unit emergence, pointing to final mass production ramping up soon. Pricing for the Phone 2a remains unconfirmed, but a small bump over the Nothing Phone 1’s $470 starting tag seems reasonable given the upgrades. Something around $499 or $549 appears likely.
What Led to the Nothing Phone 2a
While Nothing only recently burst onto the smartphone scene, its leader Carl Pei has been shaping the industry for over a decade. As an early OnePlus executive, Pei pioneered the budget flagship formula of premium features and performance at mass market prices. This helped OnePlus grow from a niche enthusiast brand into a mainstream success.
But by 2020 Pei was ready for new challenges, and he left OnePlus to found Nothing focused on building an ecosystem of connected consumer tech products and services. The Phone 1 in 2022 was just the first step in this vision.
While the Phone 1 was generally well-reviewed, there were some shortcomings that likely spurred development of the 2a so soon after – primarily its mid-range processor and cameras. The Phone 2a aims squarely to address those areas with its upgraded Dimensity chip and new triple camera setup while retaining Nothing’s now-signature striking design.
What Happens After the Phone 2a Launch?
If prior rumors pan out, the Nothing Phone 2a reveal at MWC 2024 seems imminent. From there, the smartphone would likely hit retail availability in March or April 2024. This would firmly establish Nothing’s smartphone line and OS as an Android alternative to OnePlus, Motorola, and others in the competitive mid-range category.
And Nothing is unlikely to rest on its laurels with the 2a…leaks indicate the company already has a Phone 3 in development for release later in 2024 or early 2025. The Phone 3 would bring more premium flagship-level specs to really take on the iPhone and Galaxy series heavyweights.
Between smartphones, wearables, and a web3 integration push, Nothing clearly has grand ambitions under CEO Carl Pei. The Phone 2a sets the stage for the company’s wider connected ecosystem play in 2024 and beyond. If Pei can replicate even some of the magic that catapulted OnePlus, Nothing may shape up to be his next crowning achievement.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
