These are perhaps the first two phones that will come to most people’s mind when buying a phone for a budget of around Rs 45,000. One is from the brand that gave us Android itself, while the other is 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 user interface to the way we use smartphones. So which of the two phones should you choose – Google’s Pixel 7a, or Nothing’s brand new Phone (2)? Let us work it for you:
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Design and 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 user interface. On the other hand, the Pixel 7a sports the metal camera bar which is now a Pixel trademark and is also relatively compact in size. Which one looks best is totally a matter of personal preference.
If you’re looking for a compact phone, then the Pixel 7a wins very easily. At 152mm, it’s significantly smaller than the 162.1mm (2) Nothing Phone. It is also less wide (72.9 mm against 76.4 mm). That said, it’s actually thicker than the Phone (2) at 9mm, while the Phone (2) is 8.6mm thick. The Pixel 7a is also surprisingly heavy for its compact size at 193.5 grams, making it very slightly lighter than the Phone (2) which weighs 201.2 grams. Both phones are very striking, each having a very distinct style. Some might find the glass back of the phone (2) more premium than the carbonate one of the Pixel 7a, but we couldn’t tell the difference.
More importantly, 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 the front and sports a carbonate back. Both phones have metal frames. In terms of glass and dust resistance, the Pixel 7a has a clear advantage over the Phone (2), as it comes with an IP67 rating, while the Phone (2) has an IP54 – so the Pixel 7a can survive falling in water, while the phone (2) has splash resistance.
We’re giving the phone (2) this round for its very innovative back, but it’s a very close call, given the Pixel’s better dust and water resistance and compact form factor.
Winner: Nothing Telephone (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 90Hz refresh rate, but it’s no match for the 6.7-inch FHD+ LTPO OLED display on the Nothing Phone (2). The Nothing Phone (2) screen not only has a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, but also allows us to go from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content displayed on it, a capability that the Pixel 7a screen completely lacks.
The Nothing Phone (2) screen also looked noticeably brighter than the Pixel 7a, although the Pixel 7a looked a bit more vibrant in terms of color management. It’s an easy victory for the Nothing Phone (2).
Winner: Nothing Telephone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Processor
It’s a clash between a powerful processor and an intelligent processor. The Nothing Phone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip (2) earned the best benchmark scores and is more capable of handling heavy-duty tasks like video editing, but the Tensor G2 on the Pixel 7a allows the phone to perform very smart tasks. tasks, ranging from special photo retouching to gestures and transcriptions.
The greater performance potential of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor on most routine tasks wins it this round. The Tensor G2 is really for those who want the intelligence of Google.
Winner: Nothing Telephone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: RAM and storage
It’s starting to look like a massacre as the Nothing Phone (2) picks up yet another victory. The phone (2) has three variants of RAM and storage: 8GB/128GB, 12GB/256GB, and 12GB/512GB. On the other hand, the Pixel 7a comes in a single variant of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. There is only one winner here.
Winner: Nothing Telephone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Cameras and Photography
The Pixel makes its appearance on the dashboard and does so with a lot of emphasis. On paper, the Nothing Phone (2) would seem better endowed in the camera department with dual 50-megapixel sensors on the rear, one of them being a flagship-level Sony IMX890 with OIS, compared to the main one. 64 megapixels. sensor with OIS and ultrawide from 13 megapixels. Similarly on 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, don’t tell the story at all. The Pixel 7a totally outclasses the phone (2) on all photographic fronts, delivering better color and detail on both the front and rear cameras. The Nothing Phone (2) doesn’t do a bad job, but it’s no match for the Pixel 7a’s legendary computer photography. Even Google’s special photo-editing options, such as the magic eraser, work better on the Pixel 7a.
Winner: Pixel 7a
Nothing Phone (2) Vs Google Pixel 7a: games and multimedia
The Phone (2) takes this trick comfortably thanks to its larger, brighter screen and of course, its much more user-friendly processor. While it can run titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty (with a few tweaks in the settings), the Pixel 7a isn’t exactly a gaming beast. The Phone (2), on the other hand, handles high-end games much more comfortably and its dual speakers also sound better than the Pixel 7a’s. The bigger screen also makes the Nothing Phone (2) a better option for those who want to consume a lot of content on their phone. The Pixel 7a is a decent performer, but the Phone (2) totally outshines it in this department.
Winner: Nothing Telephone (2)
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Software
Thanks to its clean interface and assured updates, a Pixel should normally beat any other Android phone in the software department. However, the Nothing Phone (2) is an exception. It also comes with a clean interface and has a very good update record, although not as fast as the Pixel. The Nothing Phone (2) also has the Glyph UI on the back with LEDs that light up for different notifications and functions.
While the Glyph UI remains unique, the Pixel 7a has some seriously smart image editing and smart features up its Android sleeves and, moreover, is still likely to get new Android features before the Nothing. Phone(2) does. That’s why we call this round a tie.
Winner: Tie
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Battery charging
The Pixel 7a comes with a 4385mAh battery that comfortably lasts more than a day of normal usage. The Nothing Phone (2) comes with a bigger 4700mAh battery, but maybe the bigger screen and Glyph UI on the back drain it more, as it pretty much lets the phone (2) to go through a day of normal use. The Nothing Phone (2) comes with a 45W charging stand that can charge it in about an hour. The Pixel 7a, on the other hand, only supports 18W charging, which takes nearly two hours to charge.
However, no 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 compared to the Pixel 7a’s 7.5W. The phone (2) also supports reverse wireless charging, unlike the Pixel 7a. In short, the phone (2) has the bigger battery and faster charging, but the Pixel 7a has better battery life. And neither has a charger. We call this a global equality.
Winner: Tie
Nothing Phone (2) vs. Google Pixel 7a: Daily use
Both phones perform routine tasks such as web browsing, social media monitoring, and exchanging mails and messages. However, we felt the Pixel 7a’s smaller form factor made it easier to use in general. The Pixel 7a’s fingerprint sensor also seemed to work smoother than the Nothing Phone (2), although Nothing recently improved the device’s performance in this regard thanks to a software update. Some might like the phone’s taller and wider display (2), but on the other hand, all of Google’s apps, from search to photos, run much better on the Pixel. Both phones are also 5G compatible.
We’re calling this one a tie, though those who like to keep their phone face down on the table might appreciate 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 8GB/128GB variant, while its 12GB/256GB variant is priced at Rs 49,999 and its 12GB/512GB variant is available for Rs 54,999 The Pixel 7a, on the other hand, has a single RAM and 8GB/128GB storage variant, which at the time of writing was available at Rs 43,999. 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 be preferred? It would seem that the Nothing Phone (2) beats or matches the Pixel 7a on most parameters, but it’s not that simple.
The Pixel 7a wins the crucial photography round by a huge margin, ties on software and battery, doesn’t lag too far behind in design, and actually wins on day-to-day use and price, all of which are critically important metrics for many users. We’d say which of the two phones you should go for will depend on how much value you place on factors like photography and design. The Pixel 7a is perfect for those looking for 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 bigger screen and more hardware power, the Nothing Phone (2) is a better choice. Whichever device you choose, you’re going to end up with an exceptional phone.