Since its March release, the Nothing Phone (2a) (review) has had a new flavor almost every other month. And they’re back with the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which features a fresh coat of paint, a few changes under the hood, and a price increase to Rs 27,999. This places it in tight competition with the OnePlus Nord 4 (review). So, which phone provides better value for money? After using both devices, I’ll help you answer that question in this detailed Nothing Phone (2a) Plus vs OnePlus Nord 4 comparison.
Phone (2a) Plus vs Nord 4: Specs at a Glance
| Specs | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | OnePlus Nord 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 190 grams | 199.5 grams |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4nm TSMC) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4nm TSMC) |
| RAM/Storage | 8/12 GB of RAM, 256 GB (UFS 4.0) storage | 8/12 GB RAM, 128 (UFS 3.1), 256 GB (UFS 4.0) storage |
| Display | 6.7 inch, Full HD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, 10-bit colors, 2160 nits (peak brightness) | 6.74 inch, 1.5k Full HD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, 10 Bit colors, 2150 nits (peak brightness) |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP Main + 50 MP Ultrawide | 50MP Main + 8MP Ultrawide |
| Front Camera | 50 MP | 16MP |
| Video | Up to 4K at 30 FPS | Up to 4K at 60 FPS |
| Dual SIM | Yes; Does not support eSIM | Yes; Does not support eSIM |
| Connectivity | 13 5G Bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC | 9 5G Bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC |
| USB-C | Type-C | Type C |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,500 mAh |
| Charging | 50 Watt fast charging | 100 Watt fast charging |
| IP Rating | IP54 | IP65 |
| Software | Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14, 3 years of OS updates | OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14, 4 years of OS updates |
What’s in the Box
| Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | OnePlus Nord 4 |
|---|---|
| Type C to C Cable (100cm) | Type A to C Cable |
| SIM Ejector | SIM Ejector |
| Paperwork | Paperwork |
| Transparent Case | |
| 100W SuperVOOC Charger | |
| OnePlus RCC Card | |
| OnePlus Nord Stickers |
Talking about box contents, Nothing comes with only the phone, the USB cable, and a SIM ejector tool inside the box. But opening the Nord 4 box feels like unwrapping a Christmas present. You get the phone, cable, and the pin along with a case, a 100-watt adapter, some cool stickers, and the Red Cable Club card. If you are new to OnePlus, this can get you 4 months of free Spotify Premium.
Nothing’s packaging is pretty underwhelming compared to Nord’s. But at this point, I don’t care for it as it has become their shtick and I don’t think they’ll be changing it anytime in the future. So if you want everything you need with the phone, you know which one to pick.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
Phone (2a) Plus vs Nord 4: Design and Build
Nothing has something good going on with the Phone (2a)‘s design. The transparent back, symmetrical cameras, the circular Glyph lights, and a strip to hide the remainder. But seeing it so often has worn off its appeal. Especially since other brands are also focusing on the looks sector. I hoped Nothing would shake things up a bit for the Plus variant. However, it has the same mold as the (2a), except for two new colors: black and grey.
We have the grey version with us at the office and the only difference I can tell is the metallic strip at the back has a more prominent shine to it. Probably because of the silver color. Though it does look copper-ish from certain angles.
OnePlus did a better job in this department as it brought back the beloved metallic unibody design with the Nord 4. In, 2024 when most phones have become glass or polycarbonate slabs, the Nord 4 design feels quite refreshing. The glass top with the brushed metal finish gives this premium high-quality appeal to the device. It also feels denser in hand adding heft, but the curved corners make it easy to handle over long periods.
I can’t say that for the Phone (2a) Plus as it has a wider frame and sharp flat sides. This results in the phone feeling uncomfortable to hold with one hand after a while. The circular Glyph lights are also present at the back and no changes here either.
OnePlus also brings its iconic alert slider to the left of the phone and an IR blaster to control the appliances at the top. Which gimmick you prefer is up to you but overall, I’d say the OnePlus Nord 4 looks a lot better and compact from a design perspective. The company has tried something different bringing back a charm that midrange phones have been lacking for a while now.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4 (Subjective)
Display and Speakers
Looking at the front, the OnePlus Nord 4 has a huge 6.74-inch display, whereas the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has a 6.7-inch screen. Both offer a refresh rate of 120 Hz, providing a smooth experience. Now, the Nord has a narrower aspect ratio, making the phone feel more compact, as well as thinner bezels than the Phone (2a) Plus. This makes the phone more manageable, despite its larger screen real estate.
OnePlus also leads with better resolution; it has a 1.5K panel compared to Nothing’s 1080p. This results in a more detailed rich content viewing experience, and the difference is noticeable. Increased pixel density improves the clarity and sharpness of any movie or video. The darker parts in Game of Thrones’ episode “The Long Night” appear much better on the Nord 4.
However, the Phone (2a) Plus has a warmer color tone that is more pleasing to the eyes. And it’s easier to use under direct sunlight. Why? Because it gets brighter. I didn’t have to constantly fiddle with the brightness slider, as I did on the OnePlus Nord 4. If you want to speak numbers, Nothing hits 2160 nits of peak brightness, whilst the OnePlus achieves 2150 nits. The difference is minute in digits but quite significant in real life.
Speakers
The sound is also better on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus as it can play audio much louder. That is surprising given you will find a stereo setup on both devices. But side by side, it’s easy to tell that the Phone (2a) Plus has a higher peak volume which is great when consuming movies, web series or just playing songs during a workout.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Phone (2a) Plus vs Nord 4: Software Experience
If you have been following either of the brands, then you’d know the answer to this segment even before reading it. So yes, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has a better software experience than the OnePlus Nord 4. It ships with Nothing OS 2.6 packing a complete stock Android look with Nothing’s signature dot matrix style sprinkled throughout the UI. It is smooth, clean, and free from any sort of bloat or adware.
OnePlus’s Oxygen OS also used to hold the same title but it’s not what it used to be. The Nord 4 comes with the most bloatware out of any OnePlus phone that we have seen in the past coming at around 11 apps. Add to that, the unnecessary Glance lock screen, a separate app market, and a security page when installing apps. You can even argue that it’s running on ColorOS.
For those planning to use your phone for the long term, Nothing offers 3 years of OS updates and OnePlus promises 4 years of OS Android updates and 6 years of patches. As both devices come with Android 14, the Phone (2a) Plus will go up to Android 17 while the Nord 4 will receive Android 18.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Performance, Benchmarks, and Gaming
Performance is one area where the Nord 4 takes a massive leap ahead. It’s packing Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor (benchmarks). This is a 4nm CPU based on TSMC. To go against it, Nothing Phone (2a) Plus comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro. This has 10% more gains over the Dimensity 7200 (comparison) in the Phone (2a). We have attached benchmark comparisons of the two devices below.
Day-to-Day Usage
Even with the upgraded processor, the Phone (2a) Plus doesn’t match up to the fluidity and responsiveness of the Nord 4. The phone benefits from its strong internals, as it breezes through any apps or even heavy-duty chores. The app’s opening animation never skips a beat, and switching between tasks is easy. I’m not saying Nothing feels worse. But there are minor hitches here and there that I encountered while multitasking that weren’t present on the Nord 4.
Gaming Performance
Games Nothing Phone (2a) Plus OnePlus Nord 4 Genshin Impact Custom + 60FPS (Averages 40 FPS) Custom + 60FPS (Averages 53 FPS) CoD Mobile Max Graphics = Very High + Very High
Max Framerate = Low + Ultra (90FPS)Max Graphics = Very High + Max
Framerate (Max) = Low + Ultra (90FPS)BGMI Max Graphics = HDR + Ultra
Max Framerate = Smooth + Extreme (60FPS)Max Graphics = Ultra HDR + Ultra
Max Framerate = Smooth + Extreme+ (90FPS)Warzone Mobile Low + Uncapped FPS + High Resolution (Average 48 FPS) Medium + Uncapped FPS + High Resolution (Average 57 FPS)
If I had to choose a gaming phone between the two, I’d go with the Nord 4. It can do 90 FPS on BGMI and COD Mobile and maintains a steady framerate throughout my sessions. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus can achieve 60 FPS in BGMI and 90 FPS on CODM, although there are minor stutters in high-intensity situations, like while rushing others.
Both phones struggle with high-end titles like Warzone or Genshin Impact. Still, the Nord 4 delivers an average of 50-55 FPS, which Nothing couldn’t match. But I enjoyed gaming on Nothing’s wider screen over OnePlus. The on-screen buttons don’t feel cramped in, making room to spot enemies without my sausage fingers getting in the way.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
Phone (2a) Plus vs Nord 4: Camera and Video Recording
For optics, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus goes for a trifecta. It retains the 50 MP main Samsung GN9 sensor and a 50 MP ultrawide from the 2a but now sports a 50 MP lens for selfies. The Nord 4 also has a dual system at the back housing a 50 MP Sony LYT 600 main lens and an 8 MP ultrawide with a 16 MP front sensor. Here’s the camera comparison of the two devices.
Daytime
In bright natural sunlight, both phones capture good photos with ample colors and a good amount of detail. But these details quickly wither away as soon as you decide to zoom into them. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus captures more saturated social media-friendly photos than Nord 4’s natural-looking shots.
It also retains more details but has a narrow field of view. But the issue with Nord is that it gets quite warm when taking photos. I noticed this in the day and night and I wasn’t even recording any videos.
Nighttime
I like the shots taken from the OnePlus Nord 4 at night. It preserves the natural look of the image. There’s also a decent amount of details, thanks to the OIS but shadowy areas do not hold up well. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus continues to take saturated photos but has a tough time with artificial lights.
You can see that a lot of photos have this smudge kind of effect where the light is supposed to be. The details also take a turn for the worse in this scenario. Though, you can get a few good clicks with Nothing if you take your time.
Ultrawide Photos
I wouldn’t say either of the phones takes groundbreaking wide-angle pictures, But Nothing’s 50 MP sensor does capture better results. The good thing is there is no massive color shifting between the sensors of the two devices.
Selfies and Portraits
In selfies, I was hoping to see better results from the improved 50 MP lens of the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. But it’s not well-calibrated and optimized. The selfies have a softer look, not as sharp as I would expect from a 50 MP camera.
OnePlus Nord 4’s 16 MP selfie shooter also didn’t fare well either. As you can see from the samples, it overblows highlights that haven’t been fixed yet and makes the subject look pale like a zombie.
But the portrait is one area where I can wholeheartedly say that the Nord 4 does a commendable job. That’s partially thanks to the ColorOS algorithm. Its edge detection on the Nord is on point and you get almost a natural bokeh effect than Nothing’s artificial results. And you can judge that for yourself.
Videos
Finally, when it comes to videos, the Phone (2a) Plus can achieve 4k 30 FPS with all of its lenses. That’s nice to have, however, it still doesn’t allow you to switch between lenses. The OnePlus Nord 4 can do 4k 60 FPS, but only with its main shooter. The other cameras are limited to 1080p 30 FPS. The video footage from Nothing is jerky and shaky when compared to Nord. The OIS is putting in work here, as it is consistent and remains stable throughout.
Winner: Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Battery and Charging Speeds
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’ 5000 mAh capacity managed to last me about 7 hours in total. The Nord 4 on the other end with its bigger 5500 mAh battery lasted 6 and a half hours. This could be because the powerful processor was more demanding for the phone’s battery. The best part was that I could quickly top off OnePlus with its provided 100-watt charger.
The phone took a mere 27 minutes to charge from 14% to 100. The Phone (2a) Plus now supports 50-watt fast charging from the previous 45-watt. But there’s no charger in the box. Even if you buy the official fast charger, you’d still have to wait an hour for the phone to top up. So another point goes to the Nord 4.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 4
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus vs OnePlus Nord 4: Final Verdict
If it hasn’t become clear by now, let me break it to you. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus (review) has all the charms of the original Phone (2a) (comparison) minus the attractive price point. It doesn’t bring enough upgrades to justify the “Plus” in its title. There are way better options to consider at this price and OnePlus Nord 4 is certainly one of the stronger contenders.
A good software experience, design, and cameras can only take you so far. Yes, if they are a priority for you then go with the Phone (2a) Plus. But the OnePlus Nord 4 is a far better deal, in my opinion, if you’re looking for a device in this segment. It is priced higher than Nothing but this price difference also gives you a better build, performance, and all the goodies within the box. The OnePlus Nord 4 is an ideal midranger and easily triumphs over the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.
Anshuman Jain
Sagnik Das Gupta
