Highlights

• The Nothing Phone 2 has been recently unveiled at a starting price of Rs 44,999 in India for the base variant.
• Google Pixel 7a is currently available in India at Rs 43,999 for the base variant with 8GB + 128GB configuration.
• In this blog, we delve into these two smartphones to help you compare and contrast them to understand which one is right for you.

One of the most hyped smartphones of the year, Nothing Phone 2 has finally arrived in the middle of excitement among tech experts and smartphone enthusiasts.

Considering all the hype, a comparison of Phone 2 with other Android smartphones in the segment is inevitable.

One of the leading competitors of Phone 2 is Google Pixel 7a. And in this blog, we are delving into these two smartphones to help you compare and contrast them to understand which one is right for you.

Google Pixel 7a was launched earlier this year and is one of Google’s best mid-tier flagship phones.

Following the legacy of the Pixel line-up, Pixel 7a comes with several upgrades over its predecessor thanks to the Tensor G2 SoC, which is also found in Google’s premium flagships.

The story of Nothing Phone 2 is similar too as the brand has been constantly claiming that Phone 2 is the more refined and polished version of the previous Nothing phone.

So, as Nothing Phone 2 enters the market with unprecedented hype, let’s try to find out an answer to Nothing Phone 2 Vs Google Pixel 7a – Which One You Should Buy?

First of all, here’s a quick look at the positives of both devices.

Flagship Challengers: Nothing Phone 2 vs. Google Pixel 7a – Which Deserves Your Attention?

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Design and Durability

When it comes to design, Nothing Phone 2 stands out in almost every aspect because of its unique design approach compared to other smartphones available in the market. Google Pixel, on the other hand, has the regular design pattern that you have seen in other Pixel phones.

However, we wouldn’t say it is a one-sided battle because design at the end of the day is subjective and Google Pixel definitely has qualities where Phone 2 seems to be falling short.

From a distance, both devices sport distinct designs that are easily recognizable. The Nothing Phone impresses with its Glyph interface on the rear, introducing new functionalities, while the Pixel 7 showcases its signature metal camera bar.

The Nothing Phone 2 stands taller, wider, and slightly heavier than the Pixel 7, with a comparable thickness.

While both devices feature an aluminium frame, the Pixel 7 boasts the added strength of Gorilla Glass Victus on its front and back, whereas the Nothing Phone incorporates a less robust variant.

In terms of durability, the Pixel 7 takes the lead with its IP68 rating, offering superior ingress protection compared to the IP54 rating of Nothing Phone 2.

Both devices incorporate an optical fingerprint sensor and omit the traditional headphone jack.

The Pixel 7 offers a choice of three attractive colourways: Obsidian, Snow, and Lemongrass. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone (2) is available in two elegant colours, white and grey.

Nothing Phone 2 vs. Google Pixel 7a – Which Offers More Value for Your Buck?

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Display

When it comes to display features, the Nothing Phone 2 and the Google Pixel 7a offer distinct offerings.

The Nothing Phone 2 boasts a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2,412 x 1,080 pixels. It features a flat Gorilla Glass 5 cover for durability.

The display supports a 120Hz variable refresh rate, providing smooth scrolling and animations, with the ability to go as low as 1Hz to save battery. It also offers a high touch sampling rate of 240Hz, ensuring responsive touch interactions.

With a peak brightness of 1,600 nits and HDR10+ support, the display delivers vibrant colours, deep blacks, and enhanced dynamic range. The 10-bit colour depth enhances colour accuracy and richness.

On the hand, we have the Google Pixel 7a sporting a 6.1-inch OLED display with an FHD+ resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 429ppi. It features a 20:9 aspect ratio, providing a taller viewing experience.

The display offers a 90Hz refresh rate, delivering smoother scrolling and animations compared to standard 60Hz displays. With HDR support and Gorilla Glass 3 cover, the display provides improved contrast and protection against scratches.

Both devices offer excellent display performance, but there are some notable differences. The Nothing Phone 2’s LTPO OLED display with a variable refresh rate provides a seamless viewing experience with smooth animations and reduced power consumption.

Its high touch sampling rate ensures accurate and responsive touch interactions, enhancing usability.

On the other hand, the Google Pixel 7a’s OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate delivers a smoother visual experience compared to traditional 60Hz displays.

While it may not match the higher refresh rate of the Nothing Phone 2, it still provides a noticeable improvement in fluidity and responsiveness.

The Ultimate Face-Off: Nothing Phone 2 vs. Google Pixel 7a

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Hardware and Performance

Let’s talk about the hardware.

The Nothing Phone 2 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset. This powerful processor ensures smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and efficient overall performance. It delivers robust processing power, allowing users to handle demanding tasks with ease.

And then we have the Google Pixel 7a which features the Tensor G2 chipset, designed specifically for Google’s Pixel devices.

With its focus on AI and machine learning capabilities, the Tensor G2 delivers enhanced performance and improved AI-driven features. It provides optimized performance for a seamless user experience.

Both devices offer solid performance, but there are differences based on their respective hardware and optimizations. Google Pixel 7A has an overall AnTuTu score of 687,738. In contrast, Phone 2 scored around 1145797 on the AnTuTu benchmark app.

The Nothing Phone 2’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset delivers excellent performance, enabling fast app launches, smooth navigation, and efficient multitasking. With ample RAM options, it can handle resource-intensive tasks with ease.

As for Google Pixel 7a, the Tensor G2 chipset used with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, offers optimized performance and AI capabilities.

It delivers smooth and responsive performance, with AI-driven features that enhance user experience, including advanced computational photography and real-time language translation.

Nothing Phone 2 and Google Pixel 7a – A Deep Dive into Flagship Prowess

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Camera Setup

Now, coming to one of the most important aspects of smartphones in the current ear – the camera. A good camera is a make-or-break deal for many users and with the growing use of social media, having a good camera on your phone is a must.

Comparing the cameras of both phones, it is not difficult to say which is better when one is known for the camera performance.

Both phones come with dual read camera system with Pixel 7a sporting a 64MP wide primary sensor + 13MP ultrawide configuration as compared to Phone 2’s 50MP + 50 MP rear setup.

There’s no denying the exceptional camera prowess of the Pixel lineup, which played a significant role in its rise to fame.

What truly sets it apart from other Android phones, beyond its impressive image quality, is the array of useful Pixel camera features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, and Motion Mode.

However, this doesn’t mean that Nothing falls short in terms of image quality. In fact, the Nothing Phone 2 offers one of the best cameras in its price range, capturing realistic colours and abundant detail.

The low-light camera performance in the last year’s released Phone 1 left room for improvement. However, with the introduction of the new Sony IMX890 sensor, Nothing aims to address this limitation in Phone 2, so it’s worth exploring camera comparisons to gauge its progress.

While the Nothing Phone 2 allows for higher resolution selfies compared to the Pixel 7, it lacks the ability to record 4K selfie videos. Taking everything into consideration, if you prioritize the best possible camera experience on an Android device, the Pixel remains the top choice.

Nothing Phone 2 Camera Samples

Google Pixel 7a Camera Samples

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Battery

In terms of battery, again both Nothing Phone 2 and Google Pixel 7a have similar hardware on paper even though overall performance largely depends on the type of user you are.

However, Nothing Phone 2 seems to have a slight edge over Pixel 7a because of the combination of camera hardware, system processor and display feature.

With a slightly larger 4700mAh battery, a more energy-efficient 4nm processor, and the LTPO display, the Nothing Phone 2 is expected to provide longer battery life compared to the Pixel 7a.

Nevertheless, the Pixel 7a also offers a decent 4,385mAh battery and can easily last a full day with moderate use, it is unlikely to match the endurance of its rival.

In terms of charging capabilities, the Nothing Phone 2 takes the lead with faster wired charging speeds of 45W, surpassing the Pixel 7a’s 18W limit. However, the Nothing Phone 2 has slightly slower wireless charging speeds of 15W as compared to Pixel 7a’s 18W wireless charging.

Both devices support reverse wireless charging, enabling you to power your accessories such as smartwatches or earbuds wirelessly.

Nothing Phone 2 Vs Google Pixel 7a – Price

Between Nothing Phone 2 and Google Pixel 7a, the latter is the cheaper device with competitive premium features.

For the base variant 8 GB RAM and 128 GB Storage, Google Pixel 7a price in India is Rs 43,999 at the moment. Whereas, the Nothing Phone 2 with the same RAM and storage configuration is available for Rs 44,999.

Verdict

In the comparison between the Nothing Phone 2 and the Google Pixel 7a, both smartphones have their own strengths and appeal. If we keep the subjectivity of design aside, Nothing Phone 2 does seem to be leading when it comes to design novelty.

As for displays, both Nothing Phone 2 and the Google Pixel 7a offer impressive display features. The Nothing Phone 2 excels with its larger LTPO OLED display, higher refresh rate, higher peak brightness, HDR10+ support, and 10-bit colour depth.

On the other hand, the Google Pixel 7a’s OLED display provides a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and HDR support.

Moreover, both the Nothing Phone 2 and the Google Pixel 7a offer strong hardware and camera components that contribute to efficient performance.

All in all, the answer to which one between Phone 2 and Pixel 7a you should buy is largely dependent on individual preference and we hope the above analysis is helpful in giving a fair idea of both devices.

Nothing Phone 2 vs Google Pixel 7a – Specification Comparison

NOTHING PHONE 2 KEY SPECIFICATION

General

Performance

Display

Camera

Battery

Storage

Network & Connectivity

Multimedia

Sensors

GOOGLE PIXEL 7A KEY SPECIFICATIONS

General

Performance

Camera

Network & Connectivity

Sensors

FAQs

Q1. What are Nothing Phone 2 display features?

Answer. Nothing Phone 2 comes with a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display that has the following additional features –

• Flat Gorilla Glass 5 cover
• 2,412 x 1,080 resolution
• 120Hz variable refresh rate (as low as 1Hz)
• 240Hz touch sampling rate
• 1,600 nits peak pixel brightness
• HDR10+ support
• 10-bit colour depth

Q2. What processor is in the Google Pixel 7a?

Answer. In the Google Pixel 7a’s internal componentry, we’re getting Google’s Tensor G2 chipset this year. This is a 5nm octa-core part, with a clock speed of 2.85GHz and is the same processor found inside the rest of this year’s Pixels. It also has the same 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage but lacks the Pixel 7’s 256GB option.

Q3. Is Pixel 7a better than Pixel 6a?

Answer. The Pixel 7a is a significant upgrade over the Pixel 6a. It has a faster processor, more RAM, a better camera system, and wireless charging support. The handset also runs the latest version of Android. The only downside is that it is also more expensive, with a difference of more than Rs 10,000 at current prices

Q4. Is Google Pixel 7a waterproof?

Answer. The Google Pixel 7a is water-resistant with an IP67 rating. This means it can handle water up to one meter in depth for 30 minutes.

Q5. How is the Glyph interface of Nothing Phone 2?

Answer. With Nothing Phone 2, the company has upped its game in terms of Glyph lights. Nothing has revamped the Glyph Interface along the back side with 11 separate LED strips. And along with the visual improvements, Nothing has added several new functionalities to use the glyph LEDs onboard. You now get more customisation options along with features such as third-party integration, Glyph timer, Glyph composer and more to have optimum utilisation of this unique backlight feature.

Also Read: Nothing Phone (2) first software update comes with camera improvements

Also Read: Google Pixel 7a Refresh Rrate drops from 90Hz to 60Hz: Lowers Display Refresh Rate in Bright Sunlight Automatically

Also Read: Google Pixel 7a Durability Test: Check Performance Result in JerryRig Everything & Comparison to Pixel 7 Pro