Here’s a detailed comparison between the Nothing Phone (2a) and the Google Pixel 8a.
Table of Contents:
- Size Comparison
- Display Comparison
- Battery Life
- Charging Speed
- Speaker Test
- Performance
- Benchmark Performance
- Camera Comparison
- Video Quality
- Overall Verdict
📏 Size Comparison
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ~162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm | ~152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm |
| Weight | ~190 grams | ~190 grams |
| Display Size | 6.7 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Display Type | AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate | OLED, 90Hz refresh rate |
| Screen-to-Body Ratio | ~88% | ~85% |
| Bezel Size | Slim bezels | Slim bezels |
| Build Material | Plastic frame, glass back | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| Thickness | 8.6 mm | 9.0 mm |
| Form Factor | Flat edges, uniform bezels | Rounded edges, uniform bezels |
| Color Options | White, Black | Charcoal, Snow, Sea |
| IP Rating | IP54 (dust and splash resistant) | IP67 (dust and water resistant) |
| In-Hand Feel | Slightly larger and heavier | Compact and lightweight |
🖥️ Display Comparison
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 6.7 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Display Type | OLED | OLED |
| Resolution | FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) | FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 90Hz (expected) / 120Hz (rumored) |
| Brightness | Up to 1200 nits (peak) | Up to 1400 nits (peak, ) |
| HDR Support | HDR10+ | HDR10+ |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| Pixel Density | ~395 PPI | ~429 PPI |
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Bezel Size | Slim bezels | Slim bezels |
| Always-On Display | Yes | Yes |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 240Hz | 120Hz |
| Color Accuracy | 10-bit color depth, DCI-P3 wide color gamut | 10-bit color depth, DCI-P3 wide color gamut |
| Notch/Cutout | Center-aligned punch-hole | Center-aligned punch-hole |
| Screen-to-Body Ratio | ~90% | ~88% |
| Adaptive Refresh Rate | Yes (30Hz to 120Hz) | Yes (60Hz to 90Hz/120Hz, depending on model) |
🔋 Battery Life
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging Speed | 45W wired fast charging | 18W wired fast charging |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Battery Type | Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) | Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) |
| Screen-on Time (SOT) | ~7-8 hours | ~6-7 hours |
| Standby Time | Up to 2 days | Up to 1.5 days |
| Power Efficiency | Optimized for mid-range Snapdragon or Dimensity chipset | Optimized for Google Tensor G3 chipset |
| Software Optimization | Nothing OS 2.0 (based on Android 14) | Stock Android 14 with Pixel-specific optimizations |
| Adaptive Battery | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Saver Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Fast Charging Support | Yes (45W charger included in the box) | Yes (18W charger, may not be included in the box) |
| Reverse Charging | No | No |
| Display Efficiency | 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED | 6.1-inch 90Hz OLED |
| Processor Efficiency | Mid-range chipset (e.g., Snapdragon 7 series or Dimensity) | Google Tensor G3 (efficient but power-hungry) |
| Real-World Usage | Heavy usage: ~1 day, Moderate usage: ~1.5 days | Heavy usage: ~1 day, Moderate usage: ~1.5 days |
⚡ Charging Speed
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 4500 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Wired Charging Speed | 45W fast charging | 18W fast charging |
| Wireless Charging | No wireless charging support | No wireless charging support |
| Reverse Charging | No reverse charging support | No reverse charging support |
| Charging Technology | Proprietary fast charging technology | USB Power Delivery (PD) |
| Charging Time (0-100%) | ~60 minutes | ~100 minutes |
| Charging Adapter | Included in the box (45W adapter) | Not included |
| Battery Optimization | Adaptive battery technology | Adaptive Battery with AI-based optimization |
| Software Enhancements | Nothing OS (based on Android) | Stock Android (Pixel UI) |
🔊 Speaker Test
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker Setup | Stereo speakers (bottom-firing + earpiece) | Stereo speakers (bottom-firing + earpiece) |
| Audio Output Quality | Clear and balanced sound with decent bass | Rich and detailed sound with Google’s audio tuning |
| Volume Levels | Loud and suitable for media consumption | Loud and optimized for multimedia and calls |
| Bass Performance | Moderate bass, suitable for casual listening | Enhanced bass with Google’s audio algorithms |
| Clarity | Good clarity for vocals and instruments | Excellent clarity with minimal distortion |
| Spatial Audio Support | No | Yes (with spatial audio support for immersive experience) |
| Dolby Atmos Support | No | Yes |
| 3.5mm Headphone Jack | No | No |
| Bluetooth Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX | SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX |
| Speaker Durability | Durable design with good longevity | Durable design with Google’s quality assurance |
| Microphone Quality | Dual microphones with noise cancellation | Dual microphones with advanced noise cancellation |
| Audio Enhancements | Basic equalizer settings | Adaptive Sound, Live Translate, and other AI-based features |
| Media Playback | Good for music, videos, and gaming | Excellent for music, videos, and gaming |
| Call Quality | Clear and loud speakerphone | Clear and loud speakerphone with AI-enhanced call clarity |
| Water Resistance | IP54 (splash-resistant) | IP67 (dust and water-resistant) |
🚀 Performance
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 | Google Tensor G3 (custom) |
| CPU Architecture | Octa-core (2x Cortex-A715 + 6x Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x Cortex-X3 + 4x Cortex-A715 + 4x Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC4 | ARM Mali-G715 |
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB LPDDR5 | 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1 | 128 GB / 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
| Operating System | Nothing OS 2.0 (based on Android 14) | Stock Android 14 |
| AI Capabilities | Basic AI optimizations for performance | Advanced AI/ML capabilities (Tensor G3) |
| Cooling System | Standard passive cooling | Passive cooling |
| Benchmark Scores | Antutu: ~600,000 | Antutu: ~700,000 |
| Gaming Performance | Good for mid-range gaming (60fps on medium settings) | Better for gaming (60fps+ on high settings) |
| 5G Support | Yes (Sub-6GHz) | Yes (Sub-6GHz and mmWave) |
| Thermal Management | Standard thermal throttling management | Improved thermal management with Tensor G3 |
| Software Optimization | Lightweight Nothing OS with minimal bloatware | Stock Android with Pixel-exclusive optimizations |
| Updates | 3 years of OS updates, 4 years of security patches | 5 years of OS updates, 5 years of security patches |
| Multitasking | Smooth for daily tasks and moderate multitasking | Excellent for multitasking and heavy workloads |
📊 Benchmark Performance
GeekBench 6
| Specification | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Core Score | ~1100 | ~1300 |
| Multi-Core Score | ~2800 | ~3500 |
Antutu 10
| Specification | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Total Score | ~600,000 | ~800,000 |
3DMark
| Specification | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Life Score | ~4500 | ~6000 |
| Sling Shot Extreme | ~5000 | ~4800 |
📸 Camera Comparison
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Camera Setup | 50 MP (main, Sony IMX890) + 50 MP (ultrawide) | 64 MP (main) + 12 MP (ultrawide) |
| Main Sensor | Sony IMX890 (1/1.56″, OIS supported) | Likely a 64 MP sensor (1/1.7″, OIS supported) |
| Ultrawide Sensor | 50 MP (JN1 or similar, 114° FOV) | 12 MP (Sony IMX386 or similar, 120° FOV) |
| Front Camera | 32 MP (punch-hole design) | 12 MP (punch-hole design) |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K @ 30/60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120fps | Up to 4K @ 30/60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120fps |
| Stabilization | OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) + EIS (Electronic Stabilization) | OIS + EIS (Google’s advanced stabilization) |
| HDR Video Support | Yes (HDR10+ ) | Yes (HDR10+ and Dolby Vision supported) |
| Slow Motion | Up to 240fps at 1080p | Up to 240fps at 1080p |
| AI Enhancements | Basic AI scene detection and optimization | Google Tensor G3 AI-powered features (e.g., Magic Eraser, Real Tone) |
| Night Mode | Yes (improved low-light performance) | Yes (Google’s Night Sight with superior low-light processing) |
| Portrait Mode | Yes (AI-based depth sensing) | Yes (advanced edge detection and bokeh effects) |
| Zoom Capabilities | Digital zoom only (up to 10x) | Super Res Zoom (up to 8x) |
| Camera Software | Nothing OS (clean Android-based UI) | Google Camera (industry-leading computational photography) |
| Unique Features | Glyph lighting for creative lighting effects | Real Tone, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Face Unblur |
| Selfie Video | Up to 4K @ 30fps | Up to 4K @ 30fps |
| Microphone Quality | Stereo microphones with noise cancellation | Stereo microphones with advanced noise cancellation |
| Audio Recording | Stereo audio recording | Stereo audio recording |
🎥 Video Quality
| Feature | Nothing Phone (2a) | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Camera Setup | 50 MP (main) + 50 MP (ultrawide) | 64 MP (main) + 12 MP (ultrawide) |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 30/60fps | Up to 4K @ 60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120fps |
| Stabilization | EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) | OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) + EIS |
| Front Camera | 16 MP | 12 MP |
| Front Video Recording | Up to 1080p @ 30fps | Up to 4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 30/60fps |
| HDR Video Support | Yes (HDR10+ ) | Yes (HDR10+ ) |
| Slow Motion | Up to 120fps at 1080p | Up to 240fps at 1080p |
| AI Enhancements | Basic AI scene detection, video editing tools | Advanced AI features (Google Tensor G3 chip) |
| Microphone Quality | Stereo microphones with noise cancellation | Stereo microphones with advanced noise cancellation |
| Audio Recording | Stereo audio recording | Stereo audio recording |
| Display Resolution | FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) OLED | FHD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness | Up to 1200 nits | Up to 1400 nits |
| Software Enhancements | Nothing OS 2.0 (based on Android 14) | Stock Android 14 with Pixel-exclusive features |
🏆 Overall Verdict
✔️Pros:
- Nothing Phone (2a):
- ✅Larger display for immersive viewing.
- ✅Higher battery capacity with faster charging options.
- ✅Wireless charging support.
- ✅Higher resolution front camera for detailed selfies.
- Google Pixel 8a:
- ✅More compact and lightweight design.
- ✅Brighter display for better outdoor visibility.
- ✅Guaranteed 7 years of OS updates, ensuring longevity.
❌Cons:
- Nothing Phone (2a):
- ❌Larger size may not be suitable for all users.
- ❌Potentially less frequent software updates compared to Pixel.
- Google Pixel 8a:
- ❌Smaller battery capacity with slower charging speeds.
- ❌Lacks wireless charging support.
