Google Pixel 7a vs Nothing Phone (2): Which is better?

Beginning with the design and build quality, both the Google Pixel 7a and the Nothing Phone (2) have a contemporary appearance.

The Nothing Phone (2) has a sleek and slender design. It also has Gorilla Glass for enhanced durability and an IP54 grade for dust and splash protection. The gadget also has the one-of-a-kind Glyph Interface LED lights, which provide a distinguishing touch to its design and functionality. The phone is available in two colors: white and gray.

The Pixel 7a, on the other hand, has a significantly smaller design. It has an IP67 rating, which means it is more resistant to dust and water than the Nothing Phone (2), which has an IP54 rating and is just splashproof for water. The Pixel 7a is also available in a variety of vibrant colors, including Charcoal, Snow, Sea, and Coral.

The Nothing Phone (2) features a huge 6.7in 120Hz LTPO OLED display with brilliant colors and smooth animations. A faster refresh rate also results in a more responsive touch interface and smoother scrolling.

Despite its smaller 6.1in OLED display, the Pixel 7a offers a sharp Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. While it is not as huge as the Nothing Phone (2), it is a good compromise between size and usefulness for individuals who prefer smaller handsets.

The Pixel 7a’s main benefit, in my opinion, is its smaller screen, and it is primarily for individuals who love smaller smartphones. In every other way, the Nothing Phone (2) display will just be superior.

Both smartphones have adequate technology under the hood, but there is a distinction. Both devices are running Android 13 and will be updated to Android 14. The Nothing Phone (2), on the other hand, runs Nothing OS 2.0, which provides a somewhat different user experience than the Pixel’s more stock UI.

Both phones will receive three years of OS upgrades, but the Pixel 7a will have at least five years of security fixes, which is a year longer than the Phone (2).

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset powers the Nothing Phone (2). It has 256/512GB storage and 8/12GB RAM for seamless multitasking, and it supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity.

The Google Tensor G2 processor powers the Pixel 7a. It has 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is a little less than the Nothing Phone (2), and it supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3.

The Nothing Phone (2) outperformed the Pixel 7a in our Geekbench 5 Multi-core testing. The Nothing Phone (2) received 4055 points, while the Pixel 7a received 2720 points.

In terms of pure performance, the Nothing Phone (2) outperforms, which, when paired with the greater screen refresh rate and larger RAM, will significantly improve the user experience.

Both phones do not come with a charging brick, so you will need to provide your own. Also, take in mind that charging rates differ: 45W cable and 15W wireless for the Nothing Phone (2) and 18W wired and 7.5W wireless for the Pixel 7a.

The Nothing Phone (2) charged to 32% in 15 minutes, 65% in 30 minutes, and 100% in exactly 55 minutes. The Pixel 7a managed to charge up to 20% in 15 minutes and 38% in half an hour, implying that a complete charge will take an hour or two.

So, in terms of charging speed, the Nothing Phone (2) obviously wins not just on paper, but also in real-world usage. Furthermore, it has a bigger battery, and while both phones will provide you with a full day of use, the Pixel 7a will lag somewhat behind.

The Nothing Phone (2) sports a 50Mp primary camera, a 50Mp ultrawide camera, and a 32Mp selfie camera on the back. The Pixel 7a, on the other hand, has a 64-megapixel primary camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 13-megapixel selfie camera.

Google’s well-known image processing software is expected to make a noticeable improvement in photo quality, as seen by our camera tests. Camera performance is frequently a significant issue for photography fans, and the Pixel 7a is a clear winner between these two phones.

You can find more on the camera capabilities and sample images in the Nothing Phone (2) and the Pixel 7a review.

For a phone marketed partly around its photo improvements, the Phone (2)’s cameras are merely OK. If camera is your priority, get a Pixel 7a for cheaper.

Henry Burrell, Phones Editor

Price & availability

The Nothing Phone (2) is priced at £579/€649/$599 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant.

Additionally, you have the option to purchase the 12/256GB model for £629/€699/$699 or the 12/512GB version for £699/€799/$799. While the latter may seem costly, it represents a reasonable value considering the substantial storage capacity.

Nothing is exclusively selling the Phone (2) through its official store and a limited number of chosen retail partners.

You can buy the Pixel 7a directly from Google at a price of $499/£449/€509, or through various other retail outlets.

Unfortunately, the Pixel 7a does not offer more RAM or storage options, but its base model costs less than the Nothing Phone (2).

Verdict

To summarize, both the Nothing Phone (2) and the Google Pixel 7a have distinct advantages and disadvantages.

The Nothing Phone (2) outperforms in terms of performance, gorgeous display, one-of-a-kind design aspects such as the Glyph Interface LED lights, and charging speed. The Google Pixel 7a, on the other hand, has a more compact form, Google’s acclaimed software experience, great photography capabilities, and is less expensive.

Overall, we believe the Google Pixel 7a is the superior buy, but there are some compelling reasons to get the Nothing Phone (2) as well.

Specs

Nothing Phone (2):

• 6.7in 120Hz LTPO OLED display
• Rear camera:
  • 50Mp, f/1.8 OIS main camera
  • 50Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide camera
  • 32Mp, f/2.45 selfie camera
• 4700mAh battery
• 45W wired charging
• 15W wireless charging
• 5W reverse wireless charging
• 5G
• Stereo speakers
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• NFC
• Glyph Interface LED lights
• IP54
• Gorilla Glass
• Android 13 with Nothing OS 2.0
• 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3mm
• 201g

Google Pixel 7a:

• 6.1in, FHD+, 90Hz OLED
• Google Tensor G2 chipset
• Google Titan M2 security chip
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• Cameras:
  • 64Mp, f/1.9 main camera
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 selfie camera
• 4385mAh battery
• 18W wired charging
• 7.5W wireless charging
• IP67 rating
• 5G
• Android 13
• 72.9 x 152.4 x 9.0mm
• 193g