Nothing Phone 2a Plus vs OnePlus Nord 4: Which One to Buy Under Rs 30,000?

Nothing Phone 2a Plus vs OnePlus Nord 4:

The mid-range smartphone battle is heating up in India and two phones stand out in the sub Rs 30,000 segment: Nothing Phone 2a Plus and OnePlus Nord 4. Both have great specs and features but they serve different purposes. Let’s break down the differences and help you decide which one is for you.

Design: Standout Style vs. Robust Build

When it comes to design the Nothing Phone 2a Plus makes a statement with its transparent back and Glyph Light interface. The lights illuminate for notifications, calls and music visualizations, it’s a head turner and sets it apart from the usual smartphone designs. If you want your phone to stand out this might be the one for you.

On the other hand the OnePlus Nord 4 goes for a more classic approach with a full metal unibody design, it’s durable and premium. It’s built to withstand daily wear and tear better than the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus which has an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance compared to the Nord 4’s IP65 rating for water and dust resistance. And the Nord 4’s advanced cooling system might help with performance under heavy usage.

Display: Brightness and Refresh Rate

Both phones have high refresh rate displays but there are differences. Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has a 6.7 inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 which is decent against scratches and drops.

OnePlus Nord 4 has slightly larger 6.74 inch FHD+ OLED display with variable refresh rate which can be more battery efficient. It has a peak brightness of 2,150 nits compared to Nothing Phone’s 1,300 nits so it’s easier to use in bright sunlight. Nord 4 also has ProXDR support for better HDR experience which can be a plus for media consumption.

Performance: Powerhouse vs. Competent Performer

Performance is where the OnePlus Nord 4 wins. It’s got the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 which is way better than the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. The Nord 4 scores much higher in benchmarks like AnTuTu and Geekbench, so you’ll get a smoother experience in daily usage and gaming.

The Nord 4 also has faster LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1/UFS 4.0 storage while the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. This difference means faster app loading times and better overall system performance in the OnePlus device.

Cameras: High Resolution Meets Versatility

Cameras: The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus has a good camera setup with 50MP primary sensor and 50MP ultra-wide sensor. The 50MP front camera is a big plus for those who want high quality selfies. The dual camera setup at the back should give sharp and detailed images but real world performance can only be tested hands on.

The OnePlus Nord 4 has a 50MP primary camera with Sony LYT-600 sensor and OIS along with an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The ultra-wide lens and front camera (16MP) is lower than Nothing Phone (2a) Plus but the Nord 4’s camera is known for its image quality and color accuracy.

Battery and Charging: Bigger Battery vs. Faster Charging

Battery life and charging speed are crucial factors for many users. The OnePlus Nord 4 has a larger 5,500mAh battery compared to the 5,000mAh battery in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. It also supports faster 100W charging, which can top up the phone in just 24 minutes, while the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus supports 50W charging and takes around 51 minutes to reach a full charge.

Both phones come with Android 14 out of the box, but OnePlus offers more extended software support with four years of Android updates and six years of security updates, whereas Nothing promises three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.

Conclusion: Performance or Design?

It all comes down to your priorities. If you want a unique design and a phone that stands out and can live with slightly compromised performance the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus might be the better choice for you.

But if you want a phone that performs better, has longer battery life, faster charging and longer software support the OnePlus Nord 4 is the clear winner. If you want the best value for raw power and future proofing the Nord 4 is the package under Rs 30,000.

Both phones have their strengths, so consider what features matter most to you before making your final decision.