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The Nothing Phone 2a is a good idea and a solid move by the company behind it. It isn’t a novel love, though. In releasing a budget model, Nothing Technology is only following in the footsteps of Apple and Google. It is a proven model. It works fine.
Personally, I’d be using the Nothing Phone 2a as my current smartphone if only it didn’t fail in a few areas that are important to me. It has a decent processor (though I wish it was a more powerful one – something in the Dimensity 8000 series). But the processor is not a deal breaker for me.
Some are disappointed that the back cover design is not as detailed as those of the more expensive models. The Glyph interface here is dumbed down. I can understand why. This is a budget version, after all. And personally, I am not a huge fan of Glyph. It is cool and all, but it isn’t going to swing the vote either way for me. I love the design as it is.
Let’s look at some of the things that I wish were different about this mid-ranger.
Nothing Phone 2a’s rear cameras.
Too Big
A lot of people will likely disagree, but this is about me and my preferences for a phone that I’d like to use. With a 6.7-inch display, the Nothing Phone 2a is simply too big. A 6.0 to 6.4 inches display would be perfect for me, all other things being equal.
I also do not like how think it is. 8.6mm thickness is a lot. I am most comfortable with smartphones that are 7.6 to 8.0 mm thick. Those feel much better in the hand.
Unimpressive Cameras
Review after review point out the unimpressive performance of the cameras of the Nothing Phone 2a. If you are going to be following the playbooks of Apple and Google, you better make those cameras solid. If I am spending $420 on a smartphone, I am not expecting premium flagship grade photography and video capture, but I am expecting decent, consistent performance that is solid. Impress me with those photos and videos. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. Photography and video recording with the Nothing Phone 2a is nothing close to what exists with the Google Pixel 8a or 7a, or even the iPhone SE 2022. And the SE 2022 costs less and has flagship grade processor and performance.
The size and camera issues are deal breakers for me. Using a big phone everyday is often a painful experience for me. Give me a compact size similar to the Samsung S23 and S24, or even something as diminutive as the iPhone SE 2022 and I am in phone comfort heaven. These phones are compact, slim, and lightweight. Sadly, Google is moving away from slim. At a thickness of 8.9mm, the new Pixel 8a is so chunky it could almost pass for a power bank. And then, there is the periennial problem with optimisation. Oh, well.
Somebody needs to invest in budget smartphones that score well on all of the following: size, weight, thickness, decent performance, good battery life, and camera performance. We have some models that score well in some of them and then drop the ball in others. It cannot be that hard to pull off.
I am hoping that the Apple iPhone SE 4th Generation will tick all points when it is finally officially announced. I don’t see any other brand doing it, to be honest. Only Apple. And that sucks, because I am an Android person and would rather have an Android smartphone in my pocket or in my hand than an iPhone. Too bad the Nothing Phone 2a is unable to change that. It really is a solid product and a breath of fresh air in the crowded marketplace.
PS : Do check out my YouTube channel for informative and fun videos.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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Apple’s iPhones have a reputation for years of support after their releases. By support, I mean iOS software updates, bug fixes, and security patches. The whole essence of this kind of support is that iPhones do not become obsolete quickly, because they continue to receive new features for years. The question is, How many years of iOS software updates do iPhones get?
- How many years does Apple continue to update an iPhone with iOS software updates after release?
- How many years will the iPhone 15 Pro Max get iOS updates?
- How many years will the iPhone 14 Pro Max get updates?
- What of iPhone 13 series and older iPhones?
How many years does Apple continue to update an iPhone with iOS software updates after release?
Typically, it is five years, though there is no official statement to this effect. In some cases, Apple has issued iOS software updates for longer than that. But it is safe to keep your eyes on five years. Let’s explore the implications of this on each iPhone.
May 2024 Update : Thanks to the UK’s Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulation, Apple has issued an official stement to say that its official support policy is “a minimum of five years from the first supply date.” That’s a minimum of five years from when each model first ships. So, now we have a clear, official line from Apple.
How many years will the iPhone 15 Pro Max get iOS updates?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max and it’s siblings, the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15, all hit the market with iOS 17. Five years of updated means each of them will get up to iOS 22, at the least. They will get iOS 18, iOS 19, iOS 20, iOS 21, and iOS 22. You can read my iPhone 15 Pro review or watch the video review .
If you own one of the iPhone 14 series, your device will get updated to iOS 17, iOS 18, iOS 19, iOs 20, and iOS 21. Yes, 5 years of iOS software updates.
What of iPhone 13 series and older iPhones?
The iPjone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max all were released with iOS 15. They have received iOS 16 and iOS 17 already, as at press time. They will get updated all the way to iOS 20.
The iPhone SE 2022 was also released with iOS 15 and so will get the same supported updates as the iPhone 13 series.
Similarly, iPhone 12 series will get updated all the way to iOS 19, and iPhone 11 series will get updated to iOS 18.
Like the iPhone 11 series, the iPhone SE 2020 was released with iOS 13 and so will also get updated with versions 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of iOS.
As at 2024, iPhone X, XS, and XR models, along with older models like the iPhone 9, 8, 7, and 6 series, have reached the end of their support cycles. As such, they are no longer being supported with iOS software updates.
All of the above projections are based on the proven 5-year update cycle for past Apple iPhones. Apple might change things up a bit, especially now that competitors like Samsung and Google are officially supporting their devices for up to 7 years of Android software updates.
Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
