Apple iPhone 16 Plus vs Nothing Phone (2a)
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
iPhone 16 Plus excels with its superior OLED display (2000 nits peak brightness), Apple A18 processor delivering exceptional performance, and premium build quality with IP68 dust/water resistance. Camera system captures stunning 4K Dolby Vision video with refined processing. Nothing Phone 2a counters with a larger 5000 mAh battery, faster 120Hz refresh rate, superior charging speed (45W vs 20W), and impressive main/ultrawide 50MP cameras with OIS at half the price. Performance gap favors Apple significantly for demanding tasks, while Nothing offers compelling everyday value with practical specs. Battery endurance advantage goes to Nothing, yet iPhone's ecosystem and camera video capabilities edge ahead. For premium experience and longevity, iPhone 16 Plus justifies its cost. Budget-conscious buyers wanting capable performance should seriously consider Nothing Phone 2a—it delivers solid fundamentals without flagship pricing.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple iPhone 16 Plus | Nothing Phone (2a) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 199 g | 190 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Plastic frame, plastic back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP54 |
| Dimensions | 160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8 mm | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Samsung GN9 |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps Dolby Vision | 4K@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 4674 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 45W wired |
| Wireless charging | 25W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2796 x 1290 | 2412 x 1084 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 2000 | 1300 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 6x2.0 GHz A510) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Pros
- Excellent battery life from large 4674 mAh cell
- A18 chip supports Apple Intelligence
- New Camera Control button
- Bright 2000-nit display
- More affordable than Pro Max
Cons
- Still locked to 60Hz refresh rate
- No telephoto camera
- USB-C limited to USB 2.0 speeds
- No always-on display
Nothing Phone (2a)
Pros
- Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Plastic build at this price
- No wireless charging
- Only IP54 splash resistance
- Mid-tier Dimensity chipset rather than Snapdragon
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