Nothing Phone (2a) Plus vs Sony Xperia 1 IV
The Verdict
Nothing Phone 2a Plus delivers impressive value with a bright 1300-nit AMOLED display, capable 50MP dual camera system with OIS, and solid MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro performance for everyday tasks. Sony Xperia 1 IV targets professionals with its 4K@120fps Cinema Pro, continuous optical zoom telephoto lens, and ultra-sharp 4K OLED display, though it runs dated Android 12. Camera quality heavily favors Sony's optical engineering and cinema capabilities, while Nothing excels in display brightness and sensor megapixels. Performance-wise, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 edges out Dimensity 7350 Pro, but real-world differences are marginal for most users. Battery capacity matches at 5000mAh, yet Sony adds wireless charging. Nothing's IP54 rating trails Sony's IP68 durability. At nearly 4x the price, Sony justifies costs only for videography enthusiasts and professionals. General consumers find Nothing 2a Plus the superior choice, offering 85% of Sony's capabilities at a fraction of the cost.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if…
- →Unique Glyph Interface LEDs for silent notifications and alerts
- →50 MP triple camera system including a strong 50 MP ultrawide
- →Clean, stock-like Nothing OS with fast updates and minimal bloat
Buy the Sony Xperia 1 IV if…
- →True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- →4K 120Hz OLED display
- →Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Pros
- Unique Glyph Interface LEDs for silent notifications and alerts
- 50 MP triple camera system including a strong 50 MP ultrawide
- Clean, stock-like Nothing OS with fast updates and minimal bloat
- 50W fast charging is quick for the 5000 mAh battery
- Premium transparent design stands out in the midrange
Cons
- No wireless charging despite the $399 price
- MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro is less popular with developers
- IP54 splash resistance is below IP68 flagships
- Video limited to 4K@30fps — no 60fps option
- Only 256 GB storage option with no expandable storage
Sony Xperia 1 IV
Pros
- True optical continuous zoom (85-125mm) is unique
- 4K 120Hz OLED display
- Professional video recording with Cinema Pro
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- microSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons
- $1599 was the most expensive mainstream phone
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 overheating problems
- 12 MP sensors felt dated versus competition
- Slow 30W charging
- Point-and-shoot camera results behind rivals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus | Sony Xperia 1 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 (Nothing OS 2.6) | Android 12 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 190 g | 185 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Glyph Interface LED back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.55 mm | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, PDAF, OIS, Sony IMX890 | 12 MP, f/1.7, OIS |
| Front camera | 50 MP, f/2.2 | 12 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@120fps, Cinema Pro |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, Samsung JN1 | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 12 MP, f/2.3-2.8, 85-125mm continuous zoom |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 12 GB |
| Storage options | 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 50W wired | 30W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.5 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | OLED |
| Resolution | 2412 x 1084 | 3840 x 1644 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1300 | 1000 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz + 4x2.0 GHz) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz + 3x2.5 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC4 | Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 3.2 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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