Nothing Phone (2a) vs Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Verdict
Nothing Phone 2a delivers impressive value with a larger 6.7-inch AMOLED display, bigger 5000 mAh battery, faster 45W charging, and a compelling dual 50MP camera setup including a 114-degree ultrawide lens. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE counters with a more premium build using aluminum and Gorilla Glass 5, superior IP68 rating, brighter 1450-nit display, telephoto zoom capability, and 4K video at 60fps versus 30fps. Performance differs significantly: the S23 FE uses flagship Exynos 2200 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chips substantially outpacing Nothing's MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro in gaming and intensive tasks. Battery endurance favors Nothing due to larger capacity, though S23 FE's wireless charging adds convenience. For budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery life and display size, Nothing Phone 2a offers exceptional value. Those preferring durability, zoom photography, and processor power should choose Samsung Galaxy S23 FE despite the $250 premium.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) if…
- →Distinctive transparent design with Glyph Interface
- →Clean Nothing OS with minimal bloat
- →Solid 50 MP dual camera setup
Buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE if…
- →Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- →Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- →3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
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
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Pros
- Flagship features like 120Hz AMOLED and IP68 at a lower price
- Bright 1450-nit display for good outdoor visibility
- 3x optical zoom telephoto is rare in this price range
- Four years of OS updates guaranteed
- Wireless charging with reverse wireless PowerShare
Cons
- Exynos 2200 variant has weaker performance and efficiency
- Only 25W wired charging is slow for 2023
- Gorilla Glass 5 is older protection than Victus 2
- 8 MP telephoto resolution is low
- Heavier at 209 g due to older processor thermals
Full Specifications
| Spec | Nothing Phone (2a) | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5 | Android 13 (One UI 5.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 190 g | 209 g |
| Material | Plastic frame, plastic back | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| IP rating | IP54 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm | 158 x 76.5 x 8.2 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.88, OIS, Samsung GN9 | 50 MP, f/1.8, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Front camera | 32 MP, f/2.2 | 10 MP, f/2.4 |
| Video | 4K@30fps | 4K@60fps |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree | 12 MP, f/2.2 |
| Telephoto | — | 8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh |
| Charging | 45W wired | 25W wired |
| Wireless charging | No | 15W, Wireless PowerShare |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.7 inches | 6.4 inches |
| Type | AMOLED | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 2412 x 1084 | 2340 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1300 | 1450 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 + 6x2.0 GHz A510) | Octa-core |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MC4 | Xclipse 920 / Adreno 730 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro | Samsung Exynos 2200 / 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 | 5.3 |
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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