Nothing Phone 2 vs OnePlus 11R vs Pixel 7a: Full Specifications Compared

The recent arrival of the Nothing Phone (2) and the Pixel 7a, a couple of months ago, has ramped up competition in the sub-50K segment. Apart from the Pixel 7a, Nothing also has competition from the OnePlus 11R 5G, which was unveiled back in February. Also Read: Google Pixel 7a vs OnePlus 11R vs Vivo V27 Pro.

So we've decided to compare the specifications of all three devices to see which one best fits your requirements. Without any further delays, here is our full specifications comparison of the Nothing Phone 2, OnePlus 11R, and Google Pixel 7a. Also Read:Nothing Phone 2 vs Nothing Phone 1.

Nothing Phone 2 vs OnePlus 11R vs Pixel 7a: Specs Compared

Design & Build

Let's start with the design, an area where the Nothing Phone (2) stands out, primarily down to the phone's glyph interface and LED lighting on the back, not to mention the transparent back. This is easily the standout phone from the bunch, especially considering the customisation options for the LEDs.

However, the OnePlus 11R and Google Pixel 7a also have pleasing aesthetics. The OnePlus 11R has a smooth textured back with a large circular camera island that houses all the lenses. The Pixel 7a has the most pleasing aesthetics of all three devices, offering a more subtle look, while its compact design standout in a crowd of large phones.

In terms of build quality, the Nothing Phone 2 does offer glass protection on both the front and back as well as an aluminium frame, while the Pixel 7a and OnePlus 11R do cut some corners. For example, OnePlus uses a plastic frame on the 11R 5G and Google has opted for a plastic back on the Pixel 7a. On the flipside, the Pixel 7a offers a flagship-grade IP rating for dust and water resistance.

Display and Performance

All three smartphones use an OLED display, although the Pixel 7a maxes out at 90Hz. While OnePlus does use software to deliver a more adaptive refresh rate, the Nothing Phone (2) opts for a proper LTPO display, which can switch between 1Hz to 120Hz. The Phone (2) also has a higher peak brightness than its competitors.

On paper, both the OnePlus 11R 5G and Nothing Phone 2 are evenly matched, although the latter offers more storage, while the former offers more RAM. However, the base version of both phones is similar. On the other hand, Google's Tensor G2 chip does have a few heating issues. And while it can perform at the highest levels, not quite as well as the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC.

Camera Specifications

The 50 MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor on both the OnePlus 11R and Nothing Phone 2 tend to have an advantage in terms of size. The Nothing Phone 2 also features a high res ultrawide camera sensor. On paper, it offers the most versatility of the three devices.

However, Google's software prowess isn't to be underestimated, particularly considering the major updates to the camera system on the Pixel 7a and the AI capability of the Tensor G2 chip. The Nothing Phone 2 wins the hardware battle here, but with the role software plays in smartphone photography, this round will have to go to Google.

Battery & Charging

In terms of battery life, both the OnePlus 11R and Nothing Phone 2 should be evenly matched as the LTPO screen on the latter should make up for the slightly smaller battery. The Pixel 7a is no slouch as well as the smaller screen warrants a smaller battery. Since we have tested, the three devices, we'll call battery life down the middle.

Charging is a different story. Despite offering both wired and wireless charging support, both the Nothing Phone 2 and Pixel 7a don't offer an adapter in the box, which makes the OnePlus 11R preferable. Additionally, OnePlus' 100W charging leaves its competition in the dust.

Software

For software, all three devices run Android 13 out of the box. We haven't put any of the three phones to the rigour, although the Pixel 7 and Nothing Phone (1) offered a clean, bloat-free software experience. The OnePlus Nord 3 wasn't far behind offering the same minimalist experience, although the stock-Android on the Pixel 7a would be my go-to option.

Moving on to software support and the OnePlus 11R has a clear edge here with four major OS updates and five years of security updates. The Pixel 7a offers three major OS updates and five security updates, while the Nothing Phone 2 offers three OS updates and four security updates.

Nothing Phone 2 vs OnePlus 11R vs Pixel 7a: Final Thoughts

Google Pixel 7a: Google offers the best software and camera experience for any smartphone under Rs 45,000. Additionally, the Pixel 7a is also the only phone on the list with a proper IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. However, the 90Hz display and the Tensor G2 chip fall short of the competitor.

OnePlus 11R 5G: The OnePlus 11R offers the best price-to-performance of all three devices, trumping even the Phone 2. Moreover, it also features a sleek design with its curved screen and delivers the best software support, battery life, and charging capability. However, these are far from the best cameras on this list.

Nothing Phone 2: The Nothing Phone 2 is the standout option on our list in terms of design. However, beyond design, Nothing's approach is more balanced, firing on all fronts. During our entire comparison, there didn't seem to be an area where the Phone 2 was found lacking, making it a better overall device than the rest. It is worth noting that our comparison is strictly best on specifications.