Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Flashy but Expensive or Pure Specs

Nothing recently announced the Nothing Phone (2a) in India. The smartphone is based on a custom MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC, Android 14 OS, and much more. Though the Nothing Phone 2a stands out for its unique design, there are other alternatives available in the same segment that offer similar or better performance.

The iQOO Z9 is another phone, one of the top competitors of the Nothing Phone (2a). To know which of these phones is the best in the segment, let's dive into the details.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Pricing

The Nothing Phone (2a) price in India starts at Rs 23,999 for the base 8GB/128GB model, while the 8GB/256GB and 12GB/256GB storage models are priced at Rs 25,999 and Rs 27,999, respectively.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z9 5G starts at Rs 19,999 for the base 8GB/128GB storage model, while the 8GB/256GB storage version is priced at Rs 21,999.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Design and Display

The Nothing Phone (2a) comes with the famed Glyph Interface with 26 individually addressable zones. Three LED lights surround the rear camera lens and are placed at the centre. The power button is located on the right side, whereas the volume is on the left.

At the front, the device features a punch-hole cutout at the top centre to house the front camera. The Nothing phone is offered in black and white colour variants. It measures 8.55mm in dimensions and weighs around 190g.

The phone also includes an in-display fingerprint scanner and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. The Nothing Phone (2a) has a 6.78-inch FHD+ 10-bit AMOLED display, a peak brightness of 1,300 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z9 comes in Brushed Green and Graphene Blue colour options. The phone has a polycarbonate body with a glossy finish at the rear panel. It comes with an IP54 rating and measures 7.83mm in size and weighs around 188 grams.

The iQOO phone sports a 6.67-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,400 pixels) AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1800 nits. Both phones have an almost identical display, offering a similar resolution and refresh rate.

The slimmer bezels on the Phone (2a) make it look like a premium device. However, for those, who are on a tight budget, this should not be an issue, as the iQOO Z9 has an equally impressive screen that delivers a stellar gaming and content consumption experience.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Processor

Nothing has offered a custom MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC for the Phone (2a), built on TSMC's 2nd generation 4nm process technology. The processor claims to deliver the best performance with optimal power consumption.

On the other hand, the iQOO Z9 is powered by the octa-core 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G SoC. While the Nothing Phone (2a) gets a custom Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro SoC, it is not that different from the regular Dimensity 7200 that powers the iQOO Z9, hence, under regular workload, both phones will deliver a similar performance or experience.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Software

On the software front, the Phone (2a) ships with Android 14-based Nothing OS 2.5. However, it has already started receiving Nothing OS 2.5.3 update, bringing a bunch of improvements such as support for Ultra XDR, touchscreen improvements, a new Recorder widget, and much more.

The iQOO Z9 runs on Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. Software is the key differentiator here, while both ship with Android 14, the Nothing OS 2.5.3 offers a clean stock-like UI with zero bloatware, while the iQOO Z9 ships with plenty of third-party apps, which also includes infamous "Hot apps" and "Hot games".

On top of that, the Nothing Phone (2a) gets an extended four years of security support, while the same is limited to just three years on the iQOO Z9.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Battery

The Nothing Phone (2a) packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging support, while the iQOO Z9 is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery with 44W fast charging support.

Although both phones pack an equally impressive 5,000 mAh battery, the iQOO Z9 gets an extra point here, as it ships with a 44W fast charger, while the Phone (2a) also supports 45W fast charging, one has to buy the charger separately, which will further increase the price of the device.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Camera

The Nothing Phone 2a has a dual camera setup comprising a 50MP primary rear camera with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) support and an f/1.88 aperture and another 50MP ultra-wide sensor with a 114-degree field of view. For selfies, there's a 32MP camera sensor with an f/2.2 aperture.

The iQOO Z9 also has a dual rear camera setup including a 50MP Sony IMX88 primary sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and f/1.79 aperture and a 2MP secondary camera. Upfront, the iQOO phone offers a 16MP sensor.

Though both phones offer a 50MP OIS camera, the Nothing Phone (2a) has the advantage of its 50MP ultra-wide lens and a 32MP selfie camera.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs iQOO Z9: Which One Should You Buy?

The iQOO Z9, despite having similar specifications is a lot more affordable than the Nothing Phone (2a), especially considering the fact that the phone ships with a charger and a case in the box.

Those, who value pure specs, can get the iQOO Z9, and those, who need a flashy-looking phone that attracts the crowd can choose the Nothing Phone (2a). Now, the choice is totally up to you based on your preference.