Nothing might launch a mid-range phone to take on the Google Pixel 8a

Nothing Phone 2 review back angled table - white balanced
The Nothing Phone 2 (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

Nothing now has two flagship smartphones under its belt (see our Nothing Phone 2 review for details), but we're hearing rumors that the next handset from the company – run by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei – could be aimed at the mid-range market.

This comes from tipster Sanju Choudhary (via Android Authority), who says that a Nothing Phone 2a is in the works, and that it comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, as well as a punch hole cut out at the top of the display, in the center.

We don't get any more information beyond that, but there is a fuzzy picture attached. Meanwhile another source, Abhishek Yadav (via Notebookcheck) has reported that a Nothing phone has been registered at regulators in India – and if that's the case, a launch shouldn't be too far off now.

Exactly how mid-range this phone is going to be remains to be seen, but the Nothing Phone 2 retails for $599 / £579 / AU$1,049, so you would expect any Nothing Phone 2a to undercut that price – putting it pretty low indeed.

Strong competition

Depending on the pricing, we might be looking at a direct competitor to the Google Pixel 8a, which is expected to break cover sometime in the middle of next year (the Pixel 7a was launched in May 2023, for reference).

Nothing is certainly no stranger to cut-price hardware, having created the CMF branding to sell a cheap pair of earbuds and a cheap smartwatch. However, it doesn't seem as though the Nothing Phone 2a will have the CMF label attached.

The company that Carl Pei left has experience in this area too, as our OnePlus Nord 2 review will tell you. A number of very affordable smartphones have been put out under the Nord name, designed to appeal to those who are after value for money.

And of course just about every smartphone maker out there has its top-end phones and its mid-range phones – even Apple has the iPhone SE series. It now looks likely that Nothing is planning to join the club.

You might also like

David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Read more
Nothing Phone 2 review front angled table - white balanced
Leaked Nothing Phone 3 memo teases a flagship phone packed with AI
Front of Nothing Phone 2a
The Nothing Phone 3a series is confirmed for March 4, and a photo and specs rumor gives us an idea of what to expect
Close up of Nothing Phone 2a showing its glyph lighting
Leaked Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro renders tease a mid-range phone that should have Samsung worried
Close up of Nothing Phone 2a showing its glyph lighting
New video leak may have revealed the full Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro design
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a: latest news, rumors, and everything we’ve heard so far
Nothing Phone 2 review front angled table - white balanced
Nothing hints that the Phone 3 could have the one feature it needs to rival the Samsung Galaxy S25
Latest in Nothing Phones
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro from back showing Glyph lights
I reviewed the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and it's not the lights and beeps that make it the best bargain smartphone
Close up of Nothing Phone 2a showing its glyph lighting
New video leak may have revealed the full Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro design
Close up of Nothing Phone 2a showing its glyph lighting
Leaked Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro renders tease a mid-range phone that should have Samsung worried
The Nothing Phone 2a on display, composite with a teaser from Nothing that displays the possible side of the Nothing Phone 3a
The Nothing Phone 3a could borrow the iPhone 16’s best feature – and I think it’s a great idea
Front of Nothing Phone 2a
The Nothing Phone 3a series is confirmed for March 4, and a photo and specs rumor gives us an idea of what to expect
Nothing Phone 2 review front angled table - white balanced
Nothing hints that the Phone 3 could have the one feature it needs to rival the Samsung Galaxy S25
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over