The mid-range smartphone segment is getting more competitive, with brands pushing the boundaries of performance, battery life, and camera technology. Two of the best contenders in this category are the Nothing Phone 2a Plus and iQOO Z9s Pro 5G. Both devices boast 5G connectivity, AMOLED displays, fast-charging batteries, and high-performance chipsets.
However, each smartphone offers a different set of strengths, making the choice between them dependent on your specific needs. If you’re looking for an AI-enhanced experience, a stylish design, and powerful cameras, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus stands out. On the other hand, if raw performance, ultra-fast charging, and an immersive display are your priorities, the iQOO Z9s Pro 5G is the better pick.
Let’s compare these two mid-range 5G powerhouses in detail to determine which one is the best smartphone under ₹25K.
📱 Display & Build Quality
Nothing Phone 2a Plus – Sleek Design with Durable Gorilla Glass Protection
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and 1300 nits peak brightness. The contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 ensures deep blacks and vibrant colors, making it perfect for watching content and gaming.
One of its biggest strengths is Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, making it more durable against scratches and minor drops.
iQOO Z9s Pro 5G – Bigger & Brighter AMOLED Display with HDR10+
The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G offers a larger 6.77-inch AMOLED screen with the same 120Hz refresh rate but a staggering 4500 nits peak brightness. This makes it one of the brightest smartphone displays in its category, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility.
It also supports HDR10+ and a 6,000,000:1 contrast ratio, which makes it ideal for media consumption, gaming, and HDR streaming.
🏆 Winner: iQOO Z9s Pro 5G
Reason: The larger and much brighter AMOLED display with HDR10+ support makes the iQOO Z9s Pro 5G the better choice for display quality.
⚙️ Performance & Hardware
Nothing Phone 2a Plus – MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro for Smooth Performance
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro 5G chipset, the Nothing Phone 2a Plus features an octa-core processor clocked at 3GHz. This ensures solid performance for daily tasks, gaming, and multitasking.
With 8GB RAM and 8GB virtual RAM, it allows smooth app switching and background processing. The phone comes with 256GB storage, but there is no memory card expansion option.
iQOO Z9s Pro 5G – Flagship-Level Snapdragon 7 Gen3 Chipset
The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen3 processor, featuring a 2.63GHz octa-core setup. While the clock speed is slightly lower than Nothing Phone 2a Plus, the Snapdragon 7 Gen3 delivers better GPU performance, making it superior for gaming and heavy applications.
It also comes with 8GB RAM and 8GB virtual RAM, but the storage is limited to 128GB with no microSD card support.
🏆 Winner: iQOO Z9s Pro 5G
Reason: The Snapdragon 7 Gen3 offers better gaming performance and more efficient power consumption, making it the better choice for performance users.
📸 Camera Performance
Nothing Phone 2a Plus – High-Resolution 50MP Front & Rear Cameras
- Rear Camera: 50MP (OIS) + 50MP secondary sensor
- Front Camera: 50MP selfie camera
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus excels in camera technology, especially in the selfie department. The dual 50MP setup on the back ensures detailed and sharp images, while the 50MP front camera is among the best in this segment, making it ideal for selfie lovers and video calls.
It can shoot 4K videos at 30fps, adding high-resolution video capabilities to its feature list.
iQOO Z9s Pro 5G – Reliable Camera Setup but Weaker Selfie Camera
- Rear Camera: 50MP Sony IMX882 primary sensor (OIS) + 8MP secondary sensor
- Front Camera: 16MP selfie camera
The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G comes with a 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera with OIS, ensuring sharp and stabilized shots. However, the 8MP secondary camera is inferior to Nothing Phone’s dual 50MP setup.
The 16MP selfie camera is also weaker than the 50MP selfie shooter on the Nothing Phone 2a Plus.
🏆 Winner: Nothing Phone 2a Plus
Reason: The dual 50MP camera setup and superior 50MP selfie camera make it the clear winner for photography and videography enthusiasts.
🔋 Battery & Charging
Nothing Phone 2a Plus – 5000mAh Battery with 50W Fast Charging
The Nothing Phone 2a Plus houses a 5000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life. It supports 50W fast charging and 5W reverse charging, which is decent but not class-leading.
iQOO Z9s Pro 5G – Bigger 5500mAh Battery with Faster 80W Charging
The iQOO Z9s Pro 5G takes the lead with a larger 5500mAh battery. The 80W fast charging ensures a quick recharge time, making it significantly faster than the Nothing Phone 2a Plus.
🏆 Winner: iQOO Z9s Pro 5G
Reason: The larger battery and much faster 80W charging make it the better choice for power users.
🎯 Additional Features & Connectivity
| Feature | Nothing Phone 2a Plus | iQOO Z9s Pro 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Connectivity | 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, WiFi, USB-C 2.0 | 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, WiFi, USB-C 2.0 |
| Gorilla Glass Protection | Yes (Gorilla Glass 5) | No |
| Reverse Charging | Yes (5W) | Yes |
| Water Resistance | No | No |
| Headphone Jack | No | No |
🏆 Winner: Tie
Both phones offer similar software and connectivity options, but the Nothing Phone 2a Plus has Gorilla Glass protection, making it slightly more durable.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
