I've used the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus – this is the reason you should buy one

If you're a fan of Android phones, you'll certainly be aware of Nothing. The brand – led by formed OnePlus man, Carl Pei – has gone from strength to strength in the market.

They've unveiled a boatload of new devices over the last few months. We've got the flagship – though still mightily affordable – Nothing Phone (2). Then, we had the Nothing Phone (2a), and below that even, the remarkable value CMF Phone 1.

Just when you thought there wasn't a gap left in their market, the brand has unveiled the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus. That takes the award-winning Phone (2a) blueprint and gives it a boost. But is it any good? Let's find out.

Nothing Phone (2a) vs Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: What's the difference?

Despite many suggestions to the contrary, the new model isn't a larger variant of the Phone (2a). We're thankful for that too, as anything larger could have become positively pocket-busting.

Instead, there are a suite of minor upgrades to the spec sheet which come together to offer a resolute package. That kicks off with the front-facing camera, which is boosted up to 50MP from 32MP on the original.

That's significant for the brand, making this the first ever Nothing handset to feature a triple 50MP camera array. It's also absolutely killer for selfies, with a level of detail that is more than enough for almost every user. You've been warned – this camera will spot the wrinkles you didn't know you had yet.

There's also a new processor inside. That's called the MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro – and if you haven't heard of it before, that's because it's brand new. In fact, this is a world exclusive chip for this handset.

That's a very exciting prospect, though the specs are quite close to the original handset. It's an 8-core, 3Ghz processor, built on a second generation 4nm process from TSMC.

Users can expect to get 10% faster CPU speeds and 20% faster GPU speeds from the device. It also adds a couple of features only possible on this chip. That sees an auto-defrag cleaning process happen behind the scenes, while it also boosts file sharing speeds when linking up with Windows PCs.

The other big news comes in the form of its design language. The model sets itself apart from the rest of the Nothing range with a gorgeous metallic finish, which shimmers against the light.

It's a really neat touch, and looks great on the back of the handset.

Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: key specs

Should you buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus?

Ultimately, the answer to that question is almost certainly yes. Priced at just £/$399, this device represents exceptional value for money, with killer specs in key areas making it a must-have for most people.

If you're already a Phone (2a) owner, the incremental nature of the upgrades probably aren't worthwhile. But for everyone else, the better front camera coupled with a hotter processor and a neat design make the extra £50 a worthwhile spend – and mark this down as one of the best value for money handsets on the market today.