vivo S30 Pro mini vs Nothing Phone (2a) Plus: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw processing power and rapid charging, the vivo S30 Pro mini is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 9300+ chipset delivers significantly higher performance. However, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus offers a more refined software experience and longer battery life in typical use, making it ideal for everyday users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo S30 Pro mini | Nothing Phone (2a) Plus |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66 | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, May 29 | 2024, July 31 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, June 06 | Available. Released 2024, August 03 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Diamond Shield Glass), aluminum alloy frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 150.8 x 71.8 x 8 mm (5.94 x 2.83 x 0.31 in) | 161.7 x 76.3 x 8.5 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Diamond Shield Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1216 x 2640 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.31 inches, 97.6 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 107.5 cm2 (~87.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 4320Hz PWM, HDR, 1300 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720) | Octa-core (2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 7350 Pro (4 nm) |
| GPU | Immortalis-G720 MC12 | Mali-G610 MC4 |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 | Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm |
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.7, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.95", PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 106˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), AF | 50 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.76" |
| Video | 4K, 1080p | 4K@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes, 360˚ |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1C+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5), GLONASS | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD Reverse wired Bypass charging | 50W wired, 50% in 21 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 6500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Yellow, Pink | Black, Grey |
| Models | V2465A | A142P |
| Price | About 430 EUR | € 269.90 / ₹ 22,599 |
vivo S30 Pro mini
- Significantly faster processor (Dimensity 9300+)
- Ultra-fast 90W wired charging
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Battery life likely shorter than Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Display brightness data unavailable, potentially lower than competitor
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Excellent battery life (16:34h active use)
- Bright display (1097 nits)
- Clean and minimalist software experience
- Slower processor (Dimensity 7350 Pro)
- Slower 50W charging
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1097 nits, which will provide superior visibility outdoors compared to the S30 Pro mini (brightness data unavailable). While the S30 Pro mini’s panel specifications are unknown, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s brightness is a clear advantage. Both phones utilize 4nm chipsets, suggesting similar power efficiency in display operation. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s display is likely a standard OLED, while the S30 Pro mini’s panel tech remains unspecified, potentially impacting color accuracy and viewing angles.
Camera Comparison
Camera details for the vivo S30 Pro mini are currently limited. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s camera system is expected to be competent, but the focus is on software processing and overall image quality rather than headline-grabbing sensor sizes. Without specific sensor information for the S30 Pro mini, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, given vivo’s history, it’s reasonable to expect a capable camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor than the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, but this remains speculative. The absence of details on OIS for either phone makes it difficult to assess low-light performance.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The vivo S30 Pro mini’s Dimensity 9300+ features a unique core configuration – 1x3.4 GHz Cortex-X4, 3x2.85 GHz Cortex-X4, and 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A720 – designed for peak performance. This contrasts sharply with the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s Dimensity 7350 Pro, which uses a more conventional 2x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 setup. The 9300+’s Cortex-X4 cores are significantly more powerful than the A715 cores in the 7350 Pro, resulting in a noticeable difference in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The S30 Pro mini is likely to exhibit less throttling under sustained load due to the more advanced chipset architecture and potentially superior thermal design.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus shines in battery endurance, achieving an active use score of 16:34 hours. While the S30 Pro mini’s battery capacity is unknown, its 90W wired charging significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus’s 50W charging. The Nothing Phone (2a) Plus takes 56 minutes for a full charge, while the S30 Pro mini can likely achieve a full charge in under an hour. This difference in charging speed is crucial for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The S30 Pro mini also supports reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S30 Pro mini if you demand the fastest possible performance for gaming, demanding applications, or future-proofing. Its 90W charging is also a significant advantage for power users. Buy the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus if you value all-day battery life, a clean and minimalist software experience, and a more balanced overall package. It’s the better choice for those who prioritize usability over benchmark scores.