Nothing Phone 3a & 3a Pro: Stunning design, excellent performance, and an unbeatable price
Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. Picture: Nothing.
The Nothing Phone 3a and its Pro variant bring impressive features at an astonishing price point. With a starting price of just €329, it's hard to believe the level of refinement and hardware packed into these devices. However, while Nothing has made some notable improvements, there are also a few compromises. Having spent time with both models, I’ll break down the good, the no-so-good, and whether they’re worth your money.
I love how Nothing's design language is consistent throughout all their products, and the Phone 3a continues that tradition. The transparent back, exposing screws, internal components, and the signature Glyph LED system is as eye-catching as ever. The LEDs provide visual cues for notifications, timers, and even specific app alerts.
The Phone 3a refines the design of its predecessor, with minor adjustments to lines and shapes, and introduces a stunning new blue colourway.
The 3a Pro, however, goes off on a slight tangent. While I can see some users not loving it, I love how Nothing embraced the circular camera bump.
Both models now feature Panda Glass on the back instead of Gorilla Glass. It’s supposedly as durable as Gorilla Glass 5, but only time will tell. You get a pre-installed screen protector, but you’ll have to purchase a case if you want it. The aluminium frame is smooth on the 3a, while the 3a Pro has a powder-coated texture, making it slightly more grippy. Both phones feel more premium than last year, and if you’re looking for a break from boring slab phones, either model is guaranteed to turn heads.
The 6.77-inch OLED display offers a Full HD+ resolution with symmetrical, slim bezels. The corners are less rounded than their predecessor, which is a design change I prefer.
The display looks stunning with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 3,000-nit peak brightness, and 800-nit typical brightness. The colours are vibrant, the blacks are deep, and outdoor visibility is solid, though not the best in its class. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, while the stereo speakers are loud and well-balanced. The IP64 rating ensures splash resistance, making it more durable than most budget smartphones.
The Nothing Phone 3a is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a mid-range chipset that delivers respectable performance. It’s less powerful than more expensive phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Google’s Tensor G4. However, compared to its predecessor, it offers a noticeable improvement while being more power efficient.
In real-world use, the 3a feels fast and responsive. Occasionally, I noticed minor stutters but nothing significant. Compared to similarly priced Samsung and Xiaomi devices, the 3a feels more powerful. However, gaming performance isn’t as smooth as on more expensive models. It handles light gaming well but struggles with more demanding titles.
Both models come with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking. My review device came with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The Nothing OS 3.1 software experience is fantastic — Nothing’s take on Android is clean, optimised, and stylish. The UI features unique widgets, optional monochrome icons, and a minimalist aesthetic.
The new Essential Key on the side is a shortcut to Nothing’s AI features, which are currently in beta. It functions like a screenshot tool, and while it’s not fully developed yet, I see a lot of potential.
Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security updates, which is quite generous for a phone at this price point.
Battery life is excellent, thanks to the 5,000mAh battery and the power-efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. I easily got two days of use, depending on my usage. Charging is fairly quick at up to 50W, though no charger is included. However, wireless charging has been removed, which is a little disappointing given that its predecessor had it. That said, I understand that compromises had to be made — not everyone will mind, especially at this price point.
One feature I really like — and something rare on Android devices — is the detailed battery information. It shows the cycle count, production date, and first use date, giving valuable insight into battery health and longevity.
The Nothing Phone 3a features a triple-camera setup. Unlike other companies, Nothing isn’t diving headfirst into the AI craze. Instead, at least for now, it’s sticking with tried-and-tested computational photography, refining its camera software rather than relying on AI gimmicks.The ultra-wide camera has been downgraded from a 50MP sensor to a basic 8MP one without autofocus. Daylight shots are acceptable, but low-light performance is weak. In most cases, I avoided using it unless necessary.
The main camera is a 50MP sensor, with the Pro featuring a slightly larger sensor and dual-pixel PDAF. Images are sharp, with natural colours and a solid dynamic range.
The 3a Pro introduces a 3x periscope telephoto lens with a large sensor, making it one of the best zoom cameras in this price range. A noteworthy spec that even many flagship periscope cameras lack is a close-up or true macro capability. Of course, this also works great for close-up videos as well. The 3a Pro can focus up to 15cm for excellent macro photos.
The standard 3a, on the other hand, has a 2x zoom camera, but the difference between this and cropping into the main sensor is minimal. The Pro’s zoom lens is far more useful and delivers flagship-level zoom shots.
Both models can record video using the main and telephoto cameras in 4K. The quality is decent, but videos have noticeable noise, even in daylight.
The 3a Pro features a 50MP selfie camera, while the 3a sports a 32MP selfie camera.
The Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro are remarkable devices for the price. The design remains one of the most unique on the market, the display is stunning, and the performance is better than most mid-range alternatives. If you want flagship-like performance and design at a budget price, the 3a is a no-brainer. If you value a high-quality zoom camera, the 3a Pro is well worth the extra cost.
Nothing Phone 3a €349 (8+128GB), €399 (12+256GB) , Phone 3a Pro €479 (12+256GB)
