Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Review
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is the latest mid-range offering from Nothing, bringing the brand's distinctive design language to a more accessible price point. With a stunning 6.77-inch AMOLED display and unique Glyph Interface featuring LED notification strips on the back, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro stands out in a crowded market. The device balances performance and affordability with its Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, impressive triple camera system featuring dual 50MP sensors, and solid 5000mAh battery with 50W fast charging. At €459/£449, it delivers a compelling package for those seeking something different in the mid-range segment, though it faces stiff competition from established players like Samsung and Google.
Table of Contents
Is the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Worth Buying in 2025?
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro delivers a unique mid-range experience with its distinctive design language and Glyph Interface. While it doesn't set benchmark records, it offers a balanced package with an excellent display, versatile camera system, and clean software experience. With a strong emphasis on design and user experience rather than raw specs, it stands as a compelling alternative for those looking for something different in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. The 3x optical zoom telephoto camera is particularly impressive at this price point, though the processor performance lags behind some competitors.
Key Specifications
| 6.77" AMOLED, 1080 x 2392 pixels, 387 ppi, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+, 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits peak brightness | |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | |
| 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM | |
| 128GB/256GB storage (non-expandable) | |
| Triple rear camera: 50MP main (f/1.9, 24mm, Sony LYT-600, OIS), 50MP telephoto (f/2.6, 70mm, 3x optical zoom, OIS), 8MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 15mm, 120° FOV) | |
| 50MP front camera (f/2.2, 24mm) | |
| 5000 mAh | |
| 50W fast charging (50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min) | |
| Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1, 3 years of major OS updates promised | |
| 163.52 × 77.5 × 8.39mm, 211g | |
| IP64 water and dust resistance | |
| 3 LED light strips on the back (Glyph Interface) with 26 addressable zones for notifications | |
| Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G, NFC | |
| Under-display optical fingerprint sensor |
Introduction
In a market flooded with similar-looking devices, Nothing has managed to carve out a unique identity with its distinctive design philosophy. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro continues this tradition while bringing the experience to a more accessible price point. As a mid-range device announced in March 2025, it represents Nothing's attempt to capture a broader audience without sacrificing the core design elements that make their products stand out.
The "3a" naming convention signals its position as a more affordable alternative to the flagship Nothing Phone (3), similar to Google's strategy with their Pixel "a" series. Despite the mid-range positioning, the device packs some impressive specifications and features that would have been considered flagship-level just a couple of years ago.
With pricing set at €459/£449, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro competes directly with devices like the Samsung Galaxy A55 and Google Pixel 8a. The question is whether Nothing's unique approach and feature set can convince buyers to choose their device over more established brands in this competitive segment.
Design & Build
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro immediately stands out thanks to its distinctive design language. While most smartphones in this price range opt for glossy or matte finishes, Nothing continues with its transparent-inspired aesthetic, though somewhat toned down compared to the flagship models. Available in just two colors – Black and Gray – the color options are more conservative than many competitors.
The device is substantial, weighing 211g and measuring 163.52 × 77.5 × 8.39mm. This makes it slightly heavier than many competitors, which might be a consideration for users who prefer lighter devices. The extra weight does give it a premium feel, though some may find it a bit too hefty for comfortable one-handed use over extended periods.
The standout design feature is undoubtedly the Glyph Interface – three LED light strips on the back with 26 addressable zones that can be customized for notifications, charging status, and even as a fill light for photography. This gives the device a unique visual identity unlike anything else on the market, and provides genuinely useful functionality beyond mere aesthetics.
In terms of durability, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro features IP64 water and dust resistance, which protects against dust ingress and water splashes. While this falls short of the IP67 or IP68 ratings offered by some competitors, it should be sufficient for everyday use. The device uses Panda Glass for screen protection, which is less recognized than Corning's Gorilla Glass but should provide decent scratch resistance.
Display Quality
The 6.77-inch AMOLED display is one of the highlights of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. With a resolution of 1080 x 2392 pixels (resulting in a crisp 387 ppi density) and support for 1 billion colors, it delivers vibrant visuals with excellent contrast. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (adjusting between 60-120Hz) ensures smooth scrolling and animations while helping to conserve battery when displaying static content.
Brightness is impressive for a mid-range device, with 800 nits typical brightness, 1300 nits in high brightness mode (HBM), and up to 3000 nits peak brightness in HDR content. This ensures excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. The HDR10+ support enhances the viewing experience when consuming compatible content, with deeper blacks and more vibrant colors.
Color accuracy is generally good, with the DCI-P3 color space coverage providing rich, punchy colors without appearing oversaturated. The Always-On Display feature is well-implemented, showing essential information without significant battery drain. DC Dimming helps reduce eye strain during low-light usage by eliminating screen flicker at low brightness levels.
The under-display optical fingerprint sensor works reliably in most lighting conditions, though it's not quite as fast as the ultrasonic sensors found in premium flagships. The screen-to-body ratio of approximately 88% provides an immersive viewing experience with minimal bezels.
Performance
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, built on a 4nm process. While not a flagship chipset, it offers solid mid-range performance suitable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The CPU configuration includes one Cortex-A720 core at 2.5GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4GHz, and four Cortex-A520 efficiency cores at 1.8GHz, paired with an Adreno 710 GPU.
Memory options are generous, with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM available, though some competitors have started offering faster LPDDR5X memory at similar price points. Storage options include 128GB and 256GB with no microSD expansion, which is increasingly common but still worth noting for users with extensive media libraries.
In benchmarks, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro achieves respectable but not class-leading scores. AnTuTu v10 tests result in scores around 820,097 points, while Geekbench 6 yields approximately 1,182 for single-core and 3,357 for multi-core performance. The 3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark shows scores around 1,061, indicating moderate graphics capabilities.
Real-world performance is generally smooth for everyday tasks like web browsing, social media, and video streaming. The system handles multitasking reasonably well, though you may notice occasional stutters when rapidly switching between multiple demanding apps. For gaming, the device can handle popular titles at medium to high settings, but the most demanding games will require reduced graphics settings to maintain stable frame rates.
The vapor chamber cooling system helps maintain performance during extended usage, though like most phones, you'll still experience some thermal throttling during prolonged intensive tasks.
Camera System
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro features an impressive triple camera system that punches above its price point, particularly in terms of versatility. The main camera uses a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor (f/1.9, 24mm) with optical image stabilization (OIS) and dual-pixel phase detection autofocus (PDAF). This is paired with a 50MP telephoto camera (f/2.6, 70mm) offering 3x optical zoom with OIS, and an 8MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2, 15mm) with a 120-degree field of view.
The inclusion of a true telephoto lens with such a high resolution is particularly noteworthy at this price point, where many competitors opt for lower-resolution sensors or digital zoom. The Sony LYT-600 main sensor (1/1.56") captures plenty of light with its 1.0µm pixel size, while the 50MP telephoto uses a 1/1.95" sensor with 0.8µm pixels. The ultrawide uses a more modest Sony IMX355 sensor (1/4.0") with 1.12µm pixels.
Image quality from the main camera is excellent in good lighting conditions, producing detailed photos with natural colors and good dynamic range. The telephoto lens performs admirably for a mid-range device, delivering usable 3x optical zoom with good detail retention. As expected, the ultrawide camera shows a noticeable quality drop compared to the other sensors, particularly in challenging lighting conditions, but still provides useful versatility for landscape and group shots.
Low-light performance is respectable for the price range, especially from the main sensor, though noise becomes more apparent in ultrawide shots. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30fps from both the front and rear cameras, with gyro-EIS and OIS helping to stabilize footage. The device also supports 1080p recording at up to 60fps and 120fps for slow-motion effects.
The front-facing camera uses a high-resolution 50MP sensor (f/2.2, 24mm) that captures detailed selfies in good lighting conditions. Portrait mode produces convincing background blur, though edge detection can sometimes struggle with complex hair details or similar-colored backgrounds.
An interesting feature is the ability to use the Glyph Interface as a fill light for photography, providing subtle illumination that can be less harsh than traditional LED flash.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro comes equipped with a substantial 5000mAh battery, which is now standard for this size category. Despite the large display and 120Hz refresh rate, battery life is impressive thanks to the efficient processor and adaptive refresh rate technology that intelligently adjusts based on content.
In our tests, the device achieved an active use score of approximately 13 hours and 32 minutes, which translates to a full day of moderate to heavy usage for most users. With lighter usage patterns, the phone can comfortably last into a second day before requiring a charge. The adaptive features of the display and processor help extend standby time significantly when the device isn't actively being used.
When it comes to charging, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro supports 50W fast charging, which can replenish 50% of the battery in just 19 minutes and deliver a full charge in about 56 minutes. While not the absolute fastest in the mid-range segment, these charging speeds are more than adequate for most users and well ahead of some more expensive devices.
Unfortunately, wireless charging is not supported, which is a notable omission in 2025, especially as this feature has started to appear in other mid-range devices. Another potential drawback is that the charger is not included in the box in most regions, following the industry trend started by Apple several years ago.
The device includes standard battery optimization features like adaptive battery management and background app restrictions to help maximize battery life. The battery health features are basic but functional, including information about battery usage patterns and optimization recommendations.
Software Experience
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro runs Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1, offering a clean, minimal take on Android that's refreshingly free from bloatware. Nothing's approach to software is similar to Google's Pixel devices – maintain stock Android's best aspects while adding thoughtful customizations and unique features.
Nothing OS features a distinctive dot-matrix design language throughout the interface, which nicely complements the hardware aesthetic. System animations are smooth and responsive, contributing to a cohesive and premium-feeling user experience. The interface is highly customizable, with options to adjust icon shapes, sizes, and system animations.
One of the standout software features is the integration with the Glyph Interface, allowing users to assign custom light patterns to different notifications, callers, and app alerts. The software also includes Circle to Search functionality, enabling quick contextual searches directly from any screen.
Nothing has promised three major Android updates for the device, which means it should receive updates up to Android 18. While this is solid support, it falls short of Samsung's four years of OS updates and Google's five years for Pixel devices. Security patches are expected to continue for approximately four years.
The pre-installed app selection is refreshingly minimal, with mostly Google apps and essential Nothing utilities present. This results in less storage space being consumed out of the box compared to many competitors that include numerous third-party apps and games.
In terms of AI features, Nothing OS 3.1 incorporates some useful AI-powered tools like photo editing enhancements, contextual app suggestions, and smart replies in messaging apps. While not as comprehensive as Google's or Samsung's AI offerings, they're well-implemented and genuinely useful in daily use.
Connectivity
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a comprehensive set of connectivity options that should satisfy most users' needs. The device supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6) with dual-band capability and Wi-Fi Direct, providing fast and reliable wireless connections. While Wi-Fi 7 support is missing, this is expected at this price point in early 2025.
Bluetooth 5.4 with A2DP and LE support ensures efficient wireless connections to accessories and peripherals. The device supports all major GPS systems including GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, and QZSS for accurate positioning across the globe.
Mobile connectivity is well-covered with comprehensive 5G support alongside the legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. The device features an impressive triple SIM capability (Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM), though only two can be active simultaneously. This configuration provides excellent flexibility for travelers or those who need to manage multiple phone numbers.
The USB Type-C 2.0 port supports OTG functionality, allowing users to connect external storage devices or peripherals. Unfortunately, the phone lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is increasingly common but still disappointing for users with wired headphones.
NFC support enables contactless payments through services like Google Pay, while the stereo speaker setup delivers reasonable audio quality for a device in this category. The microphone system performs well for calls and voice recording, with effective noise cancellation for clearer communications.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro vs. Competitors
How does the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro stack up against its main competitors in the mid-range segment? Let's compare it with two key rivals.
| Feature | Nothing Phone (3a) Pro | Samsung Galaxy A55 | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Exynos 1480 | Tensor G3 | |
| 8/12GB | 8GB | 8GB | |
| 6.77" AMOLED 120Hz | 6.5" AMOLED 120Hz | 6.1" OLED 120Hz | |
| 50MP + 50MP + 8MP | 50MP + 12MP + 5MP | 64MP + 13MP | |
| 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | 4500 mAh | |
| 50W Wired | 25W Wired | 18W Wired | |
| IP64 | IP67 | IP67 | |
| 3 years OS updates | 4 years OS updates | 5 years OS updates | |
| Glyph Interface, Larger display | Better durability, Longer support | Best camera processing, Google AI features | |
| €459 / £449 | €479 / £439 | €499 / £469 |
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro stands out with its distinctive design, larger display, and impressive 50W fast charging. Its dual 50MP camera system also offers versatility, particularly with the telephoto lens that's rare in this segment. However, it falls behind in water resistance (IP64 vs IP67) and software support longevity compared to its competitors.
The Samsung Galaxy A55 offers better water resistance and an extra year of software updates, along with Samsung's mature ecosystem and feature-rich One UI. Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 8a, though slightly more expensive, delivers superior camera processing thanks to Google's computational photography expertise, the longest software support, and the most advanced AI features.
In terms of raw performance, the Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8a leads for AI tasks, while general computing performance is comparable across all three devices, with slight variations depending on the specific task. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro's larger display might appeal to content consumers, while the Pixel 8a's compact form factor makes it more pocket-friendly.
Benchmark Results
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro's performance can be quantified through various benchmark tests, giving us insight into its capabilities relative to competitors. While synthetic benchmarks don't always reflect real-world experience, they provide useful reference points for comparison.
| Benchmark | Score |
|---|---|
| AnTuTu v10 | 820,097 |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-Core) | 1,182 |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core) | 3,357 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 1,061 |
| Display Brightness | 1,307 nits (measured max) |
| Loudspeaker | -23.3 LUFS (Very Good) |
| Active Use Battery Score | 13:32 hours |
These scores position the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro in the mid-range performance tier, which aligns with its pricing and target market. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 doesn't match flagship processors but provides sufficient power for most everyday tasks and moderate gaming.
The display brightness measurements confirm the impressive peak output, making outdoor visibility excellent even in bright sunlight. Audio performance via the stereo speakers is above average for the price segment, though still short of what premium flagships offer.
Battery life testing shows strong endurance, placing it among the better performers in its class. This is particularly impressive considering the large, high-refresh-rate display that would typically consume more power.
Overall Score
After thorough testing across multiple categories, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro earns a respectable overall score. While it doesn't lead in benchmark performance, its unique design, excellent display, versatile camera system, and clean software experience make it a compelling option in the mid-range segment.
Pros
- Distinctive design with unique Glyph Interface
- Excellent 6.77" AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Impressive triple camera system with dual 50MP sensors
- True 3x optical zoom telephoto camera
- Fast 50W charging (50% in 19 minutes)
- Clean, bloatware-free Nothing OS experience
- Solid battery life with 5000mAh capacity
- Triple SIM capability (2 Nano + eSIM)
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Processor performance lags behind some competitors
- No wireless charging
- IP64 rating less robust than IP67 offered by rivals
- No expandable storage
- Relatively heavy at 211g
- Limited color options (only Black and Gray)
- Charger not included in the box
- Shorter software support than some competitors
Final Verdict
Should You Buy It?
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro succeeds in delivering a distinctive mid-range smartphone experience that stands out in an increasingly homogeneous market. Its unique design language and Glyph Interface provide both aesthetic appeal and functional benefits that you won't find elsewhere. For users tired of conventional smartphone designs, this alone might be reason enough to consider it.
Display quality is another significant strength, with the large 6.77-inch AMOLED panel delivering excellent brightness, vibrant colors, and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. Combined with the impressive camera system that includes a high-quality telephoto lens – still relatively rare in this price segment – the phone offers solid fundamentals beyond just its unique design elements.
However, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro isn't without compromises. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor delivers adequate but not class-leading performance, the IP64 rating falls short of competitors' IP67 protection, and the three years of software updates, while respectable, can't match Samsung's four or Google's five years of support. The lack of wireless charging and expandable storage might also be dealbreakers for some potential buyers.
At €459/£449, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro faces stiff competition from established players like Samsung and Google, who offer more robust ecosystems and longer support lifecycles. Your choice ultimately depends on what you prioritize: if standout design, an excellent display, and camera versatility top your list – and you don't mind some performance and durability compromises – the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro represents good value. If maximum longevity, ecosystem integration, or computational photography are more important, you might be better served by alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy A55 or Google Pixel 8a.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Glyph Interface is a unique feature consisting of three LED light strips on the back of the phone with 26 addressable zones. These lights can be customized to create distinct patterns for different notifications, callers, or apps. They can also function as a progress indicator while charging or as a fill light when taking photos in low light. The system is deeply integrated with Nothing OS, allowing for extensive customization through the settings menu. This feature gives the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro a distinctive visual identity that sets it apart from other smartphones on the market.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers above-average camera performance for its price range, with particularly strong points being its versatility and telephoto capabilities. The main 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor delivers excellent detail and dynamic range in good lighting, comparable to devices in its class. Low-light performance is good but not class-leading, falling somewhat behind Google Pixel devices that benefit from superior computational photography.
The standout feature is the 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, which is rare in this price segment where many competitors offer lower-resolution telephoto lenses or rely on digital zoom. This gives the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro an edge for portrait photography and distant subjects. The 8MP ultrawide camera is more typical of the price range, offering decent quality in good lighting but struggling in low-light scenarios.
Overall, while it may not match the absolute best camera phones in the segment (particularly the Pixel 8a for computational photography), the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a versatile and capable camera system that exceeds what many competitors provide at similar price points.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro has an IP64 rating for water and dust resistance. This means it's fully protected against dust ingress (the "6" in IP64) and can withstand water splashes from any direction (the "4" in IP64). However, this rating falls short of the IP67 or IP68 protection offered by some competitors in the same price range.
In practical terms, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro should easily survive rain, accidental splashes, and exposure to dusty environments. However, it's not designed to be submerged in water, even briefly. By comparison, devices with IP67 ratings can withstand temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter deep for about 30 minutes.
If water resistance is a critical feature for your usage scenario, you might want to consider alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy A55 or Google Pixel 8a, both of which offer IP67 ratings at similar price points. For most everyday use cases, however, the IP64 rating of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro should provide adequate protection against common environmental hazards.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro supports 50W fast charging, which can charge the 5000mAh battery from 0% to 50% in approximately 19 minutes, and reach a full charge in about 56 minutes. This charging speed is quite competitive for the mid-range segment, significantly outpacing the Samsung Galaxy A55's 25W and Google Pixel 8a's 18W charging capabilities.
It's worth noting that the charger is not included in the box in most regions, so you'll need to purchase a compatible 50W charger separately to achieve these charging speeds. Using lower-wattage chargers will result in slower charging times.
Unfortunately, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro does not support wireless charging, which is becoming increasingly common even in the mid-range segment. If wireless charging is important to you, you'll need to consider alternative devices.
The battery itself is a 5000mAh Li-Po unit that delivers excellent endurance, with an active use score of approximately 13 hours and 32 minutes in testing. This translates to all-day battery life for most users, with moderate users potentially stretching to 1.5-2 days between charges.
Nothing has promised three years of major Android OS updates for the Phone (3a) Pro, which means it should receive updates up to Android 18 (as it comes with Android 15 out of the box). The company also commits to approximately four years of security patches.
This level of support is decent but falls behind some competitors. Samsung offers four years of OS updates and five years of security patches for its Galaxy A series, while Google provides five years of both OS and security updates for Pixel devices.
For context, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro should receive software support through approximately 2028 for major OS versions and 2029 for security patches. While this is sufficient for many users who upgrade their devices every 2-3 years, those planning to keep their phone longer might find the shorter support period limiting compared to alternatives.
Nothing OS itself is a clean, minimally modified version of Android with some unique visual elements and features. Updates typically arrive relatively quickly after Google's release, though not as fast as Pixel devices which get updates directly from Google.
Yes, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro fully supports 5G connectivity. It's compatible with a wide range of 5G bands across different regions, making it a future-proof choice for mobile connectivity. The device supports both Sub-6 GHz 5G networks, which offer broader coverage but moderate speed improvements, and in some regions, it may support mmWave 5G for ultra-fast speeds in limited coverage areas.
The phone features a comprehensive connectivity setup with support for 2G GSM (850/900/1800/1900), 3G UMTS (bands 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 19), 4G LTE (bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66), and 5G networks.
One of the standout features is the triple SIM capability, supporting two physical Nano-SIM cards plus an eSIM, though only two can be active simultaneously. This provides excellent flexibility for travelers or those who need to manage multiple phone numbers or data plans.