Sometimes you come across a phone that leaves you slightly speechless – not because it's throwing out impossible numbers on paper, but because it leaves you feeling like you've just paid a grand, but in reality you've only given change. The Nothing Phone 3a and its slightly more beefy sibling, the 3a Pro, are exactly that kind of case. For $379 and $459, respectively, Nothing serves up an experience that you could easily swap for a flagship – well, with a few minor tweaks, of course. And that's exactly what drew me to Nothing this year: because they don't have any more expensive models to protect in their lineup, they've thrown themselves into design and user experience without hesitation, where the price tag really doesn't hit you in the face.
Let's start where Nothing has reigned supreme since day one – with looks. Nothing Phone 3a It looks like it's something some cool side character with good one-liners would carry around in some sci-fi series. That blue color? Sick. We still have that recognizable Nothing signature with the Glyphs lights around the cameras on the back, but they've tweaked everything a bit. The screws are moved, the shapes are more refined, and the details are more thoughtful. The 3a Pro goes one step further with a huge "camera cliff" that's anything but symmetrical. Some have already ripped it apart online, saying it's ugly, but I say: show me something more interesting on the market. Well, I'll wait.
The size is a story in itself. With a 6.77-inch screen, this is a fairly huge phone, larger than previous models. The edges around the screen are even, which gives it that premium feel. The glass back (finally, no more plastic) and the IP64 rating for water and dust resistance are two more proofs that Nothing grows and learns with each generation. It is true, however, that this size may be too much for some - especially if you have smaller hands or like to wear tight pants. I myself got used to pulling it out of my pocket after a couple of days, but the first few days it felt like I was carrying a tablet.
Specifications that don't disappoint
On paper, the Nothing Phone 3a isn't a spec monster. The Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chip and 12GB of RAM are solid, but they won't compete with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite beasts. However, in practice, the phone behaves surprisingly smoothly. Nothing OS 3.1 on Android 15 is clearly the result of serious work by the software team. Animations like opening a folder on the home screen or swiping between apps are so fluid that you'd swear you were holding something more expensive in your hands. Of course, if you load it with really demanding games or multitasking, you'll notice the occasional hiccup. But for $379? I can't complain.
The display is AMOLED, with a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits for HDR – a number that on paper is one of the highest I’ve seen. In reality, it’s bright and colorful, although it’s still not quite there when compared to ultra-premium phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra. But again – for the money, it’s more than solid. And the high refresh rate of 120 Hz ensures that scrolling through To X or surfing the net is pure pleasure. The only thing that bothered me a little is the fingerprint scanner under the screen – it is a little slow at times, which can sometimes be annoying if you are the type of person who wants everything right away.
Battery and charging: Plus and minus
Battery is another area where Nothing doesn't disappoint. 5000 mAh capacity means, so that your phone will last you all day, even if you are a heavy user. Fast charging at 50 W is also commendable - from 0 to 100 in less than an hour is more than solid. However, there is one minus that some will feel more: there is no wireless charging. For someone who's used to dropping their phone on a charging pad, this is a bit of a pain, but for Nothing, this is clearly one of those things where they said, "Oh, it'll do." And to be honest, at this price, I can easily forgive them for that.
Cameras: Good, but not perfect
The cameras are where the 3a and 3a Pro differ the most. Both have a 50 MP main camera that takes solid photos - the colors are natural, it can blur the background nicely in close-up shots, although it sometimes overdoes the lighting a bit. The 8 MP ultrawide camera is more meh - it's not bad, but it's nothing to knock your ass over. The difference comes in the telephoto lens: the 3a has 2x optical zoom, while the 3a Pro has 3x periscope zoom, which gives you a little more play with distant shots and macro photography. In practice, the differences between the main cameras are not as obvious as you might think given the huge "camera plateau" on the Pro model. But if you're the type of person who likes to zoom and experiment, the Pro is definitely the better choice.
Software and AI: A step in the right direction
Nothing OS 3.1 is another reason why this phone works so well. In addition to the aforementioned smooth animations, there are a bunch of little details that you only notice when you use them - like the iOS-like customization of the lock screen, or really good optimization for everyday things like swiping the notification bar. Nothing promises six years of updates, which is crazy for this price range - three years for Android and six for security patches. If they really pull it off, this is one of the best values on the market.
As for AI, Nothing hasn't gone into a wild race with generative models or miraculous writing tools. But they do have one interesting innovation – the Essential Key, a special button on the side of the phone that you can double-press to open a kind of "AI space". You store screenshots there, and you can also record voice notes that the phone transcribes and summarizes – even sets reminders for you if you mention something. The idea is cool, for example, for quickly saving info about a concert or a lawn mower that a friend recommended to you. The problem? It's not cross-platform – so everything stays on the phone, without a web version or access via computer. For now, it's more of an interesting experiment than something you'd really throw your whole life into. And yes, you will press the button by accident. A lot.
Who is this for?
In short, the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro are for those who want a phone that stands out – both in design and feel – without having to sell a kidney for it. Compared to, say, the iPhone 16e, which costs $599 and offers a 60Hz display with a single camera, the Nothing looks like the steal of the century on paper. Triple cameras, a larger AMOLED display, a high refresh rate, a huge battery – all for less money. But of course, it's not all about the numbers. If you want top-notch gaming performance or wireless charging, you may have to look elsewhere.
Personally, this phone left me with one big question: what would Nothing do if it were to make a real flagship? If they're already offering this much for this money, I can't help but dream of a Nothing Phone 3 with, say, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, wireless charging, and perhaps even better cameras. If things continue like this, they could seriously shake up the market. But for now – if you're looking for something fresh, different, and surprisingly good for this money, the Nothing Phone 3a is definitely worth a look. Just be careful not to let it slip out of your pocket, because it's really big.
