I Reviewed Nothing Phone 3a Pro and It Surprised Me (It’s Not the Lights)

I reviewed the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, and it surprised me! Sleek design, solid battery, and a unique experience—beyond just the lights.

Riya Singh March 15, 2025

0 85 6 minutes read

Nothing Phone 3a Pro is one of the most interesting phones under $500 / £500 / AU$850. If you’re tired of the usual budget Android designs, this phone is worth considering.

For $140 / £150 / AU$150 less than the iPhone 16e, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers a bigger 120Hz display, a larger battery with fast charging, more storage, and more RAM. It also includes a rare feature for this price range—3x optical zoom, which most budget phones lack.

What truly sets it apart is its unique transparent back and the signature Glyph LED lights. While previous Nothing Phones had complex LED patterns, the 3a Pro simplifies it with a stylish ring design. The Glyph system is not just for looks; you can customize light patterns for different contacts and notifications, bringing back the fun of personalized alerts.

However, as a budget phone, it does have some drawbacks. The chipset isn’t as powerful as competitors like the OnePlus 12R or Google Pixel 8a, leading to occasional lag. Also, US network support is limited, and some users may need to contact AT&T or Verizon to activate their device.

Despite these minor issues, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro feels special. Unlike many budget phones that mimic premium models, it stands out with its minimalist design, unique features, and improved performance. If you want an affordable phone with personality, this is one you shouldn’t overlook.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro – Full Specifications

Category	Details
📅 Launch Date	Announced: March 4, 2025 🔜 Expected Release: March 25, 2025
📶 Network	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
📏 Dimensions & Build	163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm, 211g, IP64 dust & water-resistant
💡 Design Features	Transparent back, 3 LED light strips (notifications, camera fill light, 26 zones)
📺 Display	6.77” AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 3000 nits peak brightness, Panda Glass
📲 Resolution	1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi)
🖥 OS & UI	Android 15, Nothing OS 3.1 (3 major Android updates)
🚀 Processor	Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) CPU: Octa-core (2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 + Cortex-A520) GPU: Adreno 710 (940 MHz)
💾 Storage & RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM (No microSD slot)
📸 Main Camera	Triple Setup: 📷 50MP (f/1.9, OIS, PDAF, Wide) 🔍 50MP (f/2.6, Periscope Telephoto, 3x Optical Zoom, OIS, PDAF) 🌄 8MP (f/2.2, Ultra-wide, 120° FOV)
🎥 Camera Features	4K@30fps, 1080p@120fps, HDR, LED flash, gyro-EIS, OIS
🤳 Selfie Camera	50MP (f/2.2, 24mm wide), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
🔊 Audio	Stereo speakers, No 3.5mm jack
📡 Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB-C 2.0, GPS (GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS)
🔋 Battery & Charging	Capacity: 5000mAh Charging: 50W wired (50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min)
🎨 Colors	Black, Gray
💰 Price	£449 / €459
📊 Performance Benchmarks	AnTuTu: 820,097 (v10) GeekBench: 3,327 (v6) 3DMark: 1,061 (Wild Life Extreme)
🔥 Additional Features	Fingerprint Sensor: Under-display (optical) Other Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass Circle to Search
🔋 Battery Life	Active Use Score: 13h 32m

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Price and Availability Review

Price: $459 / £449 / AU$849
Configuration: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage
Colors: White, Shiny Grey
Availability: Global release, US through Nothing Beta program

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers great value with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, which is more than the 8GB/128GB on the Samsung Galaxy A56. While slightly pricier options like the Google Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R exist, they often receive discounts matching the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s price.

In most regions, you can buy the phone directly from Nothing.tech or retail partners. However, in the US, it’s sold under a ‘Beta’ program due to limited network compatibility. T-Mobile users get the best support, while AT&T and Verizon users may experience weaker coverage.

Despite AT&T sending a warning text about unsupported devices, I used the Nothing Phone 3a Pro in New York without issues. Network speeds were stable throughout my testing.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Design Review

Unique transparent back with LED Glyph lights
Slightly thick and heavy, but manageable
Glass back (Panda Glass) instead of plastic
Large camera bump with built-in ring light feature
New Essential Key for quick actions, but needs improvement

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro stands out with its transparent design, revealing flat ribbon cables and antenna lines beneath the glass. It catches attention, especially when the Glyph lights flash. The phone feels futuristic, with its minimalist NothingOS interface and tech-forward look.

While it may not have the premium finish of a Galaxy S25 or iPhone 16, the design makes up for it. The phone is slightly thick (8.4mm) but comfortable to hold. The glass back (Panda Glass) adds durability, and the large camera bump doubles as a ring light for better photos.

A new Essential Key lets you take screenshots or record voice memos, which are analyzed by AI in the Essential Space app. However, the feature still needs improvement, and future updates may make it more useful.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Software Review

Minimalist NothingOS on Android 15
Unique monochrome theme with dot-matrix icons
Limited AI wallpaper options
Essential Key and Essential Space feel unnecessary
3 years of Android updates, 6 years of security updates

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro runs on NothingOS, a stripped-down Android 15 experience that removes distractions rather than adding new features. The interface is mostly black and white with a dot-matrix aesthetic, giving it a unique, minimal look.

While the phone includes an AI wallpaper generator, it offers fewer customization options than Samsung or Google’s versions. The new Essential Key opens the Essential Space app for quick access to screenshots and voice memos, but it feels unnecessary unless you regularly use these features.

On the bright side, Nothing promises 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates, which is solid for a budget-friendly device.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Display Review

Large 6.77-inch AMOLED screen
Smooth 120Hz refresh rate
Bright and colorful, but not as bright as advertised
Occasional stuttering due to the chipset

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a big, vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and videos look smooth. While the screen is bright and colorful, our tests showed it didn’t reach the claimed 3,000 nits peak brightness. Instead, it peaked at just over 1,000 nits, which is still good but not exceptional.

Despite its impressive display, NothingOS has a mostly monochrome design, and there’s even a mode to remove colors entirely. This makes me wonder if a different display approach would have suited the phone better rather than competing with Samsung and Google on brightness and color.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Cameras Review

Decent cameras, but not as good as Nothing claims
Rare 3x optical zoom at this price
Three 50MP sensors (main, zoom, selfie), but ultra-wide is only 8MP
Heavy AI processing affects image quality

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro stands out with its 3x optical zoom, a feature rarely found in budget phones. The 50MP main and zoom cameras offer good detail, while the ultra-wide is just 8MP—a weak spot. The 50MP selfie camera feels excessive, producing large files without much added clarity.

While image quality is solid, AI processing is aggressive, sometimes making zoomed photos look artificial. Google’s Pixel 8a takes better shots overall, but the Nothing Phone 3a Pro provides more versatility than Samsung’s Galaxy A-series or Motorola’s budget phones. It’s not an iPhone-level camera, but for the price, it’s a good option.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Performance Review

Decent performance but not the fastest
Can lag, especially with heavy tasks
Good for casual gaming, struggles with demanding games

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro comes with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, which is an upgrade but still not the fastest. There were moments of lag and unresponsive screens, though not constant. It’s fine for everyday tasks but struggles with heavy games like Call of Duty Mobile.

For casual games like Balatro or Marvel Snap, it performs well, but demanding games like Vampire Survivors can slow it down. The Pixel 8a isn’t much faster, but if you want better performance at this price, the OnePlus 12R is a stronger option.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro Battery Review

Long-lasting battery, easily lasts a full day
Fast 50W charging, but charger not included
Lacks wireless charging

Nothing Phone 3a Pro comes with a 5,000mAh battery, providing reliable all-day usage. Charging speeds are impressive, reaching full charge in just over 50 minutes with a 50W charger (sold separately).

In testing, the battery performance was on par with the Galaxy S25, lasting around 15.5 hours. However, wireless charging is not supported.

Pros and Cons of Nothing Phone 3a Pro

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
🛠 Unique design – Glass back with Essential Key	⚡ No charger included
📺 Bright 120Hz OLED – HDR & 10-bit colors	💾 Limited storage options (outside India)
🔊 Loud speakers – Great sound quality	🌊 Lower water resistance (IP64 rating)
🎨 Clean software – Custom features & smooth UI	❌
🚀 Good performance – No overheating issues	❌
📷 Great cameras – Especially the zoom lens	❌

Conclusion

Nothing Phone 3a Pro is Nothing’s best phone yet, featuring premium materials for durability and the best camera setup in its price range. While performance isn’t the strongest, its eye-catching design makes up for it. If you love its unique style, there’s no need to spend more—this phone offers a complete experience.