Nothing has officially unveiled its latest mid-range devices — the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Both phones were showcased at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, highlighting Nothing’s continued effort to disrupt the smartphone market with bold designs, improved camera hardware, and software enhancements focused on AI. This article explores how the two devices compare in design, specifications, features, and pricing.
Design and Build Quality
Similar Design Language with Key Differences
Both the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro feature a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2392 x 1080 pixels. They both support adaptive refresh rates ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz, and they peak at an impressive 3,000 nits brightness, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility.
The devices retain Nothing’s signature transparent back panels, giving users a view of some internal components, complemented by the customizable Glyph lighting system. These LED strips, which are now a staple on Nothing phones, can be configured for notifications, timers, and as fill lights for video recording. Both phones are rated IP64 for dust and splash resistance.
Where the two models differ significantly is on the back. The Nothing Phone 3a adopts a horizontal camera bar, reminiscent of Google’s Pixel design. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro stands out with a circular camera module housing its upgraded periscope zoom camera. This bold design choice has sparked mixed reactions, with some appreciating its uniqueness while others find it bulky and unwieldy.
Performance and Hardware
Processing Power and Internal Storage
Under the hood, both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, built on a 4nm process. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage in the US and other major markets. Some regions, like India, will also get lower 8GB RAM configurations.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 provides capable mid-range performance, handling everyday tasks smoothly. It can handle light gaming and multitasking, though users looking for flagship-level power for intensive games or professional video editing might find the chipset limiting.
Battery and Charging
Both devices feature a 5,000mAh battery, which supports 50W wired charging. According to Nothing, the phones can recharge from 0 to 50% in just 19 minutes and reach a full charge in under an hour. Wireless charging is not supported, which is understandable given the price point and target market.
Camera Systems
Triple Camera Setups With Key Differences
The Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro share similar camera configurations on paper, but the Pro model offers more advanced hardware and features.
Nothing Phone 3a Cameras
- 50MP main camera with f/1.9 aperture, optical image stabilization (OIS), and dual pixel autofocus
- 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom
- 8MP ultrawide camera with 120-degree field of view
- 32MP front-facing camera for selfies
Nothing Phone 3a Pro Cameras
- 50MP main camera with a larger sensor for better low-light performance and improved clarity
- 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 6x lossless zoom, and up to 60x digital zoom
- 8MP ultrawide camera with 120-degree field of view
- 50MP front-facing camera for sharper selfies
The Pro model’s periscope zoom lens sets it apart, offering capabilities rarely seen at this price point. For those who value zoom flexibility and improved low-light performance, the Pro is the obvious choice.
Essential Key and Essential Space
A unique addition to both phones is the Essential Key — a dedicated physical button placed just below the power button. This button integrates directly with Essential Space, a new AI-powered organizational hub within Nothing OS.
Essential Space is designed to collect and organize screenshots, voice memos, and images, using AI to extract key information and create reminders or to-do lists. The concept is promising, but early reviews suggest that it still feels half-baked and unintuitive. Some users may also find the button placement too close to the power button, leading to accidental presses.
Nothing promises future updates to improve Essential Space, including smarter grouping of related content and better integration with calendar and messaging apps.
Software and Updates
Both the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro ship with Android 15, running Nothing OS 3.1. Nothing guarantees three years of major Android updates and six years of security patches, which is competitive for mid-range devices – however Galaxy A-series for 2025 promises 6 years of Software and Security Updates.
Nothing OS continues to distinguish itself with its clean interface, unique widgets, and system-wide customization options designed to align with the phone’s visual identity.
Connectivity and Additional Features
- Dual SIM support (nano SIM + eSIM in some regions)
- 5G connectivity (fully compatible with T-Mobile, but requires manual whitelisting for 5G access on AT&T and Verizon in the US)
- Stereo speakers with no 3.5mm headphone jack
- Under-display fingerprint sensor
- USB-C 2.0 (no support for faster USB 3.0 speeds)
Nothing Phone 3a Specs vs Nothing Phone 3a Pro:
| Feature | Nothing Phone 3a | Nothing Phone 3a Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Resolution | 2392 x 1080 pixels | 2392 x 1080 pixels |
| Brightness | 3,000 nits peak | 3,000 nits peak |
| Processor | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB | 256GB |
| Main Camera | 50MP, OIS | 50MP, OIS (larger sensor) |
| Telephoto Camera | 50MP, 2x zoom | 50MP periscope, 3x zoom |
| Ultrawide Camera | 8MP, 120° | 8MP, 120° |
| Front Camera | 32MP | 50MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Charging | 50W wired | 50W wired |
| IP Rating | IP64 | IP64 |
| Software | Android 15, Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 15, Nothing OS 3.1 |
| Essential Key | Yes | Yes |
| Colors | Black, White | Grey, Black |
| Price (US) | $379 | $459 |
Pricing and Availability
The Nothing Phone 3a is priced at $379 in the US for the 12GB + 256GB variant, while the Nothing Phone 3a Pro costs $459 for the same configuration.
Pre-orders opened on March 4, 2025, with deliveries for the Phone 3a starting on March 11. The Phone 3a Pro will be available for pre-order starting March 11, with deliveries commencing on March 25.
Final Thoughts
Nothing continues to push boundaries with the Phone 3a series. Both devices offer impressive displays, large batteries, and capable cameras, particularly with the inclusion of telephoto lenses. While the Essential Key and Essential Space show promise, they currently feel more like experimental features than essential tools.
For users seeking a uniquely designed phone with solid performance, the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro are among the most compelling mid-range options in 2025.
Discover more from Techish Kenya
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
