In a world where budget smartphones are typically synonymous with compromises, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro stands out like a pro. Offering a design that turns heads, a camera system that punches above its weight, and a battery life that outlasts its competitors, this device proves that you don’t need to break the bank to get a solid smartphone experience. But does it manage to balance its bold features with reliable performance? After spending some time with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, here’s a detailed look at why this phone could be a game-changer for budget-conscious buyers.
Design: Bold, Transparent, and Unmistakably Nothing
Nothing has built its entire brand on bold, unconventional design, and the Phone 3a Pro is no exception. The see-through back gives you a peek into the phone’s internal components, revealing micro screws, cable ribbons, and the intricate layout of the phone’s internals. It’s a bold design choice that feels a little like looking at an x-ray of the device, offering a sense of technical transparency that’s both futuristic and intriguing.
It’s the type of design that takes a while before it begins to grow on you. The metallic ring around the camera module adds a touch of elegance, while the aluminum chassis gives the phone a premium feel. Despite its bold design, the phone doesn’t feel cheap. It’s sturdy, with a satisfying weight of 211 grams, which is balanced nicely, so it doesn’t feel too heavy or cumbersome in the hand. The IP64 rating ensures that the phone is resistant to dust and light water splashes, so you don’t need to worry about damaging it with everyday use.
But what really sets the Nothing Phone 3a Pro apart is the Glyph Interface—Nothing’s signature LED light system. These light strips on the back of the phone flash in customizable patterns, making your notifications feel like a personalized experience. Whether it’s for a call, message, or reminder, the Glyph lights add an element of fun and interaction that other phones just can’t match. Personally, I spent hours customizing the light settings, assigning different patterns to specific contacts, and it’s a feature that certainly makes the phone stand out in any setting. Whether you love it or find it a bit too flashy, it’s impossible to ignore.
Ultimately, the design of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is an experience in itself—it’s either a love-it or hate-it affair. For those who embrace avant-garde aesthetics and appreciate bold, unconventional technology, it’s a showpiece. For those who prefer subtlety and traditional designs, it may not be the phone for you. Either way, Nothing has managed to create a device that guarantees you’ll notice it, whether you love it or not.
Display: Smooth, Vibrant, and Perfect for Daily Use
The 6.77-inch AMOLED display on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is another area where the phone shines. Offering a 120Hz refresh rate, it delivers a buttery-smooth experience when navigating through the interface or scrolling through social media.
The colors pop, the contrast is sharp, and the overall viewing experience is fantastic, especially for media consumption. Whether I was binge-watching shows or playing the occasional mobile game, the display held up incredibly well.
The peak brightness of 1,259 nits is a significant improvement over its predecessor, ensuring that you can easily view the screen outdoors, even in direct sunlight. However, while the display is bright and vibrant, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s monochrome-style software, NothingOS, sometimes underutilizes the screen’s full potential. NothingOS has a minimalist approach that focuses on a clean, no-frills design, which is great for those who prefer simplicity, but it sometimes feels like a missed opportunity when paired with such a high-quality display.
Overall, the display is fantastic for a budget phone, offering a vivid and fluid viewing experience.
Cameras: A Surprisingly Strong Performer
One of the biggest surprises with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is its camera system. For a budget phone, the camera setup is nothing short of impressive. The 50MP main sensor delivers vibrant, well-exposed images that are rich in detail, while the 50MP periscope telephoto camera offers 3x optical zoom, a feature that’s rare at this price point. The 8MP wide-angle camera, while serviceable, is the weakest link in the setup, but it still performs decently when needed.
What really stands out, though, is the 6x zoom function, which allows you to take photos that are more detailed than expected, even when zoomed in digitally. This is a feature I didn’t expect to perform well on a phone in this price range, but it exceeded my expectations, delivering clear, detailed shots. Night photography is another area where the Nothing Phone 3a Pro impresses. Low-light shots come out surprisingly well, with minimal noise and good color reproduction.
The 50MP selfie camera also deserves a mention. I’ve used many budget phones with selfie cameras, but the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s front-facing camera takes sharp, detailed photos, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy snapping selfies or recording 4K video.
Here are some photos taken on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro:
Performance: Good for Everyday Tasks
Under the hood, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This combination ensures that the phone handles everyday tasks—such as browsing, texting, and social media—without any issues. I never experienced any slowdowns during regular use, and apps opened and ran smoothly. The 120Hz refresh rate also helped make the experience feel faster, even though the chipset isn’t the most powerful in its class. For those who use their phone for more casual tasks, it delivers more than enough power to get the job done.
Battery Life and Charging: A Reliable Workhorse
I found the battery life of the phone to be exceptional, easily lasting a full day with heavy use, including taking photos, streaming videos, and browsing social media. Even with 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi running simultaneously, the phone didn’t need a recharge until the evening.
The 50W wired charging is incredibly fast, allowing the phone to charge from 0% to 100% in just over 50 minutes. While I would have liked to see wireless charging included, the wired charging speed more than makes up for it. In my real-world use, I found that a quick 15-minute charge could easily get the phone to 40%, which was perfect for topping off during a busy day.
Software: Unique, Fun, but Needs Refining
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro runs NothingOS 3.1, a custom skin built on Android 15. The user interface follows Nothing’s signature minimalist approach, with a monochrome aesthetic that simplifies the experience. App icons are replaced with pixel-art versions, and the interface includes fun widgets like a pedometer and a compass. The software is distinctly unique, and at first, it felt like a refreshing change from the overly complicated and bloated UIs seen on other phones.
However, this minimalist design is a double-edged sword. While some users will appreciate the clean, clutter-free experience, others may find it too stark. The lack of icon names can make navigating through apps a bit confusing at first, and it takes time to get used to. Personally, I found the overall aesthetic to grow on me as I got used to it, but it’s not for everyone. NothingOS is smooth and intuitive, but it’s not as feature-rich as some might expect, especially when compared to more mainstream Android skins.
Essential Space: A Promising Concept in Its Early Stages
One of the standout innovations on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the Essential Space, an AI-powered feature that brings a fresh perspective to how we organize information and manage our day-to-day tasks. The Essential Space key, located on the side of the device, allows users to quickly capture screenshots and voice notes, which are then stored and organized within the Essential Space app. This central hub offers summaries and reminders, giving the phone a level of intelligence that helps you stay on top of important details without having to manually search through your files or apps.
What’s especially exciting about the Essential Space feature is the promise of AI-driven organization. For example, when I captured a screenshot of a product I wanted to remember, the Essential Space app automatically generated a summary with details such as price, location, and description, helping me recall the specifics of the item without needing to revisit the screenshot itself. The app offers a convenient way to store everything from tickets and events to random thoughts or reminders, and having all of that information in one place feels incredibly streamlined.
This feature takes a unique approach compared to other devices. While AI in smartphones has often been used for things like photo enhancement or voice assistants, Essential Space uses AI in a more personalized way—helping users stay organized without feeling intrusive.
It’s AI that’s not for AI’s sake—which, in today’s world, is refreshing.
What I find especially promising about Essential Space is that it feels like a feature that could evolve over time. Currently, it’s focused on screenshots and voice notes, but the potential for further expansion is clear. Future updates could integrate additional functionality, such as the ability to automatically capture images or sync with calendar events. The app could also benefit from more advanced features like image recognition or even a searchable database to make finding important information easier.
Pricing and Availability
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is priced at SGD $649 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant in Singapore. It will be available for pre-order from Saturday, 22 March 2025, with official availability starting on Tuesday, 1 April 2025.
For those eager to get their hands on it early, an exclusive pre-order event will take place on Saturday, 15 March 2025 at CHAMBER, Wisma Atria, starting at 11:00 AM. Customers who attend will enjoy exclusive perks and early access.
You can also pre-order online from nothing.tech, Shopee, and Lazada. Additionally, the phone will be available in stores like Challenger, Popular, Gain City, Courts, and M1.
For full details on specifications, visit nothing.tech or follow Nothing on social media.
Conclusion: Nothing is Essential
If you want a smartphone that stands out, offers great value, and provides a solid all-around experience, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro should be at the top of your list. Its unique design, excellent camera system, and impressive battery life make it a standout in the budget market. Whether you love the Glyph Lights or just want a phone that delivers more for your money, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a clear winner in its class.
