When it comes to smartphones, few brands have made as big an impact with their design as Nothing. Their bold approach to aesthetics, combined with thoughtful hardware and software features, has captured the attention of tech enthusiasts and casual users alike. With the Nothing Phone 3a, the brand delivers a refined experience that’s aimed at the mid-range market, bringing some standout features at an accessible price. After testing this device, including the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, we’ve put together a comprehensive review of how this phone performs in everyday use.
Design and Build: A Design That Still Turns Heads
The Nothing Phone 3a continues the company’s trend of creating devices that look unlike anything else on the market. The transparent back panel, now made of glass (compared to polycarbonate on the previous model), gives users a unique look at the phone’s internals.
The Glyph interface, which lights up in response to notifications and interactions, adds a futuristic touch that we can’t help but love. While the Glyph system looks cool, it’s more of a novelty, though it does serve as a helpful indicator for alerts when the phone is placed face down.
Compared to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, which features a more refined camera array and a sleeker overall design, the 3a still holds its own. We particularly love the way the camera setup is laid out: the triple camera array, highlighted by the addition of a 50MP telephoto lens, now sits in a horizontal alignment that’s reminiscent of Google Pixel‘s iconic design, and it’s a much cleaner and more cohesive look than the Phone 2a.
At 201g, the Phone 3a is solid in hand, though a little heavier than its predecessor, but the IP64 rating for water and dust resistance gives it added durability. It’s not quite waterproof, but it should withstand everyday elements like rain and splashes.
The Essential Key, located below the power button, is a unique feature that aims to make interactions more efficient. This dedicated button captures screenshots and records voice memos, though its current lack of remapping options is a limitation.
Display: A Beautiful, Bright AMOLED Experience
Nothing has packed the 6.77-inch AMOLED display of the Phone 3a with 120Hz refresh rate and a claimed peak brightness of 3000 nits, which makes for a vibrant viewing experience. In daily use, the display is stunning, especially when viewing HDR content. The 1,300 nits of outdoor visibility ensures that even in direct sunlight, you won’t struggle to see your content, a major improvement over the Phone 2a which wasn’t as effective in bright conditions.
While the Phone 3a Pro‘s display is slightly more refined, offering more accurate color calibration, the Phone 3a’s display still performs admirably, boasting great contrast, deep blacks, and punchy colors. The 120Hz refresh rate helps with fluid scrolling and animations, making it feel like a premium device, even though it lacks LTPO technology to dynamically adjust the refresh rate.
Performance: Smooth and Efficient, But Not a Flagship
We’ve tested the Nothing Phone 3a against a variety of everyday tasks, and it holds its ground well. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, coupled with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the Phone 3a delivers smooth performance in everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and media consumption. Even when juggling multiple apps, the device handles multitasking without any noticeable slowdowns.
However, while the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a capable mid-range chip, it doesn’t quite match the raw power of top-tier processors like those in flagship phones. We tested demanding games like Genshin Impact on the Phone 3a, and while it managed to run the game at 30fps on high settings, you’ll need to dial down the graphics settings if you want to maintain a steady frame rate of 60fps. But in most day-to-day use, the Phone 3a feels snappy and responsive, and its AI-powered optimizations (through Nothing OS 3.1) further enhance the overall experience.
In comparison to the Phone 3a Pro, which offers a slightly faster chip and better performance under load, the Phone 3a remains competitive at its price point, especially for users who don’t need the most cutting-edge performance but still want a solid, everyday device.
Camera: Impressive for the Price, But Room for Improvement
The Nothing Phone 3a brings notable upgrades to its camera system, especially for a device in this price bracket. The addition of a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom is a standout feature that is rare to find in phones in this price range. During our testing, the main 50MP sensor delivered crisp, vibrant images with excellent dynamic range, especially in well-lit conditions. Portraits look natural, and edge detection is impressive. The AI processing does a good job of refining images without being too overbearing, unlike some of the heavily processed shots from other budget phones.
The telephoto lens is a valuable addition, and it holds up well for portraits and distant shots. We tested the Phone 3a’s zoom capabilities, and while up to 4x lossless in-sensor zoom produces decent detail, anything beyond that starts to degrade in quality. The 8MP ultrawide camera, however, doesn’t perform as well as the main sensor, with noticeable distortion and noise in low-light conditions.
In terms of low-light performance, the Phone 3a performs decently, though not without challenges. We saw some noise in darker environments, but nothing too distracting. For users looking for a phone that performs well in daylight, the Phone 3a delivers impressive results, especially for its price.
Here are some photos taken on the Phone 3a:
Battery Life: Solid Longevity, Quick Charging
With a 5000mAh battery, the Nothing Phone 3a offers solid performance for all-day use. In typical scenarios, such as social media, messaging, and light video streaming, the phone comfortably lasts a full day. During our testing, the phone lasted around 15 hours on a single charge, which is competitive for this category. The 50W fast charging is another highlight, quickly recharging the battery up to 72% in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for users who need a quick top-up.
Like the Phone 3a Pro, there is no wireless charging, which is typical for phones in this price range.
Software: A Bloat-Free, Customizable Experience
Running Nothing OS 3.1 on top of Android 15, the Nothing Phone 3a offers a smooth, bloat-free software experience. Nothing has taken great care to optimize the user interface, ensuring that animations and transitions feel fluid. The Nothing OS is one of the cleanest Android skins around, with minimal bloatware, which is always a bonus in the mid-range market.
One of the standout features of the Phone 3a is the new Essential Space. This AI-powered tool, paired with the Essential Key, lets you quickly store screenshots, voice memos, and notes, all in one place.
While the Essential Key is a unique and useful addition, it would benefit from further customization options. At the moment, users are limited to preset functions, which could feel restrictive. Still, it’s a feature to watch as it evolves.
Verdict: A Stylish, Well-Rounded Mid-Range Phone
The Nothing Phone 3a is a device that punches above its weight in several key areas. Design-wise, it remains one of the most eye-catching phones in its price range, with the Glyph lighting system and transparent back making it stand out in a crowded market. Performance-wise, it delivers solid results for most tasks, and while it’s not a powerhouse, it’s more than capable of handling everyday use. The camera system is a pleasant surprise, offering great results for the price, and the battery life ensures that you can get through a full day of usage without worrying about recharging.
While the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers some improvements, such as a faster chip and slightly better performance, the Phone 3a holds its own, offering a great balance of style, performance, and price. If you’re looking for a well-rounded mid-range phone that doesn’t break the bank, the Nothing Phone 3a is definitely an easy recommend.
Pros:
- Stunning design with transparent back and Glyph lighting
- 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom
- Smooth performance for everyday tasks
- AI-powered features (Essential Space, Essential Key)
- Solid battery life with 50W fast charging
Cons:
- Ultrawide camera could use improvement
- Essential Key lacks customization options
- Limited AI functionality for now
If you want a phone that looks premium, performs well, and won’t break the bank, the Nothing Phone 3a is an excellent choice. While not perfect, it delivers a fantastic user experience at an affordable price, making it one of the best mid-range phones you can buy right now.
Pricing and Availability
The Nothing Phone 3a is available in Black, White, and Blue for SGD $549 (12GB RAM + 256GB storage). Pre-orders start on March 8th, with public availability on March 22nd.
You can buy the phone from:
- Nothing.tech
- Shopee (Nothing Official Store)
- Lazada (Nothing Flagship Store)
- Retailers like Challenger, Gain City, and Courts
- Mobile operator M1
