Nothing Phone 3a Pro review: The top choice among Nothing phones

      Nothing Phone 3a Pro

      

       MSRP: $570.00

      

      

      

      

      

       “The distinctive style of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro sets it apart from its rivals and conceals an impressive camera, solid performance, and excellent software.”

      

      

      

      

      

       Pros:

      

      

       Unique design

      

       Feature-rich software

      

       Fun details enhance user experience

      

       Versatile camera captures great images

      

       Essential Space AI is intriguing

      

      

      

      

      

       Cons:

      

      

       Average battery life

      

       Subpar wide-angle camera

      

      

      

      I love when this occurs. One week we see a new budget phone launch that disappoints, and shortly after, we get a budget phone that surpasses expectations. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro might have a quirky design, but that's about all its flaws. Let’s discuss why the Phone 3a Pro shines.

      Specifications:

      

      Nothing Phone 3a Pro

      Dimensions:

      163 x 77 x 8.4mm

      Weight:

      211 grams

      Display:

      6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2392 pixels, 3,000 nits peak brightness, 2160Hz PWM

      Durability:

      IP64

      Cameras:

      50MP main f/1.88 camera with OIS and EIS

      50MP f/2.55 periscope camera with OIS and EIS

      8MP f/2.2 wide-angle camera

      50MP front-facing camera

      Processor:

      Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

      RAM and Storage:

      12GB RAM, 256GB Storage

      Battery:

      5,000mAh

      Software:

      Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1

      Colors:

      Black or grey

      Price:

      449 British pounds/$570

      Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Design

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      The Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s appearance is anything but conventional. It’s wild, chaotic, and somewhat overwhelming, yet it remains surprisingly focused. It's unmistakably a Nothing device, characterized by its transparent tech and the iconic Glyph Light illumination system. The back of the Phone 3a Pro visually captivates with various shapes and lines, featuring an asymmetrical camera module that might border on excessive.

      Whether you find it appealing or not may not be the main consideration. It is striking and distinctive, ensuring that it won’t be confused with other phones. This seems to be the intention behind Nothing’s design choices for the 3a Pro, providing a counterpoint to the iPhone, unlike many other emerging phone brands that often draw inspiration from Apple’s popular designs (Nothing is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year).

      There’s an extra button on the side named the Essential Space key. It's part of Nothing’s AI initiative, which we'll discuss shortly. This button is located below the power button and has a noticeable difference in shape and texture (it's surprisingly sticky), making it initially easy to confuse with the power button. It's also simple to accidentally press until you get accustomed to its position.

      Despite the bold design, Nothing has not overlooked the basics. The aluminum frame offers a satisfying texture that enhances grip, and the rear panel is glass instead of the polycarbonate found on previous a-series models. The 211 grams weight feels lighter than it sounds, partly due to its excellent balance. There's a stylish metal ring around the camera module, and it boasts an IP64 dust and water resistance rating. Overall, it feels well-constructed and robust, with its quirky design contributing to the illusion of a higher price point.

      Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Camera

      Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      The Phone 3a Pro features a 50-megapixel main camera that captures more light compared to the similar camera on the Phone 3a, along with a 50MP periscope telephoto camera providing 3x optical zoom. It also includes a 2x in-sensor zoom (meaning cropped), a quick-access 6x zoom option in the app, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and a 50MP selfie camera capable of shooting 4K video at 30 frames per second.

      Taking photos with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is enjoyable. The main camera produces vibrant, well-exposed images, and there are a few filters available that make experimenting fun, including a striking black-and-white mode that achieves great contrast and brightness. The 3x zoom delivers ample detail, and surprisingly, the 6x zoom can produce usable photos despite not being optical.

      Night photography is quite impressive, with subtle edge enhancement, lovely natural textures, and realistic color. However, the 8MP wide-angle camera is a disappointment, which is expected since they generally underperform. It also falls short of the previous wide-angle camera