Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro Unveiled: A Fresh Take on Mid-Range Smartphones

March 4, 2025, at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, UK-based tech innovator Nothing officially launched its latest mid-range offerings: the Nothing Phone (3a) and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. True to the brand’s ethos, these devices blend striking design with thoughtful functionality, delivering premium features at accessible price points. With upgraded cameras, a refined aesthetic, and a brand-new AI-driven platform, Nothing is doubling down on its mission to shake up the smartphone industry. Here’s everything you need to know about the Phone (3a) series announcements and the exciting features headed your way.

A Design That Stands Out

Nothing has built its reputation on bold, transparent designs, and the Phone (3a) series is no exception. Both models retain the signature see-through back panel, exposing internal components like ribbon cables and screws, paired with the iconic Glyph Interface—a set of customizable LED strips that light up for notifications, calls, and even music visualization. However, this time around, Nothing has taken things up a notch.

The Phone (3a) sports a sleek, pill-shaped triple-camera module that integrates seamlessly into its minimalist look, available in Black, White, and a striking Blue colorway (though the latter isn’t available in the US). Meanwhile, the Phone (3a) Pro makes a bolder statement with a large, circular camera bump housing a flagship-grade periscope telephoto lens. Wrapped in a glass back—upgraded from the polycarbonate of previous models—and framed with aluminum, the Pro comes in Black and Grey, exuding a premium feel that belies its mid-range classification.

Both phones now boast an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance, a step up from the IP54 of their predecessors. While they won’t survive a deep dive underwater, they’re more than equipped to handle splashes or a dusty environment—a practical improvement for everyday use.

Power Under the Hood

Driving both the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, a mid-range processor that strikes a balance between performance and efficiency. Nothing claims it collaborated with Qualcomm to optimize this chip specifically for the 3a series, resulting in an 8% reduction in power consumption compared to other devices using the same silicon. Translation? You get about 30 minutes more battery life—a small but meaningful win for power users.

Paired with the Adreno 800-series GPU, the chipset delivers a 33% faster CPU and 11% better graphics performance than the Phone (2a). Whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or streaming, these phones promise smooth operation without breaking a sweat. Storage options vary: the Phone (3a) offers 8GB RAM with 128GB storage or 12GB RAM with 256GB, while the (3a) Pro sticks to a single high-end config of 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. No expandable storage here, but with UFS 2.2, file transfers and app loading should feel snappy.

Display and Battery: Bright and Long-Lasting

Both models feature a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring buttery-smooth scrolling and vibrant colors. Protected by Panda Glass, the screens hit a peak brightness of 3,000 nits—bright enough to cut through sunlight, making outdoor use a breeze. Symmetrical bezels and an in-display fingerprint sensor round out a modern, polished front profile.

Battery life is another highlight. Each phone packs a 5,000mAh battery, which Nothing says can last up to two days on a single charge with moderate use. When it’s time to juice up, 50W wired fast charging gets you from 0% to 50% in just 19 minutes and a full charge in under an hour. The (3a) Pro adds a bonus: 7.5W reverse wired charging, letting you share power with accessories like earbuds. Wireless charging, however, remains absent—a minor omission at this price point, though competitors like Motorola’s latest Moto G Power are starting to include it.

Cameras

Photography is where the Phone (3a) series shines, particularly with the Pro model. Both phones sport a triple-camera array, but their capabilities diverge. The Phone (3a) features a 50MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS), an 8MP ultrawide lens with a 120° field of view, and a 50MP telephoto lens offering 2x optical zoom and up to 30x digital zoom. It’s a versatile setup for casual shooters, with a 32MP front camera for selfies.

The Phone (3a) Pro, however, takes it to the next level. It keeps the same 50MP OIS main sensor and 8MP ultrawide but swaps the telephoto for a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with a 70mm focal length. This “flagship-grade” lens delivers 3x optical zoom, 6x lossless zoom, and an impressive 60x ultra zoom, alongside a dedicated macro mode for close-up shots. Nothing’s TrueLens Engine 3.0 enhances low-light performance and HDR, promising sharper, more vibrant images. The Pro also upgrades the selfie cam to 50MP, ensuring crisp self-portraits and 4K video at 30fps from both front and rear.

For video enthusiasts, both phones support 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, and slow-motion at 1080p up to 120fps. While not groundbreaking, these specs hold their own in the mid-range segment, especially with the Pro’s periscope lens giving it an edge over rivals like the Google Pixel 8a or OnePlus 12R, which lack telephoto options.

Nothing OS 3.1 and the Essential Space AI

Out of the box, the Phone (3a) series runs Nothing OS 3.1, built on Android 15. Nothing’s take on Android is clean and intuitive, preserving Google’s core experience while adding thoughtful tweaks. You’ll find customizable widgets, a slick icon theming app, fast animations, and a quick-search app drawer. The Glyph Interface gets 26 individually controlled LED zones, integrating with Google Calendar for progress tracking or syncing lights to your music beats.

The real game-changer, though, is Essential Space—a new AI-powered hub debuting in early access with the 3a series. Described as a “second memory,” it aims to streamline your digital life by capturing notes, ideas, and inspirations. One standout feature: save on-screen content (like screenshots) with voice notes, so you can recall them later with context. It’s accessible via a new “Essential Key” button on the right side—a nod to the iPhone’s Action Button—though its full functionality remains under wraps. Nothing promises six years of software updates, including three years of Android upgrades, ensuring longevity.

Pricing and Availability

The Phone (3a) starts at $379 (£329 or ₹22,999 in India) for the 8GB/128GB variant, with the 12GB/256GB model at $429 (£379 or ₹26,999). The Phone (3a) Pro retails at $459 (£449 or ₹27,999) for its lone 12GB/256GB config. Sales kick off March 11 for the (3a) and March 15 for the (3a) Pro via Nothing’s website, Flipkart (in India), and select retailers, with pre-orders opening immediately after the launch event. In the US, they’re available through Nothing’s Beta Program, requiring a carrier workaround for full 5G support on AT&T and Verizon—though T-Mobile users should be fine.

Compared to the Phone (2a) ($349) and (2a) Plus ($399), the 3a series sees a slight price bump, reflecting the upgraded hardware and features. Still, at under $500, they’re positioned to compete with heavyweights like the Samsung Galaxy A55 and OnePlus Nord 4.