Yo yo yoo first of all, I want to thank the Nothing team for allowing me to get my hands on this amazing new device. I’m truly grateful for this community ❤
Now, let’s get to the point that everyone wants to hear about:
How does the new Nothing Phone (3a) Pro look through a photographer’s eyes?
Just as a bit of background, I have no prior experience with expensive smartphones that come with high-end cameras.
I’ve always thought that since I own a great mirrorless camera, I simply don’t need a good camera phone. But the (3a) Pro has completely changed my perspective on this!
Right from the start, unboxing the phone felt like a luxurious experience. The packaging is stunning and has a premium feel to it ✨
I even made unboxing video:
The first impression when holding the phone:
it feels heavier than the Phone (1), and surprisingly, somewhat kinda soft. As far as I know, the sides are made of plastic, and the surface has a slightly matte and rougher texture compared to the metal finish of the Phone (1) —though mine was already pretty worn out after my time in military service.
So, I will definitely be getting a case for this one 😅
The phone fits nicely in my hand, and I personally don’t feel like the camera bump gets in the way. Speaking of which, I’ve heard a lot of people say, “ehm, that’s a big bump,” .. but honestly, I don’t see it as an issue at all. If anything, it actually makes it easier to pick up the phone from a flat surface!
Design
Are the “unconventionally” placed cameras cool in real life? Yes.
I see it this way:
the (3a) Pro likes to stand out from the crowd, and so do I with it 😎 This is exactly how I felt when I first got the Phone (1.) And now, I’m feeling it again. Something new, something exciting, something I want to look at over and over again — not just the same old design.
At first, I had a bit of a shock reaction, but now I absolutely love this look!
(3a) Pro looks great from every angle. The buttons feel satisfying to press. I really like that the Essentials button has a glossy finish, I love the slightly reflective camera module, I appreciate the small design details on the back, and of course, the Glyph lights are fantastic 🤩
New Cameras, New Dimensions
As a photographer, cameras are what interest me the most. And this phone has plenty of them!
Walking through the gray streets of Turku, Finland, I found myself constantly using the 6x zoom (140mm). That focal length is actually much more than what I have in my big mirrorless camera! (75mm)
The image quality on the (3a) Pro is incredible. I was amazed by how fast and accurately it reacts.
The camera system runs smoothly without lag, and the colors are neutral and natural 👌
New periscope camera system offers so many new visual perspectives, allowing you to capture distant subjects with precision. No more thinking, “I wish I could zoom that far,” like I did with the Phone (1).
I noticed that I preferred shooting at 3x zoom rather than 2x, partly because 3x adds more depth to the image and looks somehow better.
One possible downside is lens flare. I’m not sure — it kind of looks cool, but at the same time, a bit strange.
Here is some unedited photos 👇
#withnothing
Preset Selection – A Photographer’s Dream
I absolutely love the new preset feature!
This is a big deal for photographers. It looks professional and is so enjoyable to use.
The best part?
You can add your own presets! You can even import your Lightroom presets directly into the phone’s camera and apply them while shooting — no need to edit in an app afterward.
This is a game-changer, and I can’t stop using the built-in B&W preset — it’s epic.
The updated camera menu looks familiar but improved, making it easy to navigate and find everything quickly.
Another major upgrade: the cameras capture significantly more light, both in daylight and low-light conditions. A very welcome improvement! ⭐
Video
The video quality is smoother compared to the Phone (1). A new addition is 60fps recording with the front camera. Nothing more to say about video, its just average good.
Someday, I wish Nothing will add LOG-profile, that would be a dream 🙂
But here is a little test example of 4K video:
Operating System & Performance
The OS 3.1 is incredibly fast. No stutters, no bugs.
Phone feels even quicker than before, and animations look smooth.
You can play COD Mobile at max resolution with zero lag 🎮
Nothing Essential Space
At first, I didn’t really understand this feature, nor did I know how to use it.
I also ran into an issue where Essential struggles with Finnish — it mixes Finnish and English or mishears words. The same happens when typing.
But after using it for a while, I started to see its value. For example, if you save an event with Essentials, it stays there as a reminder, making it easy to find and not forget.
I think this will be even more useful for native English speakers.
Hopefully, future updates will bring new features to Essential Space and the external button 😉
Display
The screen is large and highly responsive — it feels like it reacts to touches even better.
It’s also significantly brighter than the Phone (1), which is a huge plus. Shooting outdoors is now much easier, as visibility is excellent. HDR enhances brightness further when watching content, like Nothing’s latest YouTube videos 😁
Speakers
A massive surprise. I played a song and immediately thought, “WOW” The richness of sound and the bass these speakers produce is insane. I wasn’t expecting them to be this good.
Now, I actually enjoy playing music directly from the phone instead of connecting to an external speaker🔊
Battery
It easily lasts all day and even into the next day. Charging is fast, and battery consumption is slow —exactly as it should be. No wireless charging but I would not use it anyway.
Compared to the Phone (1), the battery life is noticeably better 👍
Final Thoughts
I’ll continue testing the (3a) Pro, and as spring slowly arrives in cold Finland, I look forward to capturing even more stunning shots. I’m excited to see how the cameras handle the warm colors and sunlight of summer! 😄☀
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is for you if:
You’re still using the Phone (1)
You’re a photographer but don’t want to spend lots of money on a new phone
You want something different
Pros:
✔️ New camera system ✔️ Bright display ✔️ Fast OS ✔️ Excellent sound quality ✔️ Great value for money
Cons:
❌ Essentials button and features are still limited (beta phase) ❌ Camera bump might be uncomfortable for some ❌ No wireless charging
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