I’ve been using the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite for a bit now let’s break it down:
📦 Unboxing & Design Vibes
In the box you get:
First off, this phone doesn’t feel cheap. Despite being the ‘Lite’ version, Nothing kept the transparent glass back, making it look far more premium than other phones in this price range (around €249). It has a cool, minimalist, squared-off design. I didn’t like it at first, but I started to enjoy it once I got used to it. And it feels great in the hand too! Although it’s slightly bigger, it’s actually lighter than the Nothing Phone 3 so it feels solid without weighing your pocket down.
Sadly, they stripped back the ‘Glyph’ lights to just a single LED dot on the back. While it gets the job done, I still miss the full Glyph experience.
📺 The Screen
The first thing I noticed after powering it on was the display. It’s a large, 6.77-inch AMOLED screen that is very bright. I would normally expect this kind of quality on a much more expensive phone. Colours are vibrant, and the 120 Hz refresh rate makes swiping through Instagram or menus feel incredibly buttery smooth. 🧈
Quick Tip: It comes with a pre-applied screen protector (which saves me the hassle of bubbles!), and I’d recommend keeping it on till you replace it with a normal one
⚙️ Performance & Features
Inside, it’s running a MediaTek chip which is perfectly fine for normal stuff. Messaging, social media, maps, and Spotify all run snappy and smooth. Paired with the clean Nothing OS, it flies through daily tasks.
However, don’t expect to chase the highest FPS with this. If you push it with heavy games, it will stutter and lag. It’s strictly a daily driver, not a gaming phone.
📸 Camera Check
I didn’t include any camera samples in this review because, I’m by no means an expert. But for my daily use, taking pics of my cat, food, or quick shots with friends, the main camera is definitely good enough. It captures what I need without looking like a potato. 🥔
That said, I did struggle a bit with the macro camera.
🔋 Battery Life
The battery life is awesome. It got a 5000 mAh battery, and because the processor isn’t super power-hungry, it lasts forever. I easily get through a whole day with like 40-50% left. If you aren’t glued to your screen, you could probably squeeze two days out of this.
🧐 The Drawbacks (Software & Audio)
It’s not all perfect, though:
The Speaker: This is the one major flaw. It’s a single bottom-firing speaker, and it sounds a bit tinny and hollow. Definitely grab some headphones.
Bloatware: There are some pre-installed apps (like TikTok), which was annoying, but you can uninstall them instantly.
“Glimpse”: Which is a new feature on the lock screen. I ’m not a fan, but luckily you can disable it right during setup.
💭 Conclusion
Overall, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is a simple, minimal phone that gets the basics right.
If you want a phone that looks cool, has a flagship-level screen, and lasts all day for a low price, this is a solid pick. It’s great for students or anyone who wants a “nice” phone without the $1,000 price tag. Just don’t buy it if you’re a heavy gamer.
