Here’s the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, the brand’s latest gem that lands with a jaw-dropping screen, a design that turns heads, and a zoom camera that’s honestly blown me away. This isn’t just a refresh—it’s a generation that raises the bar, and after putting it through its paces, here’s what I think.
The design is quintessential Nothing: clean lines, transparency, and that iconic Glyph Interface as its personal signature. The back builds on the Phone (2a) but feels more refined, especially with the camera module. They’ve nailed a more harmonious layout that, for me, makes it stand out in a sea of look-alikes. Plus, the glass back is back! I’ve missed it since the Phone (2), and with an IP64 rating for splash and dust resistance, it brings a premium vibe that the (2a)’s plastic couldn’t match.
The screen is a showstopper. A 6.77” AMOLED panel with 120 Hz adaptive refresh and up to 3000 nits of HDR brightness—it’s a visual treat. Put it next to the Phone (2a), and the vibrant colors and sharpness leap out, especially under harsh sunlight with its 1300 nits outdoors. With Ultra HDR, every photo or video feels like a cinematic experience in my hand.
But what’s stolen my heart is the camera setup. The 50 MP main sensor with optical stabilization and the 8 MP ultra-wide are solid performers, but the Phone (3a) Pro steps up with a 50 MP periscope camera powered by a Sony LYTIA 600 sensor. The 3x optical zoom is flawless, and the 60x digital delivers shots that impress, even in telemacro at 15 cm. Low light? The stabilization and TrueLens Engine 3.0 with Ultra XDR (co-developed with Google) make a world of difference compared to the (2a). The revamped camera app is a bonus, and I love the grid filter inspired by their wallpapers—it’s a quirky touch that adds soul.
One feature I’ve fallen for is the Essential Key, that side button unlocking Essential Space. One tap captures something quick, a long press records a voice note, and a double tap pulls up all my saved notes, pics, or ideas. It’s been my go-to these past days for jotting down thoughts, and I didn’t realize how much I needed it until now.
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 isn’t a beast, but with Nothing OS 3.1 running on Android 15, everything flows like butter: apps, games, multitasking—no hiccups. It’s 92% better at AI tasks than the (2a), and you feel it in things like voice transcription or lightning-fast photo processing. Oh, and eSIM support is finally here—something I’ve been begging for. The 5000 mAh battery, the biggest in a Nothing yet, has given me up to two days of chill use, and with 50W fast charging, I’m at 50% in just 19 minutes. Perfect for my pace.
I can’t skip this: Nothing’s still killing it with sustainability. 100% recycled aluminum in the camera frame, over 85% recycled steel, and plastic-free packaging—it’s their greenest phone yet, with a carbon footprint of just 51.3 kg CO2e.
In short, the Phone (3a) Pro feels like a true evolution: sharper design, a top-tier screen, cameras that leap forward (that zoom is my fave), and the Essential Key as a game-changer I didn’t see coming. If you’re after a Nothing with personality and upgrades you can feel, this one’s won me over. What do you think of this new generation? Let me know below!
