It’s Been 3 Weeks Of Daily Use — Testing Everything From Camera to Battery to Real-World Performance.
📢 This device is a review unit provided by @nothingindia as part of the community review program. However, they have had no input on my review- everything shared here is 100% honest and based only on my personal experience with the device. (Loong Post)
📦 Unboxing Experience ✨
The unboxing experience of the Phone(3a)Pro honestly felt different this time ~ practical, yet premium.
Compared to the tear-to-open packaging of Phone (1), this felt more refined and thoughtfully done. The inner white box opens like a book, which adds a unique touch and I really liked the camera module design engraved on it.
Here’s what inside the Box
📱 The Phone(3a)Pro
🔌 A Type-C to Type-C charging cable with Nothing branding on the tip.
📍The iconic transparent, cylinder-shaped SIM ejector pin.
🛡️And a plastic pre-applied screen protector.
😔 But no charger in the box… 🤧
Design and Build Quality 📱🛠️
Nothing has always taken a different approach to smartphone design, and the Phone(3a)Pro is no exception.The transparent back gives it a bold, futuristic look that instantly stands out. The camera module has a noticeable bump, but the design is unique and eye-catching. The phone weighs 211g and due to the camera bump, the phone doesn’t sit flat on a surface, remains slightly tilted from the top side and it also feels slightly head-heavy.The phone comes with (IP64) rating and Panda Glass protection on both the front and back. In hand, it feels solid. However, Nothing could have opted for Gorilla Glass protection for better durability. The frame doesn’t feel like they are made of polycarbonate, but a metal frame would’ve added more value at this price. It’s a large phone not ideal for one-handed use, but perfect if you prefer bigger devices.
📲 How’s the Display?👀
Coming to the display, the phone features a 6.77″ Fhd+ Amoled display with support for Hdr10+, a 120Hz refresh rate, a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits and 1300nits Outdoor brightness. Spec-wise, it’s not the most strongest, as there are phones in this price range offering a 1.5K resolution.
However, in real-world use, I have no complaints, the display delivers vibrant, punchy colors with deep blacks. The 120Hz refresh rate makes the phone feel smooth and responsive while scrolling, swiping through apps or navigating the Ui. The Display bezels are slightly on the thicker side but uniform from all sides, giving it a full-screen look. Indoor visibility is excellent, in Outdoors also it remains clearly visible under direct sunlight. Overall, it’s a well-balanced panel with solid performance across every conditions.
👨📱User Experience Review(Software+Os)
One of the best things about using a Nothing phone is the software. It runs on Android 15 with Nothing Os 3.1 . Clean, fluid, and totally bloat-free. No useless third-party apps or ads.The OS includes useful features like Shortcut Widgets on both the Home and Lock Screen, Private Space, App Lock, Power-Off Verification, the new Essential Space, and many more.
What really impressed me, is the Aminations and the Ram Management. The app opening and closing animations are generally smooth,with occasional minor stutters, nothing major. The phone is able to keep apps in memory for 3 to 4 hours which is impressive. This clearly shows how well Nothing has optimized the software for this device. The company is known for timely updates and they are offering 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches with this phone.Also the Glyph lights aren’t just for show, they’re well-integrated into the Os. From call and notification alerts to glyph timer and third-party app support, the Glyph adds a unique, functional layer to the overall software experience.
I’ve Already Made A Post On The Top 10 Useful Features. Check it out below 👇🏽
https://nothing.community/d/33654
Coming to the Camera Department📸
This is the ‘Biggest Highlight’ of the phone. To see how it truly performs, check out the Detailed Camera Review below.👇🏽
https://nothing.community/d/34631
Performance Review⚡📱
Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, it’s a solid performer in this price range ~ though not the best, as some competitors offer more powerful chipsets. That said, it doesn’t fall short or slow when it comes to day-to-day tasks like social media, YouTube, and multitasking. The experience is smooth, with no lags or stutters, making it feel fast and well-optimized.The phone comes with Ufs 2.2 Storage, coming from (Phone 1) with Ufs 3.1 and honestly,it feels just as smooth.Even with 90%+ storage used, no lags. Considering the price, I’d still say Nothing could have opted for Ufs 3.1 .
The phone supports Bgmi at 120 FPS, and I tested it. The frame rate throughout the gameplay wasn’t perfectly consistent. However, there were no major frame drops, overall it was smooth. After 40 minutes of gameplay, the battery drained by just 8% and the phone felt slightly warm on the top side around the camera module which is expected since it’s not a performance focused device.
Battery and Charging Review🔋🔌📱
The Phone comes with a 5000mAh battery, and I’ve been using it heavily from day 1 . With mobile data and hotspot turned on most of the time, I was still consistently getting 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time on a regular basis, which is genuinely impressive for a heavy user. One of the best part is that there’s almost no idle battery drain. I unplugged the phone at 100% on a Saturday evening, and it dropped to 20% by Monday morning, which shows how well-optimized the battery is. With normal usage, you can easily expect 8 to 9 hours of screen-on time, and the phone can easily last a full day or more.
Charging🔌⚡
The phone supports 50W of wired charging and I tested it using a Vivo 44W FlashCharge adapter, as I don’t have Nothing’s official 45W charger. Charging from 6% to 100% took 1 hour 31 minutes, which is quite decent. With the official Nothing 45W charger, it would likely be even faster, as they claim 0 to 100% charge in just 56 minutes.
Network and Connectivity Review🛜🔗
I tested with my Jio 5G Sim, and the experience has been excellent. There were no issues with connectivity, zero call drops, and VoNR worked smoothly everytime. The phone mostly stayed on 5G+, offering me strong signal and fast speeds. However, I did notice it occasionally switching to 4G+, which could be improved with a software update. On the wireless side, it supports Nfc , Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4. I faced no disconnection issues while using my TWS earbuds, and pairing was always quick. Wi-Fi performance was also stable and fast, though I haven’t used it much since I’m mostly on mobile data.
Sound Quality & Haptics Review🔊📳
The Phone comes with Dual Stereo speakers, and the sound quality is genuinely impressive. Vocals are loud, crisp, and clear with no distortion even at 100% volume, making it great for media consumption, gaming, or video calls.
When it comes to Haptics, it delivers a brilliant experience. Typing feels satisfying thanks to the X-axis linear motor. But they are not implemented efficiently, there are many parts in the Ui where it lacks the implementation like dragging the volume bar, brightness adjustment slider, etc.
Alright,Time To Look At The Pros✅ and Cons❌.
Pros✅
✔️ Premium and Eye-catching Design.
✔️ Excellent Display Performance With Hdr10+, 120Hz Refresh Rate.
✔️Clean, Bloat-Free Software Experience.
✔️ Impressive Main And Telephoto Cameras With natural Colors, Great Dynamic Range, And Solid Low-Light Performance.
✔️ Strong Battery Life With 50W Fast Charging.
✔️ Great Stereo Speakers And Premium Haptic Feedback.
✔️ Well-Integrated Glyph features.
Cons ❌
❌Downgraded 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera.
❌Ufs 2.2 Storage.
❌No 4K 60fps Video Recording In Any Camera.
❌Selfie Camera Struggles In low Light.
❌No Charger In Box.
Final Verdict:Should You Buy the Phone(3a)Pro?🤔
The Phone (3a) Pro stands out as a compelling all-rounder in its segment. With its bold and unique transparent design, excellent display performance, clean bloat-free software, and impressive main and telephoto camera performance, it delivers a premium user experience that feels refreshingly different from others. Despite a few compromises~ like the downgraded 8MP ultra-wide camera, lack of 4K60fps recording, and Ufs 2.2 storage~ the overall experience is still solid and well-optimized. Battery life is excellent, audio and haptics are top-notch, and the performance is more than capable for daily use and casual gaming. If you’re someone who’s into photography and prefers natural colors in photos, values design innovation, a smooth and clean Android experience and wants a phone that truly feels different, the Phone(3a)Pro is a standout choice worth considering.
Put a lot of time and energy into this one. If it helped you out, show some love 🤧🫶🏼
