There are good, and bad things.
Nothing just recently released a continuation to the (3a) series, even though they previously said the (3a) lineup was finished and that those phones were it. Well… apparently not.
This phone represents the lowest price category within Nothing’s offerings, and it is truly unique for the company, we’ve never seen a device this cheap from them 👀
See my unboxing video: Nothing Phone (3a) Lite UNBOXING
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Design & Build
The design and build quality of the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is excellent for its price 👌
Good IP-rating, camera layout similar to the flagship Phone (3), which has been divisive.
Personally I like this design. It’s different, yet still reminds a lot of the CMF Phone 2 Pro.
The phone feels surprisingly good in the hand. If you look closely at the edges, you’ll notice they’re slightly rounded - something the (3a) Pro doesn’t have. Big plus for that 👍
Other notable details include:
Yes. The Glyph is back.
I don’t know if this comeback was influenced by customer feedback or if it was simply a marketing move.
l like this small light, it reminds me of the days when phones had tiny notification LEDs.
If you look really close, there’s some glitter-like texture on top of it. Very nice touch.
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Camera System
As a photographer, I have opinions 🤓
There are three rear cameras and one front camera centered on the display.
To be honest, when comparing this phone directly to a device that costs three times as much, I’m not very satisfied with these cameras. Even the Phone (1) cameras are better, and sure, that phone was a bit over €500 when new, but it’s also several years old now 🤨
I don’t have much experience with competitors in this exact price range, so it’s hard to say how the cameras compare. As a consumer, you’ll have to check reviews and decide for yourself.
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When I opened the camera app for the first time, I noticed how warm the images looked.
Compared to the Phone (3a) Pro, it’s very noticeable. This will most likely be fixed in future software updates.
Otherwise colors are reproduced decently, and switching between focal lengths is smooth.
A Few Photos Taken With This Phone:
Camera Specs:
Main camera: 50mpx 24mm f/1.88
Ultra-wide: 8mpx 15mm f/2.2
Macro: 2mpx f/2.4
Front: 16mpx 24mm f/2.45
Did you notice the macro camera is 2 megapixels? Two! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that number 😅 It instantly reminded me of some retro digital camera.
To say something positive: this tiny camera does create a nice swirl bokeh effect.
Macro Photo Samples:
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There is no optical image stabilization (OIS), and you can definitely tell after using devices that have it.
It’s like the image is slightly shaky all the time, but it doesn’t really affect the final shot.
Video, on the other hand, is very stable - for example 4K 30fps is available.
(3a) Lite vs. Phone (1) video:
That’s basically all the essential stuff about the cameras. Let the photos speak for themselves.
If you have any questions or want more video or photosamples, drop a comment! 😁
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Recent Nothing News & Controversy
I want to bring out my opinion on the recent Nothing news that has caused a lot of attention in the tech world. Many people already know that Nothing unexpectedly announced that third-party apps would be added to their devices. And what was Nothing’s core principle?
No bloatware.
But now, several such apps have appeared.
In the new Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, this seems to be true as well. With the latest update, the (3a) series received Lock Glimpse.
Honestly, I hate it - even though it can be disabled.
All the images shown are AI-generated, they look bad, and they give a misleading impression of places or topics. This feature upset many Nothing fans who demanded explanations.
I can still understand adding Facebook and Instagram, but not this. It feels like they went after some cheap-looking quick money 😕
Glimpse also shows ads in its articles. I don’t know much about the articles themselves - I don’t bother reading them.
I understand that money has to come from somewhere, but how about adding more Nothing-themed features instead? Things like calculator, timer, or other small utilities our beloved community has created and showcased. That would add a lot more value and interest for Nothing overall ❤
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Software & Performance
The operating system is the familiar Nothing OS - looks great and works smoothly. I haven’t noticed any stutters or slowdowns. Apparently, the MediaTek processor is doing its job.
The display is good and surprisingly bright. Big points for that 👍
Battery capacity is 5000 mAh, easily lasting a full day of use.
The device includes 8GB RAM + 2GB virtual RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
Oh, and special mention: up to 2TB microSD card support.
That’s wild! and if you buy such a card, it might last you a lifetime. Except for me 😜
Another interesting detail: the Essential Key button on the Lite is smaller than on the Phone (3).
Thanks for making the phone water-resistant - in today’s world, every phone should have this.
The Lite only has one bottom speaker, and honestly, the audio quality is pretty bad. But again, considering the price, you can’t really expect better.
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Final Thoughts
It’s hard to think of this as a “good” phone when you’re used to something three times more expensive. But I believe this device is among the best in its price range for sure!
Personally, I’d still pick the CMF Phone 2 Pro over this - I haven’t tested it, but I feel like it would be better 🤔
Who is this for?
I can easily imagine this being an excellent choice for a student or for youngs getting their first smartphone. With its design, modern OS, and low price, it just makes sense.
Or for anyone who needs a backup phone, or simply wants a modern budget smartphone.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro sits almost directly parallel to this device, but here the design speaks for itself.
In the end, the consumer decides what looks and feels right ❤
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Thank you Nothing and @Deepanshu_Saini_ for giving me this opportunity to test the phone! You guys are the best!
