A Strong First Impression That Still Holds Up
Having spent a month with the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite (8GB RAM/256GB storage), I am quite impressed. The phone delivers on the O.G. Nothing experience that we have all come to love. The design is easy to recognize, the software remains clean, and the overall experience continues to feel well-planned. A recent software update improved the already fluid UI, and day-to-day navigation now feels even better.
Design and Build Quality
Nothing kept its familiar design language while making this model more affordable to a wider audience. The transparent back, Panda Glass on the front and rear, and the aluminum internal frame give the phone a premium feel without making it heavy. Weighing in at 199 grams, it sits comfortably in the hand, and the squared sides with slightly rounded edges make the phone easy to grip for long periods. I removed the pre-installed screen protector early and stopped using the clear case while at home - the phone just feels better without anything on it.
Display and UI Smoothness
The 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED screen is a highlight of this device. It’s bright, colorful, and sharp. HDR video looks great - on par with devices costing significantly more. The 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate makes the UI feel quick, and the OTA update somehow makes the animations flow even more smoothly. The Nothing software engineering team is too good.
Glyph Light and Interaction
Nothing brought back a minimal version of the old school notification LED (remember those??!?) in the form of a single Glyph light. It works with Flip to Glyph, Essential Notifications, and custom patterns tied to ringtones. It is simple and jarring coming from a Phone (3) and (3a), but it does fit with the identity of the phone and is more useful than it seems on paper. Being just a single LED I can’t help but wish it was multicolor though.
Everyday Performance
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro and 8 GB of RAM, the phone handles everyday tasks with ease. Multitasking, browsing the UI, and switching between apps all feel snappy. Heat management has been good as well, I never felt it get warm after the initial setup – not even during OTA installation. Having the full benefit of NothingOS 3.5 the (3a) lite has features like Smart Drawer, Essential Space, App Locker, and Private Space. I disabled Lock Glimpse almost immediately and removed Facebook, but at least both were easy to turn off or uninstall. Recent tweets from Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis that in the future the Meta apps and services would be completely uninstallable are reassuring, let’s hope it’s the same story with Lock Glimpse.
Camera Experience
Nothing gave the phone a capable main camera. The 50 MP primary sensor produces balanced and detailed shots, and the ultrawide and macro lenses are serviceable. Modes like Ultra XDR, RAW, Expert Mode, Motion Capture, and Night Mode all work as advertised for me. I’m not what you might call a photographer as most of my shots are taken for work and just for documentation purposes, so I’ll leave the in-depth camera reviews to others. But what I can say is that there is short but noticeable delay when first launching the camera app. Once it is open, the camera performs well with minimal lag.
Media Consumption
The display is the MVP for consuming media on the Phone (3a) lite. HDR YouTube videos look surprisingly good, and scrolling through the socials has been smooth. The single bottom speaker, though, is problematic. The volume is too low to rely on in louder environments and the sound is hollow in my opinion. Using Nothing Ear or Ear (open) earbuds improves the experience by a wide margin. Ear buds are your friends here.
Gaming and Connectivity
Casual gaming works well on this device. The combination of the chipset, the cooling system, and the 120 Hz screen keeps the frame rates stable. Connectivity has also been solid. On T-Mobile, the phone has had consistent 5G, VoLTE, and Wi-Fi calling. The hotspot feature worked as expected the few times I needed it in the field.
Battery Life and Charging
The 5000 mAh battery continues to impress me. Even on heavier days the phone rarely drops below fifty percent by bedtime. With lighter usage, stretching it to two full days is realistic. Charging at 33 W is quick enough for most situations, and the 5 W reverse wired charging has come in handy for smaller accessories. The lack of Qi wireless charging is disappointing but forgivable at this price point.
Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite has held up extremely well over several weeks of daily use. The design stands out, the software is a joy to use, and the battery life is excellent. The recent system update improved UI smoothness while everything else remained stable and reliable. Outside of the pre-installed apps, which can be disabled if not completely removed, there isn’t much to complain about.
For the price, €279 for the model I reviewed, this is a well built and well-balanced phone that delivers way more than should be expected. It feels like a complete product, not a stripped-down version of something else. This makes it easy to recommend to someone looking for a reliable and affordable option - If only it Nothing was selling it in the United States.
