Nothing Phone 3a Pro Review: After using the Nothing Phone 3a Pro for 20 days, it is clear this device holds a balance between thoughtful design, camera excellence and a clean software experience. While it may not be perfect, it delivers on the essentials. Here’s our full hands-on review after real-world usage.
Unboxing Experience of Nothing Phone 3a Pro
Nothing continues to focus on simplicity and aesthetics, even in the unboxing experience. Inside the box, you get the Nothing Phone 3a Pro itself, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable (100 cm), a SIM tray ejector tool, and a safety card. A screen protector is also pre-applied, which is always a welcome touch.
Design and Build Quality of Nothing Phone 3a Pro
The design language sticks to Nothing’s signature transparent back and glyph lighting, which now feels a bit more refined. The Glyph interface is brighter this time around, making notifications and interactions more noticeable even in well-lit environments. However, the large and raised camera module can be a bit of an inconvenience when slipping the phone into tighter pockets. Also, if you’re not using a case, expect minor scratches on the plastic frame after regular use. Thankfully, the display itself stayed flawless throughout the testing period.
Despite those quirks, the build quality feels sturdy. The phone is IP64 rated, meaning it’s protected against dust and water splashes. A nice bonus at this price.
Display: Gorgeous and Bright
The 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED display is one of the highlights. It gets incredibly bright, with a peak brightness of up to 3000 nits and 1300 nits outdoors, making it very usable even in direct sunlight. Colours are vibrant, motion is smooth thanks to the 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and the 10-bit colour depth brings out richness in images and videos.
While watching content, especially in darker scenes, the display performed well with no noticeable noise or flicker—something that was a known issue on older models like the Phone (2a). However, it’s worth noting that Netflix HDR is not supported, which might be disappointing for serious streamers.
Performance of Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Capable for Most, But Not for All
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, an 8-core chip built on TSMC’s 4nm process. It handles daily tasks with ease—browsing, social media, calls, and casual games feel fluid. But this chipset, paired with UFS 2.2 storage, does show its limits when pushed hard. While multitasking and light gaming are smooth, heavier apps or games might cause it to lag behind some rivals that offer faster UFS 3.1 storage and more powerful SoCs.
If you’re a gamer or plan to use heavy editing tools, you might feel the pinch. But for the average user, it performs adequately and stays cool under pressure.
Camera Performance of Nothing Phone 3a Pro: A Surprise Champion
Where this phone really shines is the camera system, especially considering the price. The main 50MP Samsung sensor delivers crisp images with excellent dynamic range. Colours are natural and true-to-life, and skin tones are handled well—something many midrange phones often miss.
The 3x periscope telephoto camera with a 50MP Sony sensor is the real standout. You get sharp, zoomed-in shots without noticeable loss in detail.
It supports up to 60x zoom, but the sweet spot is around 6x where images still retain clarity. The ultra-wide camera is functional but doesn’t match the quality of the other two lenses. Meanwhile, the 50MP front camera takes detailed selfies and handles exposure impressively, even in tricky lighting.
Video recording is decent, though not on par with the photography capabilities. Stabilization is effective, thanks to OIS and EIS, but video sharpness and dynamic range could be improved in future updates.
Software Experience: Truly Clean and Bloat-Free
One of the best parts of using the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 15. It’s fast, minimal, and refreshingly free of ads or bloatware—something increasingly rare even in higher-end phones. The UI is clean, and Nothing’s widgets (like the voice recorder and quick toggles) add functionality without clutter.
Over 20 days of use, only a couple of minor bugs popped up: some overlapping toggles in quick settings, and one instance of the gallery app crashing. These weren’t deal-breakers and are likely to be addressed in upcoming updates. You’ll also get 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches, which adds long-term value.
A small but neat detail: the recording widget can capture full call audio without triggering that annoying “this call is being recorded” announcement—useful for interviews or support calls (ethics and legality apply based on your region).
Battery and Charging
Battery life is solid. Even with heavy usage—streaming, camera use, and social media—you can expect around 6.5 to 7 hours of screen-on time, easily getting through a full day. Charging is rated at 50W, and it takes around 65 to 70 minutes for a full top-up.
The great part? It supports USB Power Delivery (PD), meaning you can use your laptop’s Type-C charger to charge the phone, adding an extra layer of convenience.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Nothing Phone 3a Pro?
If you’re someone who prioritizes clean software, great cameras, a unique design, and reliable battery life, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is one of the best options in its segment. It may not have the fastest chipset or UFS 3.1 storage, but for daily use, it delivers where it matters most.
Buy Nothing Phone 3a Pro if:
• You want a bloat-free Android experience
• Camera quality is important to you
• You like a phone that stands out in design
• You’re not a heavy gamer or power user
Think twice if:
• You rely on Netflix HDR support
• You want top-tier performance or faster storage for intensive tasks
RIGGEAR Shockproof Sleek Hybrid Armor Back Cover Case for Nothing Phone 3a Pro
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