The highly anticipated Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro have arrived, and today we are going to unbox these unique devices. Nothing has always been known for its different approach to smartphone design, and this time is no exception. The 3a Pro, in particular, has a polarizing camera design that users will either love or hate, while the 3a has a more balanced design.
Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro Unboxing Experience
The packaging of the Nothing Phone 3a series is premium-looking yet minimalistic. It comes in a thin box, but as expected, there is no adapter inside. Instead, you get a Type-C to Type-C charging cable and documentation. A transparent SIM card tool is also included.
Upon unboxing, we noticed that the 3a Pro has a unique camera module, with three sensors aligned asymmetrically due to the inclusion of a periscope sensor. On the other hand, the 3a looks cleaner and more conventional. There is also a blue color variant, which adds to the aesthetic appeal of the series
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Build and Design
The Nothing Phone 3a features a glass back, unlike its predecessor, which had a plastic back. However, the protection is Panda Glass, not Gorilla Glass. The mid-frame is plastic, and the device has flat sides.
Ports and Buttons:
- Bottom: SIM card tray, microphone, Type-C port, speaker grill
- Right: Essential button, power button
- Top: Noise-canceling microphone
- Left: Volume rocker
The global variant supports eSIM + physical SIM, whereas the standard version supports dual SIM cards but no SD card expansion.
Weight and Handling
- Nothing Phone 3a: ~202 grams
- Nothing Phone 3a Pro: ~214 grams
- The 3a Pro is slightly front-heavy, making it feel bulkier.
- Both phones feel solid in hand, but those with small hands might find them large and heavy.
Display
Both models feature a 6.77-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3000 nits and 1300 nits in high brightness mode. The bezels are noticeable and thicker than some competitors in the price range. Additional features include:
- HDR10+ support
- 2160Hz PWM dimming
- No 1.5K resolution, which would have been a nice addition
Performance and Hardware
The Nothing Phone 3a series is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. Performance-wise, it is not a top-tier chipset but provides a decent mid-range experience.
- RAM: LPDDR4x
- Storage: UFS 2.1 (faster than UFS 2.2 but slower than UFS 3.1)
- Benchmark: Around 800,000 to 810,000 on AnTuTu, lower than expected
- Gaming: 50-55 FPS on Genshin Impact, stable thermals
Battery and Charging
- 5000mAh battery (no silicon-carbon tech)
- 50W fast charging (previously 45W)
- No charger included; needs to be purchased separately
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Software & UI
One of the biggest strengths of the Nothing Phone 3a series is its Nothing OS 3.1:
- Clean, fluid UI with no bloatware
- Three years of major Android updates & six years of security updates
- New Widgets & Smart Pop Drawer for organization
- Lock screen customization
- Gallery Pop for better photo management
Multimedia & Connectivity
- Stereo speakers for good audio experience
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC support
- 105 5G bands supported
- IP64 certification (not as strong as IP67 or IP68)
Glyph Lighting & Essential Button
- 10 new ringtones and 26 LED characters
- Glyph Timer, Fill Light for soft lighting
- Essential Button:
- Allows quick actions like screenshots and voice notes
- Currently limited in functionality, but may improve with updates
Camera Performance
Nothing has made significant improvements in the camera department, addressing past complaints:
- Nothing Phone 3a:
- 50MP primary sensor
- 8MP ultra-wide sensor
- 50MP 2x telephoto sensor
- 32MP selfie camera
- Nothing Phone 3a Pro:
- 50MP primary sensor
- 8MP ultra-wide sensor
- 50MP 3x periscope zoom
- 50MP selfie camera
Camera Features & Image Quality
- Improved skin tones and HDR performance
- AI-enhanced camera app with filters and presets
- Customizable portrait mode with bokeh effects
- Good low-light performance with Glyph lighting support
- 4K 30FPS recording (Ultra-wide supports only FHD)
Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro Pricing & Final Thoughts
- Nothing Phone 3a: ₹23,000 – ₹24,000 (effective price)
- Nothing Phone 3a Pro: ₹27,000 – ₹28,000 (effective price)
Pros & Cons
Pros:
✅ Unique transparent design ✅ Clean software with long update support ✅ Improved camera performance ✅ Good display (though not 1.5K) ✅ Decent battery life & charging speed
Cons:
❌ Performance could have been better ❌ No charger included ❌ Slightly bulky and heavy ❌ IP64 rating instead of IP67/IP68
Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone 3a series brings aesthetic design, a clean UI, and improved cameras, making them good choices for users who prioritize software experience and camera performance. However, if gaming and raw performance are your priority, you might find better options in this price range. Let us know in the comments whether you’d like a full review of the 3a Pro!
