Nearly one year after the release of Nothing’s Phone (2a), the off-kilter tech brand is back in action with the 3a and 3a Pro, a pair of wallet-friendly smartphones that look every bit as striking as their predecessors.
Meet the Latest Models
Starting with the display, each phone has a 6.77” AMOLED screen that maxes out at 3,000 nits of peak brightness and has a smooth refresh rate of 120Hz. Durability-wise, the Phone 3a and 3a Pro boast a new Panda Glass back panel for upgraded protection and an IP64 rating—a slight improvement from the last model, which checked in at IP54.
Both the (3a) and (3a) Pro run on Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, which helps power the new Essential Space feature, an AI function that can organize your phone at the push of a button – literally, one button. Simply double-press the Essential Key, and the device can handle everything from pairing voice memos with specific screenshots to recognizing different speakers in work meetings.
Breaking Down the Difference
Further, the new models are particularly “built for AI,” featuring a Hexagon Tensor Accelerator that boosts AI performance by a whopping 92% compared to the previous generation.
Speaking of the Phone (2a), it included a pair of 50-megapixel cameras, whereas the standard (3a) ups the scale with an extra one, including a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 30x total zoom abilities.
On the other hand, the 3a Pro ups the ante, swapping the telephoto camera for a periscope camera boasting up to 60x total zoom. Additionally, Nothing asserts that the Pro can capture far more light and dynamic range thanks to its vastly greater full-well capacity than the standard option.
For a cost difference of under $100, the Pro’s 50 MP front camera and superior zoom capabilities might make it worth considering, compared to the 30 MP front camera available on the (3a). But if the added camera and megapixels aren’t a dealbreaker for you, the standard (3a) will operate just fine.
Otherwise, the latest models pack the best battery life in Nothing’s lineup yet; they both feature 5000mAh batteries with 50-watt fast charging support that deliver a full day’s worth of power in under 20 minutes, a significant upgrade from the 2a’s hour-long wait. As a solid point of reference, Nothing says it can stream up to 26 hours of YouTube videos.
Lastly, while the devices are 5G-capable, Verizon and AT&T users will likely need to contact their respective carriers and white-list the device to access higher browsing speeds, as they will not be compatible right out of the box.
Spec Sheet
Phone (3a)
Colors: Black, White, Blue
Capacity: 12+256GB
Dimensions: 6.44″ x 3.05″ x 0.33″; 7.09 oz
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G
Cameras: 50 MP main camera; 50 MP telescope camera; 8 MP Ultra-wide camera; 32 MP front camera.
Auto-Focus: PDAF
Battery: 5000mAh with 50-watt fast charging
Operating System: Nothing OS 3.1 powered by Android 15
Phone (3a Pro)
Colors: Grey, Black
Capacity: 12+256GB
Dimensions: 6.44″ x 3.05″ x 0.33″; 7.44 oz
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G
Cameras: 50 MP main camera; 50 MP periscope camera; 8 MP Ultra-wide camera; 50 MP front camera.
Auto-Focus: Dual-pixel PDAF
Battery: 5000mAh with 50-watt fast charging
Operating System: Nothing OS 3.1 powered by Android 15
Pricing and Availability
You can order the Phone (3a) today for $379 and expect it to ship on March 11. The Phone 3a Pro will be available to order starting March 11 for $459; they ship out beginning March 25.
Recap
Nothing Unveils Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro
Nothing revealed its latest smartphones – the (3a) and (3a) Pro – that feature major upgrades, including enhanced AI-handling abilities and additional cameras
