Over All Rating 4/5
Price Starts From ₹ 29,999/-
PROS 👍
- Striking transparent design
- Impressive periscope zoom camera
- Clean, bloat-free software
- All-day battery life with fast charging.
CONS 👎
- No wireless charging
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 limits gaming performance
- Limited Essential Key customization
- Massive camera bump
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has entered the mid-range smartphone market, promising to deliver premium features at an impressive 30k budget price point. Positioned as an upgrade over its sibling, the Nothing Phone 3a, the Pro variant introduces a periscope telephoto camera and a few design tweaks while retaining the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic. With competitors like the Google Pixel 9A and Poco X7 grabbing attention in the ₹30,000 market segment, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro aims to stand out with its unique design and clean software experience. After spending some time with this device, here’s a detailed look.
Detailed Review of Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Design and Build Quality
Nothing sticks to its iconic design language here. The Phone 3a Pro retains the signature transparent glass back, complete with the stylized internal components and the popular Glyph LED interface. However, this time around, the brand has introduced a massive circular camera module that houses the new periscope telephoto lens. While it’s arguably one of the largest camera bumps you’ll see on a phone, it adds a distinct futuristic-industrial appeal.
At 211 grams and 8.39mm thickness, the device feels hefty and leans slightly towards top-heaviness. Still, it’s well-balanced in daily use. The flat plastic frame paired with Panda Glass protection on both sides adds to the phone’s solid, premium feel.
A new feature, the Essential Key, debuts on the right side. It’s a programmable button primarily designed to launch Nothing’s AI-powered Essential Space hub. While it’s convenient for quick tasks like opening notes or voice recordings, it lacks full customization options, which may leave power users wanting more.
One letdown? No wireless charging, which is becoming more common in mid-range phones like the Infinix Zero 40. The IP64 rating offers some splash and dust resistance, but it’s not on par with the IP68-certified rivals.
Display and Performance
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, paired with 12GB RAM and an Adreno GPU. For everyday tasks like browsing, multitasking, and streaming, the phone runs smoothly without noticeable hiccups. The 120Hz AMOLED display enhances usability with fluid scrolling and animations that give it a flagship-like feel.
Gaming & Benchmark Insights
However, gamers might notice limitations. While titles like BGMI and Genshin Impact run decently at medium settings, performance dips slightly when graphics settings are pushed higher. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 struggles to keep up with the competition, especially when compared to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 found in rival devices.
Geekbench 6 Scores:
Single-Core: ~1,143
Multi-Core: ~3,268
While competitive in its segment, it lags behind flagship chipsets. The Adreno GPU performs marginally better than the Mali-G610 MC4 in the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus but doesn’t offer a dramatic boost.
The phone handles heat well, thanks to an upgraded cooling system, keeping temperatures under control even during extended gaming or video recording sessions.
Also Read: POCO X7 Review
Camera
Here’s where the Nothing Phone 3a Pro shines. The new 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom is rare in this price bracket and adds significant versatility to the triple-camera setup:
50MP Primary Sensor (f/1.9, OIS)
50MP Periscope Telephoto Lens (3x Optical Zoom, OIS)
8MP Ultrawide Lens (120° FOV)
Daylight & Low-Light Photography
Daylight photos are rich in color, sharp, and detailed, with excellent dynamic range. Low-light performance is enhanced by Ultra XDR processing and OIS, producing noise-free images with balanced exposure.
Telephoto Performance
The periscope lens delivers sharp images at 3x optical zoom and retains good quality up to 6x digital zoom, making it a great tool for portraits and close-ups. However, beyond 10x zoom, image quality degrades, with digital noise creeping in.
Ultrawide & Selfies
The 8MP ultrawide lens is passable in daylight but struggles in dim conditions, producing grainier results. On the flip side, the 50MP front camera impresses with natural skin tones and crisp selfies, making it ideal for social media enthusiasts and vloggers.
Video Recording
The main, telephoto, and front cameras shoot 4 K video at 30fps with effective stabilization. Compared to rivals like the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, the Nothing 3a Pro’s periscope camera gives it an edge, though the ultrawide lens feels like the weak link.
Software
Running on Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1, the software experience here is one of the cleanest in the mid-range space. There’s zero bloatware, and you get Nothing’s signature dot-matrix interface with customizable widgets, simple animations, and a unique take on Android.
While the software is smooth and well-optimized, it lacks the in-depth customization options seen in brands like OnePlus or Xiaomi.
Battery Life & Charging
A 5,000mAh battery powers the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, and it’s a solid performer. With moderate use — including social media, streaming, and gaming — the phone easily lasts a full day, often pushing into a second with lighter use.
In testing, recording 4K video for 30 minutes drained only 7%, showcasing the phone’s excellent power optimization.
Fast Charging
The device supports 50W wired fast charging, juicing up from 0% to 50% in around 23 minutes. While fast, the absence of wireless charging could be a deal-breaker for some.
Verdict: Should You Buy the Nothing Phone 3a Pro?
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a convincing mid-range option that dares to be different. Its standout design, complete with a massive yet stylish camera bump and transparent back, makes it a visual treat. The periscope camera upgrades its photography game, and the battery life is reliable for all-day use. However, it’s not without flaws. The absence of wireless charging feels like a missed opportunity, and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while capable, doesn’t deliver the gaming performance or raw power to fully justify the “Pro” title. The Essential Key is a nice touch but lacks flexibility, and the phone’s size might discourage those who prefer compact devices. At a starting price of around ₹29,999, it’s a strong contender against the likes of the Realme 14 Pro Plus or Moto G45, especially for those prioritizing design and camera quality. If you’re a tech enthusiast who values uniqueness over bleeding-edge performance, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is worth a look, just don’t expect it to outperform flagship devices.
Key Specification
| Display: | 6.77-inches AMOLED |
| Camera: | 50MP + 50MP +8MP |
| RAM: | 12GB |
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| OS: | NothingOS 3.1 based on Android 15 |
