Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: A blend of style, power & performance, but...

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Nothing has recently upgraded its mid-range lineup with the launch of the Phone (3a) Pro in India. The model comes with two colour options—Grey and Black—and three variants: 8+128 GB priced at Rs 27,999, 8+256 GB at Rs 29,999, and 12+256 GB at Rs 29,999. So, is it worth going with the Phone 3(a) Pro? Let's find out in this review.

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Design

The first thing that grabs attention is the transparent design, a signature feature of Nothing. The LED strip lights forming the Glyph Interface on the back enhance the aesthetics of the device, giving it a unique, futuristic look. Apart from this, it also has a large round camera island, which gives the phone (3a) Pro a unique look from the back.

The phone features an aluminum body with matte-finished sides and upgraded glass back panels, which add to its beauty. However, despite the aluminum body, the device is quite delicate. We accidentally bumped the phone against the wall, and it ended up with noticeable scratches.

The Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro is comfortable to hold, providing a solid grip. Weighing 211 grams, the device feels a bit heavy. On the back, you'll find a periscope lens camera, which looks stunning and gives off a professional photographer vibe. However, it does add a bit of bulk, making the phone slightly difficult to carry in the pocket.

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Display

The Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro boasts a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display. This makes the displays slightly larger than last year's 6.7-inch display. The refresh rate is still set at 120 Hz while the peak brightness is 3000 nits.

The display is responsive, and using it for various tasks has been a breeze. The multimedia experience is smooth. We watched YouTube and Netflix on the device, and the experience was quite amazing. The vibrant colors and deep blacks of the AMOLED display made the content look rich and detailed, while the crisp, clear audio added to the immersion. 

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Performance and Software

Powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3 processor, the Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro is on par with its contemporaries like Redmi Note 14 Pro+ and Realme 14 Pro+. It runs on Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15. During testing, the device did not show any lag while multitasking or using multiple apps in the background. Gaming experience was also good, but when switching to Ultra HD mode, the device starts lagging, and there is also a problem of heating.

The company also introduced Essential Key (on the right side of the phone) for quick access to Essential Space. It is an AI-powered hub that helps users capture, organise, and recall notes, ideas with a single click.

The company promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches in addition to corrective and functionality updates.

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Camera

Boasting a triple-camera setup, the Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro features a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP Sony ultra-wide sensor, and the main highlight: a 50MP Periscope OIS camera. The camera performance is quite good, with great detail and minimal noise. The contrast and dynamic range are also impressive, as are the colors. However, in low light, the pictures appear slightly pixelated, though this is not a major issue, as the TrueLens Engine 3.0—which combines advanced computational algorithms, AI processing, and multi-frame technology—helps enhance the images, making them sharp and clear.

For selfies, you get a 50MP camera that captures decent photos. The overall quality is good, with skin tones and texture appearing true to life. 

In terms of recording, the main camera captures decent 4K videos. The detail is good, and so are the colors. There is practically no noise.

Periscope Camera

The standout feature is the periscope camera, which boasts 60x ultra-zoom. It combines a large 1/1.95-inch Sony LYTIA 600 sensor with a 70mm equivalent focal length and a fast f/2.55 aperture. Undoubtedly, this is the star of the show, as it adds uniqueness to the design, captures sharp and detailed photos, and complements the main camera well.

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Battery

The Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports a 50W charging speed. Since the box doesn't contain the charging adapter, we charged the device with our own 45W charger, and it took about 1 hour to charge from 0 to 80 per cent. If your smartphone usage involves social media browsing, watching content, making calls, or clicking photos, the device can give you a battery for about 8-10 hrs. 

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Review: Things That We Feel Could Have Been Better

To sum up, here are a few things that we feel could have been better:

• Low-light photography needs enhancement.
• The device could be less bulky.
• The selfie camera could be improved.
• HD gaming mode needs improvement.
• No charger is included in the box.

Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro Verdict

Overall, the Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro seems to be an interesting option at this price segment. The handset still brings a unique design language, which you don't see in other brands. The camera performance is good, the charging speed is decent, and the device performs well overall. The UI experience is top-notch with a futuristic feel.