Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review: Fashionable, functional and formidable

Nothing phone 3a pro

Ratings: 8.5/10

If there’s one thing Nothing has mastered, it’s design. From the moment it entered the Indian smartphone market, its phones have stood out in a sea of lookalike devices. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro continues that tradition with a bold aesthetic that turns heads wherever you go.

But this time, they’ve thrown the "Pro" moniker into the mix. And we all know what that usually means—top-tier performance, cutting-edge hardware, and a phone that can compete with the best. But is that really the case here? Or is this just another mid-range phone dressed up in flagship clothing?

This phone isn’t just about looks—it has some genuinely compelling features. But does it deliver where it truly matters? Let’s break it down.

Design

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is sure to grab attention—you might love it or hate it, but you definitely won’t be able to ignore it. One of the biggest upgrades is the transparent glass back, which replaces the plastic from previous models and makes the phone feel more premium. The metallic geometric pattern has also been refined to look more polished, but the real showstopper is the oversized camera module.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

It’s huge—bigger than you’d expect—and gives the phone a bold look, similar to the massive camera setups on the Vivo X200 or Oppo Find X8 Ultra. At first glance, it almost looks like the module has been stuck onto the phone’s body, but that’s just the design. You might even think it has a rotating dial for zooming in, but that’s just an optical illusion—it doesn’t actually move.

However, this also makes the device feel top-heavy. It doesn’t exactly wobble on a flat surface, but it does sit at a slight angle. There's also a small gap between the camera module and the body, which could be a concern for durability.

The Glyph lights are still here, now wrapping around the camera with three curved strips. They remain a cool party trick, offering functions like countdown timers, notifications, and music visualization, but Nothing hasn’t added anything significantly new.

Holding the Phone (3a) Pro, you’ll notice it feels heavier than most mid-rangers. For instance, the OnePlus Nord 4, which comes at a similar price point, has a metal back and a lighter, more ergonomic feel, the 3a Pro is slightly less comfortable for long-term use. It also tends to get stuck, especially when you're trying to slip it into slim-fit jeans.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro retains the IP64 rating from the base model, which is decent but disappointing for a "Pro" phone, especially when rivals offer IP68 water resistance. But does not make it any less sturdy, in fact, you would not feel the need for a cover because the rubberised feel on the frames offer a solid grip.

When it comes to button placement, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is surprisingly easy to use with one hand despite its weight. The power button is perfectly positioned in the middle of the right side for quick access. There’s also an extra button called the Essential Key—but more on that later. The volume buttons on the left side are also well-placed and easy to reach. The speaker grille, SIM tray and the USB Type C port are all positioned at the bottom.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

One thing Nothing isn’t—unlike many other brands—is lazy when it comes to design. The company doesn’t just recycle the same sleek slabs and call them upgrades. Instead, it genuinely offers something different, especially for those looking for a stylish phone. Nothing isn’t afraid to take risks, even if it means facing criticism for its innovations, and that’s exactly what makes it stand out.

Display

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro sports a 6.75-inch AMOLED display with HDR support and 3000 nits of brightness levels. However, the increased size without a resolution bump means the pixel density is slightly lower than its predecessors—not a dealbreaker, but noticeable if you're coming from a sharper screen. The Panda Glass protection is new, it replaces the Gorilla Glass, but its durability remains to be seen.

Many phones in the sub-Rs 30,000, such as the OnePlus Nord 4, Realme P3 Ultra offer slimmer bezels but the Phone (3a) Pro on the other hand, has slightly thicker bezels, which is not a bad thing but does detract from an otherwise premium look. I did not face any issues while playing games on the device or while watching movies on the go, the display is big and bright enough to provide a good viewing experience.

Performance

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This is the same chipset found in the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ and Realme 14 Pro+. For everyday users like me, the phone performs well, handling social media, streaming, and regular tasks smoothly. Even while playing games like Call of Duty, BGMI, and Asphalt 9, I didn’t experience any stutters or heating issues. However, if you’re a heavy gamer and push it with something like Genshin Impact, you will notice some frame drops.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Another area apart from the design, where Nothing has really pushed the envelope is the software. Nothing OS remains one of the cleanest and smoothest Android skins available, it is free from bloatware and unnecessary extras. The animations feel refined, the widgets are thoughtfully designed, and the overall experience is polished. For a new user or a first-time user, the dotted icons can sometimes get confusing.

Nothing promises 3 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches, which is substantial for longevity.

Battery life

Battery life is solid but not class-leading. On a typical day with two SIMs, 5G, and Wi-Fi, I got around 8 to 9 hours of screen time, which is decent. The phone supports fast charging, but you’ll need a compatible charger to get top speeds—Nothing doesn’t include one in the box.

Charging from 0 to 100% took just under an hour, which is reasonable but not as fast as some rivals.

Essential key

Nothing introduced a new feature—the Essential key, which is interesting and new, something its peers have not attempted yet.

Just press it to take a screenshot and add a quick text or voice note. With the latest update, you can now use it in the camera app too—so instead of just saving what’s on your screen, you can capture what’s in front of you.

It’s like having a quick notebook in your pocket. Spot a dish you want to try later? Save a picture and a note. See something interesting while out and about? Capture it instantly. You can even long-press the button to start a voice recording. Everything gets stored in the Essential Space app, keeping it separate from your usual photos. The update rolled out on March 24, initially it was not integrated with the camera app.

Camera

Nothing has put a lot of effort into the camera system, and it shows. The 50 MP periscope camera is a standout feature, it delivers 3x optical zoom, 6x lossless zoom, and a staggering 60x digital zoom. For a mid-range phone, this is a rare addition, and it genuinely helps with long-distance shots. I have clicked a couple of moon shots and I was impressed by its clarity. You could clearly see the spots the moon has, something that mid-range phones have not been able to do perfectly.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

However, while the periscope shines, the main 50 MP sensor and 8 MP ultra-wide lens are good but not exceptional. Photos in well-lit conditions come out sharp and detailed, but in low light, there’s noticeable noise despite OIS and AI enhancements. Portrait mode does a decent job with edge detection, for instance, in the portrait I have clicked of my dog, you can see how well distinguished her furs are. Skin tones look pleasing and the background separation is on point, blur quality is good and the person or the object does not look like a cutout.

The front-facing 50 MP camera is impressive, it captures high-quality selfies with a lot of details and offers 4K 30fps video recording with stabilisation. If you’re into vlogging or video calls, this will be a big plus. The improved dynamic range ensures well-balanced shots, even in challenging lighting conditions.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Video recording is a mixed bag. While stabilisation works well, 4K footage can sometimes lack the sharpness found in flagship-tier phones. The periscope zoom also introduces some noise at higher magnifications. While the zoom feature is great for versatility, it may not always produce the cleanest results compared to premium flagship zoom cameras but that is hardly a point of concern given Nothing’s price.

Check the picture samples below

Verdict

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a head-turner—there’s no doubt about that. If you love phones that look different from the usual slabs, this one’s got personality. The transparent back, oversized camera module, and signature Glyph lights make it stand out.

Performance-wise, it handles daily tasks smoothly, and the clean software experience is a breath of fresh air. The periscope zoom camera is a pleasant surprise, letting you capture distant details better than most mid-range phones. But the main camera struggles a bit in low light, and gamers might notice occasional frame drops with heavy titles.

It’s a bit on the heavier side and doesn’t come with a charger, which feels like a letdown. The Essential Button is a neat touch, making quick notes and screenshots super easy. If you want a phone that’s stylish and different, this is a great pick. But if raw power and durability are your priorities, there are better choices