Nothing Phone 3a Review: Design Over Everything?

As of 2025, there are only a few smartphone manufacturers that care about inventive design. Gone are the times of refreshing and outlandish Nokia function cellphone and smartphone designs that by no means did not amaze us with their bizarre and wacky shapes and kind components. What excited me again then have been the brand new and experimental designs (N-gage, Nokia 7600), the place the main focus was extra on the expertise and simply doing one thing otherwise. Currently, Apple has single-handedly managed to show each smartphone right into a slab with two sheets of glass.

Even the costliest foldables from premium manufacturers appear as if boring glass slabs. Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android could have paved the best way for what appears to be an excellent software program ecosystem. However we at the moment are caught with a bunch of boring icons, predictable animations, and transitions that really feel far too primary. Clearly, they are not constructed to amaze us anymore; they merely exist to ship and serve a bunch of apps.

Nothing as a model stands out on this sea of, properly, nothings (no less than from a design standpoint). With a product philosophy primarily based on design, it takes these gutsy selections that big-name manufacturers are too afraid to take, paving a path for a refreshing collection of merchandise that not solely dare to look completely different (in a tasteful method) but additionally try to stay that approach a number of years into the sport. With the most recent Nothing Telephone 3a, it is evidently clear that its method works and the way!

Nothing Telephone 3a Design: Notable enhancements

• Dimensions – 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.3mm
• Weight – 201g
• Sturdiness – IP64

The nostalgic and futuristic design philosophy between the Nothing Telephone 2a and the brand new Telephone 3a stays the identical. It doesn’t take an excessive amount of effort to identify similarities between the 2. The half on the prime proper nook, which is now manufactured from steel, and the purple sq. have been additionally current on the Telephone 2a.

Additionally apparent is that many of the design effort has gone into the brand new Telephone 3a Professional mannequin, which will get a greater 3X telephoto digital camera as a substitute of the 2X unit on the Telephone 3a.

 

In comparison with the Telephone 3a Professional, the Telephone 3a will get a brand new color possibility referred to as Blue. Nonetheless, we obtained the usual White mannequin for overview.

Regardless of its design similarities with the Telephone 2a, the 3a’s rear panel is now manufactured from glass as a substitute of plastic. It not is a mud magnet, and we barely seen any fingerprints on the White unit we obtained.

Alongside the standard energy button can be a brand new Important Key, which I’ll go into element about within the software program part of this overview.

 

The cellphone’s body is manufactured from polycarbonate and absolutely reminded us of the previous HTC One X and the Nokia Lumias (1020 and 1520) due to its mushy matte end. The glass again has helped bump up the Telephone 3a’s water and dirt resistance to an IP64 score, which isn’t a lot to speak about however is nice to have. It is good for splashes or sprays of water however not immersion. Like most producers, it is extremely advisable to keep away from this as a lot as doable, as injury attributable to water ingress shouldn’t be lined below guarantee.

The design of the Nothing Telephone 3a is not contemporary going by the corporate’s requirements, nevertheless it absolutely stands out when positioned alongside equally priced smartphones from the mid-range with their done-and-dusted glass, fake leather-based or textured rear panels. Such ranges of creativity should not even discovered within the premium phase.

I noticed a couple of meeting points that is likely to be particular to my overview unit.

 

Fortunately, these are right down to the bits that go below the glass rear panel. The shiny steel half (as seen within the above picture) on the prime proper nook is misaligned by a millimetre, because it appears to be rotated within the clockwise path. The purple field can be misaligned by little or no however tilts within the reverse anticlockwise path. We hope that future batches will tackle these points.

Nothing Telephone 3a Show: Wonderful for its worth

• Show dimension – 6.77-inch, 1,080 x 2,392 pixels, Full-HD+ (387 PPI)
• Show kind – AMOLED, 60-90-120Hz
• Safety – Panda Glass

The Nothing Telephone 3a has a show that’s just like that of the earlier Telephone 2a. It additionally has the identical 120Hz refresh price. It presents 1,300 nits of most brightness and three,000 nits of peak brightness, which makes outside use problem-free. The show glass and the versatile AMOLED panel are each flat, which suggests you get wonderful viewing angles minus the pointless reflections out there on some competing fashions that provide quad-curved shows.

Whereas spectacular, the Nothing Telephone 3a’s AMOLED show lacks HDR10+ certification

 

Colors are a tad bit saturated within the Alive mode for display screen color however seem pure with the Commonplace mode. My solely drawback with it’s that it lacks an HDR10 or HDR10+ certification for video streaming, which is obtainable on some competing smartphones in India.

Nothing Telephone 3a Software program: Extra artwork than smartphone UI

• Software program model – Nothing OS 3.1
• Android model – Android 15
• Software program dedication – 3 years of software program, 6 years of safety updates

Not like most smartphone interfaces that really feel like they’ve been designed for mass consumption and attraction, Nothing OS feels extra hand-crafted and distinctive. It took me a day to recognise the gallery icon (till then, I assumed Google Photographs was the default gallery app), however as soon as I discovered it and positioned it on the house display screen, I used to be capable of finding it immediately on a regular basis.

The widgets on the house display screen have additionally been given their justifiable share of consideration.

 

I completely dig the Date widget, which merely shows the present date with a daring font. The entertaining bit is that you just get a tiny web page folded in its backside proper nook daily, forcing you to swipe up the web page and reveal the present day’s date (together with agenda objects). It is this minute consideration to element (even whether it is guide) that made me discover and keep in mind the present date.

The Do Not Disturb widget turns right into a daring purple when activated and stands out from the remainder of the interface when energetic. The compass widget with a faucet wakes as much as level north like each good compass ought to. I simply wished that it awakened with the cellphone and remained that approach for a couple of seconds.

There’s a enjoyable Information Reporter widget (which seems like an previous radio speaker) that, upon tapping, wakes up and begins studying out the information (as per your preferences). Every bar of its speaker-like design goes from purple to gray because the information is being learn out. So, even for those who pause it, you’ll know what number of extra hand-picked information objects stay to be learn out. The information choice and voice appear to be AI-generated or no less than learn out by a pre-defined AI-like voice. There’s even a page-turning sound after every byte, giving it a really old-school really feel.

Coming to the fundamentals, there is a new Inter font, that can be utilized because the system font. Which means Inter will likely be pressured in each third-party app that doesn’t use its particular font, making the UI and OS seem extra constant. Inter, similar to the opposite fonts utilized in Nothing OS, in some way gel very properly collectively.

And there are some things that Nothing OS does a bit otherwise. The lock display screen can have as much as 4 widgets, that are scrollable when you elevate the cellphone.

 

Nothing on OS has one of many coolest lock screens I’ve laid eyes on in current instances, and additionally it is shockingly customisable. Nonetheless, tapping on a notification right here will take you on to the notifications tray. I initially did not prefer it (it isn’t regular for Android telephones), however I in some way acquired used to it a couple of days into the testing course of.

Final however undoubtedly not least is Nothing’s tackle synthetic intelligence (AI). Nothing executives maintain talking about how they wish to do AI otherwise in comparison with being a content material formatting device or a gathering summariser, transcribing and the standard picture enhancing/era that everybody (together with Apple) else has accomplished to loss of life (with or with out success). Nothing’s tackle AI is Important House, which might have one thing to do with Andy Rubin’s startup, absorbed by Nothing again in 2021.

After I began utilizing Important House, I assumed it was simply one other try to push AI in your face. However the Important Key (a bodily button on the left facet) made me curious sufficient to offer it a shot.

 

Urgent down the Important Key as soon as takes a screenshot of what is in your show, after which you’re prompted so as to add typed notes about your present thought or press the document button for a voice be aware. As soon as recorded, press it as soon as once more to cease recording after which as soon as once more to avoid wasting to Important House.

The intriguing half is how Important House digests and preps this knowledge for recall. At present, every part capabilities by way of using screenshots, however there are plans to combine the digital camera with Important Key to extract data out of your environment for recall. There’s additionally a centered mode deliberate for future launch that can allow you to document a whole assembly. After this, the device won’t solely recognise audio system and transcribe data; it’ll additionally create to-dos primarily based on the dialog. With the present implementation, I usually discover myself taking screenshots of issues I want to recollect and leaving notes on them. The app generated helpful summaries for every screenshot and in addition created to-dos mechanically primarily based on what’s within the screenshot and the audio or textual content be aware it was tagged with.

The one draw back of Important House is that you just can not take away your knowledge. Hopefully, sooner or later, the entire knowledge gathered by this function will likely be out there in information and folders backed as much as the cloud, which might then be offloaded onto one other OS if wanted. At present, I’ve discover a folder that saves all of the screenshots for Important House within the Inside Storage> Photos> EssentialSpace folder.

Nothing Telephone 3a Efficiency: Nice, however removed from the most effective

• Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, 2.5GHz, 4nm
• RAM – 8GB (LPDDR4X)
• Storage – 128/256GB (UFS 2.2)

On a regular basis software program efficiency is fairly easy regardless of Nothing’s relatively controversial use of UFS 2.2 storage. The adaptive show panel neatly switches the refresh price between 120-60Hz (relying on the display screen brightness) when shopping by way of the software program interface however is capped at 90Hz (or 90-60Hz) when opening native and third-party apps. Video and video games are restricted to 60Hz solely.

Gaming efficiency was good, as I managed to run Name of Obligation: Cellular at Very Excessive graphics and body price. The show’s contact sampling price of 480Hz, which is barely out there in Sport Mode, appeared nearly adequate. I’ve skilled higher contact sensitivity, particularly whereas enjoying video games on competing gadgets.

The vapour chamber cooling system certain does its job of sustaining the cellphone’s efficiency below stress

 

The cellphone warms up whereas enjoying video games and will get sizzling when utilizing the digital camera app outside; nevertheless, the digital camera app doesn’t shut down nor present any warnings about limiting use. Certainly, the vapour cooling system was doing its job. Nonetheless, the cellphone all the time struggled with processing photographs (it takes a second or two after seize), which is one thing I additionally seen on the Realme P3 Professional (has the identical chip). I additionally seen some sluggishness when utilizing the digital camera app, particularly when switching between digital camera modes or switching cameras.

So far as benchmarks go, the Nothing Telephone 3a performs as anticipated, as will be seen from the desk beneath.

 

Nothing Telephone 3a Cameras: Properly above common

• Main digital camera – 50-megapixel, OIS, f/1.5 aperture, AF
• Ultrawide digital camera – 8-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, FF
• Telephoto digital camera – 50-megapixel, 2X, EIS, f/2.0 aperture, AF
• Selfie digital camera – 32-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, FF

Be aware: Our digital camera samples and observations are primarily based on the most recent software program replace (obtained round March 10), and it caused some drastic digital camera enhancements versus the earlier replace the cellphone was examined with. The replace (Asteroids-V3.1-250302-1856-IND) additionally added a number of new options, together with the flexibility to create and share new digital camera filters/presets talked about beneath.

Nothing introduced the widest collection of cameras out there on this phase or worth level. Whereas most smartphones pack a large + ultra-wide mixture, Nothing has managed a 2X telephoto digital camera, which is an attention-grabbing addition given the value level.

In a current replace, Nothing even added the flexibility to create, share or import another person’s customized preset (through dice information), which is exclusive and will grow to be well-liked within the Nothing group.

 

One other intriguing function I like is the presets that may be utilized when capturing. These presets should not simply color, hue, or saturation changes; in addition they outline which digital camera mode (even video) and what magnification can be utilized when chosen. It’s also possible to add superior settings, like maintaining the flash on, picture high quality (binned or full decision), and even turning the grid on or off, which is sensible! You possibly can pin these presets to your own home display screen as a widget and launch instantly into a selected customized preset.

Nothing Telephone 3a ultrawide digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

Coming to the cameras, the ultra-wide digital camera is the weakest one of many three, however it’s on no account dangerous. It presents respectable efficiency for its worth level, producing images which can be a bit low on element however pack good dynamic vary, guaranteeing sufficient element within the darker areas. Lens barrel distortion is below management as properly. After all, all of this primarily applies to sunlight capturing, because the outcomes captured at night time seem mushy and appear to be work.

Nothing Telephone 3a main digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

The first digital camera is certainly the most effective and most able to the three. Not like the Nothing Telephone 3a, it is the one one with optical picture stabilisation (OIS). Pictures captured in all capturing eventualities come out sharp and pack loads of resolved element. The first digital camera additionally presents the most effective color accuracy among the many three, although the images seem a bit saturated in comparison with the precise scene.

Nothing Telephone 3a 2X telephoto digital camera samples (faucet photographs to broaden)

 

The telephoto digital camera feeds on gentle. The colors it produces are a bit extra saturated than the first digital camera’s; it additionally provides a little bit of sharpening to photographs, which might seem extreme when capturing portrait images. Offered there’s good gentle, you get loads of element, and a few crispy captures with good pure bokeh. The accuracy of edge detection varies relying on the complexity of your topic’s coiffure.

You start to note a drop in picture high quality below synthetic gentle or when capturing towards a supply of sunshine. When utilizing portrait mode, the digital camera tries its greatest, however the absence of OIS doesn’t permit it to choose up sufficient particulars from faces. Your topics may also must be completely nonetheless in such lighting situations.

The telephoto digital camera performs higher when not utilizing the devoted Portrait mode. 4X lossless samples are usable, however you’ll discover a drop intimately whenever you pixel peep. Regardless of its daylight capabilities, those that plan to make use of Portrait Mode usually are certainly higher off with the Telephone 3a Professional’s 3X telephoto digital camera, which is optically stabilised.

Selfies pack good element and correct edge detection in daylight however come out common in low gentle (faucet picture to broaden)

 

Video recordings are certainly an space that Nothing must work on. For a low-end, mid-range smartphone, it meets expectations by providing good stabilisation and respectable element when capturing video at 1080p and 4K. Nonetheless, this solely applies when capturing in broad daylight, as low-light video seize is sort of poor.

Consistency by way of color copy between the three cameras is one thing Nothing nonetheless must work on. After all, we’re discussing a Rs. 25,000 cellphone, however it might be nice if Nothing might determine it out with future updates. All digital camera samples have been clicked with the Auto-tone function turned off, because it simply added pointless color saturation.

Nothing Telephone 3a Battery:

• Battery capability – 5,000mAh
• Wired charging – 50W
• Charger within the field – No

Regardless of having a barely smaller battery than most competing smartphones, nothing has managed to squeeze probably the most out of it, due to good software program optimisation. Whereas the cellphone lasted me an entire day and a bit longer with heavy utilization (calls, messaging, digital camera utilization, and a little bit of gaming), it managed rating of 28 hours and 37 minutes, which is best than what the Realme P3 Professional’ manages with a higher-capacity battery.

Our PCMark Work battery check, which replicates common smartphone utilization eventualities, operating the battery down to twenty %, lasted a strong 17 hours and 40 minutes of steady utilization. Once more, the determine is a bit shocking, because the Realme P3 Professional, with the identical chipset, an AMOLED show, and a bigger 6,000mAh battery, managed 10 minutes much less.

Charging speeds are comparatively gradual at 50W, given that the majority telephones on this phase supply higher. In our testing, we managed to cost the Nothing Telephone 3a to 46 % in half-hour and full the charging course of in 1 hour and 26 minutes when plugged right into a 100W GaN charger. For comparability, Realme’s P3 Professional charged an even bigger 6,000mAh battery in 1 hour and 6 minutes.

Nothing Telephone 3a Verdict

With its deal with design and balanced {hardware} selections, Nothing actually has give you a winner within the mid-range (price range in international markets). It fantastically combines {hardware}, beauty design, and software program. And it is much more applause-worthy, on condition that a lot effort has been put right into a low-end mid-ranger!

That mentioned, the brand new digital camera {hardware} is an improve over the earlier mannequin. Whereas it really works alright, Nothing ought to work on delivering extra digital camera updates to enhance its efficiency even additional.

Certainly, there are higher performance-oriented alternate options just like the Poco F6 (Evaluation), and spec-heavy choices just like the OnePlus Nord CE 4 (Evaluation) and the just lately launched “flagship killer” iQOO Neo 10R (First Impressions) in India. However relating to design and software program execution, Nothing’s Telephone 3a is a cellphone I can choose up and use after I become bored with different smartphones. It has the software program that I wish to use on each Android smartphone.