Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 – Good
MSRP: $379.99 | Available From: $375.00
The Bottom Line
The Nothing Phone (3a) brings standout design and solid day-to-day performance for under $400. While it excels in looks, battery life, and smooth performance, it falls short in full 5G compatibility and camera color accuracy. A fun device for enthusiasts, but the Google Pixel 9a remains the top choice in this price range.
Pros
- Unique transparent design with Glyph LED interface
- Good battery life and fast charging
- Solid everyday performance
Cons
- Limited US 5G support
- Camera color accuracy issues
- No wireless charging or microSD slot
Key Specs
- OS: Android 15 with Nothing OS
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
- Display: 6.77" AMOLED, 120Hz, 2392x1080 resolution
- RAM & Storage: 12GB RAM / 256GB storage
- Battery: 5000mAh, 50W fast charging
- Cameras: 50MP main, 50MP 2x telephoto, 8MP ultra-wide, 32MP front
- IP Rating: IP64 (dust and splash resistant)
Design & Build
The Phone (3a) looks minimalist from the front, but the transparent rear panel with LED glyphs sets it apart. It features Panda Glass front and back, a recycled aluminum frame, and a pill-shaped rear camera bump. Available in black, blue, and white.
Performance
Powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip with 12GB RAM, the (3a) handles gaming and multitasking well. Benchmarks show it trails the Pixel 9a in raw power but keeps up in real-world tasks.
Display
The 6.77-inch AMOLED panel offers smooth 120Hz refresh, excellent brightness (up to 3000 nits), and vibrant visuals. It’s a pleasure indoors or out, though slightly reflective.
Battery Life
With a 5,000mAh battery, the Phone (3a) lasted over 14 hours in video playback tests. Fast charging brings it to full in about 65 minutes, but there’s no wireless charging support.
Connectivity
Supports sub-6GHz 5G and C-Band, but not mmWave. Works with Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and eSIM. Carrier compatibility can be limited, so check with your provider before buying.
Camera
The triple rear cameras take colorful, vibrant shots, but tend to oversaturate reds and yellows. The ultra-wide lacks detail on zoom, and video capture maxes out at 4K 30fps with decent stabilization. Selfies are sharp, though contrast-heavy.
Software & Features
Running Android 15 with Nothing OS, the phone delivers a clean interface with monochrome icons, Glyph controls, and the new Essential Key and Essential Space app for capturing screenshots and voice memos. Promised software support includes 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches.
Final Verdict
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a stylish, eye-catching Android with dependable performance and good battery life. It’s ideal for those who want something different—but for users prioritizing camera quality, full 5G, and longer software support, the Pixel 9a is still the better buy.
Image Credit: Iyaz Akhtar / PCMag