In a world where smartphones are starting to feel increasingly similar, Nothing has carved out a niche with its bold, transparent designs that focuses on minimalism. Now, with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, the company aims to strike a balance between affordability and flagship-worthy features.
Boasting a refined design, improved performance, and a unique software experience, this latest addition to Nothing’s line-up promises to be more than just a visual statement.
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro stays true to the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic while refining it for a more premium and ergonomic feel. The aluminium frame offers durability without adding unnecessary weight, and the frosted glass back reduces fingerprints while enhancing the phone’s sleek appeal.
This time round, the signature Glyph Interface has been subtly reworked with brighter LEDs to improve visibility in both indoor and outdoor settings – making notification alerts, call indicators, and charging progress bars easier to see at a glance, even under direct sunlight. As for those passionate about mobile photography, the Glyph lights now serve as a more effective ring light, offering softer, more even illumination for portrait shots and low-light photography.
The Gray variant I’m holding on to introduces a more refined and modern take on the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic. This version features a subtle metallic undertone that does well in enhancing its premium feel while maintaining Nothing’s distinct design language. There’s also a Black version as well if you prefer an even more understated outlook.
The front display is based on a high-end 6.77″ AMOLED panel that offers a vibrant and immersive viewing experience. With a resolution of 1080 x 2392 pixels, the screen delivers sharp details, rich colours, and deep blacks, making it perfect for everything from streaming content to gaming.
Adding to the experience is the impressive 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, which makes every interaction feel ultra-smooth — from scrolling through apps to gaming. The adaptive nature of the refresh rate means it intelligently adjusts the refresh rate based on the content you’re viewing, preserving battery life without compromising on fluidity when it matters most. Likewise outdoor visibility is also not an issue thanks to the display’s impressive peak brightness of 1,300 nits.
Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro delivers a smooth and reliable performance that strikes a solid balance between power and battery efficiency. Whether you’re multitasking, gaming, or running demanding apps, the phone handles day-to-day tasks with ease and minimal lag.
Similarly, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro also impressed me when it came to battery life. With its generous 5,000mAh battery, I could easily get through a full day of heavy use — scrolling through social media, gaming, watching videos, and still have plenty of juice left before bedtime.
Charging-wise, it’s equally impressive. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro supports 50W fast wired charging, which means you can go from a nearly empty to a full charge in under an hour — perfect for those moments when you’re in a rush and need a quick power boost.
On the photography side of things, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro flaunts a versatile triple-camera setup that blends power and creativity. At the heart of it is a 50MP main sensor, which consistently delivers crisp, detailed shots with vibrant yet natural colours.
Whether you’re capturing everyday moments or more complex lighting scenes, the primary lens holds its own with solid dynamic range and reliable focus.
What really sets this camera system apart is the 50MP periscope telephoto lens, offering 3x optical zoom and surprising macro capabilities. It brings distant subjects closer with impressive clarity, while also allowing you to get up close with macro shots that showcase fine textures and detail.
Although the 8MP ultra-wide camera on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro may not steal the spotlight like the main 50MP sensor, but it still serves well in everyday use. It captures a wide 120-degree field of view, making it perfect for landscapes, architecture, or squeezing more into group shots.
To sum things up, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is an amazing option for those on a tight budget, delivering sleek design, a smooth AMOLED display, solid performance, and a capable triple-camera system — all without breaking the bank. It’s a feature-packed phone that looks and feels far more premium than its price tag suggests.
For those who’re interested, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is available for purchase in Singapore at just S$649 through Nothing official store on Shopee and Lazada, as well as retail stores including Challenger, Popular, Gain City and Courts.
