Nothing Phone 3a Long-Term Review: Pros, Cons & Why It’s the Most Balanced Phone Under This Price Tag

March 24, 2025

The Nothing Phone 3a has been in my pocket for over a month now, and I’ve done just about everything you’d expect—500+ photos, multiple countries, accidental drops, gaming, streaming, and everyday multitasking. This is no ordinary mid-range device. At this price tag (with discounts), it enters a price segment where expectations are high and compromises are noticeable. But here’s the twist: Nothing has managed to deliver a phone that blends style, smart software, and surprisingly capable cameras—alongside a few very real shortcomings.

This isn’t just another spec sheet analysis. I’ve tested real-life performance, noted every quirk, and compared it with rivals like the Moto H50 Neo. Some of the features like the new Essential Key genuinely changed how I use a phone, while others—like the UFS 2.2 storage and downgraded ultrawide sensor—made me think twice.

In this review, we’ll unpack every detail: from the camera system and software quirks to its display, thermals, battery, and more. If you’re considering the Nothing Phone 3a as your next phone—or just curious if it’s really worth the hype—read on.

Design and Build Quality

The Nothing Phone 3a continues the brand’s signature transparent aesthetic, but this time around, there are a few visual and structural changes that make it feel both fresh and slightly polarizing. Right out of the box, the most noticeable thing is the redesigned Glyph interface. While previous Nothing phones had a cleaner, more symmetrical rear layout, the Phone 3A introduces an uneven pattern that’s dividing fans—some love it, some find it messy.

That said, the materials used still feel premium for the price. The phone has a glass back that’s more resistant to scratches compared to its predecessor, thanks to the new Punda Glass protection. It’s not Gorilla Glass 5 like before, but it holds up well in daily use. On the flip side, the frame is made of plastic, and in long-term usage, smudges and wear around the side buttons become noticeable—especially on the black variant.

Despite the slight downgrade in side materials, the device is solid in-hand. It’s a little wider than most phones in its class, including the Nothing Phone 2A, which can make one-handed use slightly less comfortable, but it offers a good grip.

The IP64 rating is a nice touch for added peace of mind. It’s not waterproof, but splash resistance is enough for light rain or an accidental spill. The Essential Key—a new addition on the right side—is one of the best physical innovations on the phone. It can be used to take quick notes, screenshots, or even set reminders with context-aware intelligence based on your screen content.

The Glyph lights are still here, though unchanged in functionality, and while they’re still cool and attention-grabbing, they don’t offer a huge leap in utility. The indicator light remains, which is handy for video recording and notifications, but it would’ve been nice to have customizable LED colors for different alerts.

Overall, the Phone 3a blends familiarity with thoughtful tweaks. It doesn’t scream premium in-hand, but it does enough to stand out in a crowd of generic mid-range phones, keeping the “Nothing” DNA intact.

Display Specs and Features

The Nothing Phone 3a sports a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a flat design and slim bezels, delivering a modern, clean front look that remains true to the company’s minimalist vision. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth animations and scrolling, giving the UI a fluid and responsive feel during everyday use.

With a peak brightness of up to 1,300 nits, this display is impressively visible even under direct sunlight. Whether you’re watching videos outdoors, navigating via Google Maps, or reading in bright environments, the Phone 3a holds its own remarkably well for a mid-range device.

Color tuning is one of the strengths of this screen. The display produces vibrant colors with excellent contrast and deep blacks, making it great for binge-watching or casual content creation. Despite lacking HDR support on Netflix, HDR is available on platforms like Prime Video, and it looks fantastic.

The panel offers 1080p resolution, which is sharp enough for this size, and most users won’t feel the need for a higher pixel count. While it’s not an LTPO display, it still supports dynamic switching between 60Hz and 120Hz to save battery when needed.

The screen protection, however, is a bit of a downgrade. Unlike the Gorilla Glass 5 seen on the Nothing Phone 2a, the 3a uses Punda Glass. While still durable, it’s more prone to micro scratches, so a screen protector is highly recommended.

Touch responsiveness is solid and works well for gaming or fast typing. No palm rejection issues were noted during use, and fingerprint smudging was minimal. Speaking of fingerprints, the in-display optical fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate, adding to the overall polished feel of the phone.

The stereo speakers add to the display’s immersion, offering crisp sound with good mids and highs. Combined with the visual quality, media consumption on the Phone 3a is a genuinely enjoyable experience.

Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or casually browsing, the Phone 3a’s display does a great job and outperforms many other phones in the same price segment. It’s easily one of its best features and helps justify its value-focused price tag.

Performance and Chipsets

The Nothing Phone 3a is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset—a capable 4nm processor aimed at delivering reliable mid-range performance. While it’s not the most powerful chip in its class, it holds up well for everyday use.

Paired with 8GB of RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, the phone handles multitasking, app switching, and general UI navigation with ease. However, during intensive tasks like shooting photos or videos, some users may experience brief slowdowns or memory management issues.

In synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 scores decently. It outperforms many budget chips in single-core results but sits just behind some Dimensity-powered rivals in multi-core tasks.

Real-world use feels smooth for browsing, streaming, and social media. The Nothing OS is lightweight and complements the chip well, keeping animations snappy and transitions clean.

Gaming is acceptable, though the phone is best suited for medium graphics settings. In titles like Genshin Impact or BGMI, you can expect stable frame rates, though not high-end performance.

Thermals are well-controlled, thanks to the efficient chip and decent heat management inside. Even during long gaming or video sessions, the phone rarely gets uncomfortably hot.

While UFS 2.2 storage is slower than UFS 3.1, the impact is mostly felt in heavier tasks like 4K video recording or large file transfers—not in general usage.

Overall, the Nothing Phone 3A delivers balanced performance that meets the needs of most users in its price segment, though power users and mobile gamers may want to look elsewhere.

System and Software Updates

The Nothing Phone 3a runs on Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 15, straight out of the box. This ensures users are getting the latest Android version with a clean, bloat-free experience right from day one.

Nothing OS continues to emphasize minimalism and speed, keeping visual clutter to a minimum while retaining a unique design language. The UI is smooth, responsive, and carries thoughtful features like the Essential Key and screenshot-based reminders.

One of the most talked-about features is the new “Essential Key” on the right frame. This button smartly allows users to capture screenshots, take voice notes, or trigger contextual reminders—all with minimal effort. It’s a genuinely useful addition that enhances productivity.

Another standout is the enhanced screenshot-based AI assistant. It intelligently reads content from your screenshots and offers suggestions like calendar reminders, shopping options, or callbacks. It’s one of the few AI features that feels genuinely practical.

Nothing also confirmed 3 years of major Android updates and 6 years of security patches, which is commendable in this price segment and brings it closer to Samsung’s long-term support promise.

The update cadence from Nothing has generally been consistent, with bug fixes and feature improvements rolling out regularly. However, there have been occasional delays or regressions in camera performance with certain updates—something to be cautious about.

Features like Circle to Search and multi-language live transcription are also integrated, keeping the device up to date with modern AI-powered tools.

Dual Space and App Cloning also make their way into Nothing OS, giving users flexibility in managing personal and work profiles, while maintaining a neat app drawer and zero-screen interface.

The new AI Hub has been added to the zero screen, offering a centralized place to access all the AI tools Nothing is baking into its ecosystem.

All in all, Nothing OS 3.1 delivers a refreshing Android experience—lightweight, visually appealing, feature-rich, and backed by a solid update policy that matches or exceeds most competitors in the same range.

Gaming

The Nothing Phone 3a may not be a gaming powerhouse, but it holds its own surprisingly well in real-world gameplay scenarios. Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, it offers stable frame rates for most mainstream titles.

In BGMI, the phone supports up to 90 FPS on smooth settings. The gameplay is fluid, and the touch response is quick enough to keep up during intense matches.

Call of Duty: Mobile runs well on medium to high settings, though it’s best played on medium for consistent performance and lower heat build-up during long sessions.

Genshin Impact, known for being graphically demanding, runs at around 45–50 FPS on low to medium settings. While not buttery smooth, it’s playable with some occasional frame dips in heavy combat scenes.

The phone does get a little warm after extended gaming—especially near the camera module—but it doesn’t cross uncomfortable thresholds. Thermal management is decent for this price segment.

What really enhances the gaming experience here is the bright and vibrant AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Paired with decent stereo speakers, it makes casual gaming enjoyable.

Unfortunately, the UFS 2.2 storage does show limitations when loading large games or switching between apps during gameplay, which could result in minor delays or app refreshes.

Still, for under $400, the Nothing Phone 3a handles most games with ease—provided expectations are set reasonably. It’s a reliable pick for casual to moderate gamers who want smooth performance without breaking the bank.

Cameras Specs And Performance

Main Camera

The Nothing Phone 3a features a 50MP main camera sensor, the same one used in previous models. In good lighting, it delivers crisp and vibrant images with strong dynamic range. Daylight photos come out surprisingly detailed, with decent sharpness across the frame. Color reproduction tends to be on the warmer side, which adds a pleasant tone to most scenes. It captures shadows and highlights fairly well, though occasional overexposure may occur.

The camera app is fast and responsive, with a reasonably quick shutter speed. Edge detection in portrait mode is decent, and the built-in LUT presets can add unique looks to your photos. It’s not a huge leap over its predecessor, but the consistency in daylight shooting is worth appreciating.

Ultrawide Lens

The 8MP ultrawide camera on the Phone 3a is technically a downgrade from the 50MP ultrawide on earlier models, but optimization helps it hold up. Shots taken in daylight have a decent field of view and maintain color consistency with the main sensor. However, sharpness dips around the edges, and fine detail isn’t the strongest. In low light, the ultrawide lens suffers from visible noise and soft focus, making it less ideal for nighttime use.

Dynamic range is somewhat limited compared to the main sensor. It can still get the job done for casual wide shots during the day. Just don’t expect flagship-level clarity or detail. Overall, it’s serviceable for a midrange phone, but nothing particularly exciting.

Zoom / Telephoto Comparison

This is where the Nothing Phone 3a shines. The inclusion of a 50MP 2x telephoto lens at this price point is rare and appreciated. In well-lit conditions, it captures noticeably more detail than digital zoom on competitors like the Galaxy A55/A56.

The 2x zoom is great for portraits and tighter framing. However, without OIS, low-light telephoto performance dips slightly, with softer focus and minor motion blur. Still, the extra flexibility in composition makes it a standout in the midrange category.

Selfie Camera

The front camera has seen a downgrade in sensor size this year, but results are mixed. In daylight, selfies come out sharp and well-balanced, especially with skin tones. The screen flash in low-light selfies works well enough, though dynamic range suffers in challenging lighting. Compared to rivals like the Moto Edge 50 Neo, the 3a lacks color consistency and detail in shadows.

Still, it can produce Instagram-ready selfies without much effort. The selfie video maxes out at 1080p, which is a step down compared to 4K support on phones like the A56. Overall, the selfie camera is decent but no longer a major selling point.

Macro and Video

There’s no dedicated macro lens, but the ultrawide can be used for close-ups in a pinch. Detail isn’t great, and focus hunting is common at short distances. For video, the Phone 3a supports up to 4K 30fps from the main sensor only. The lack of OIS means stabilization relies on EIS, which works well in daylight but introduces wobble at night.

Compared to competitors like the Moto Edge 50 Neo, which offers 4K video from multiple lenses, the 3a feels limited. Color tones shift often during panning shots, especially when transitioning between lighting conditions. It’s good enough for casual creators, but not ideal for serious video work.

Camera Verdict: The Nothing Phone 3a offers a respectable camera system for its price. The addition of a telephoto lens is a standout, even if other areas like ultrawide and video feel average. With better software tuning, it has potential to be a top camera phone in the midrange bracket.

Battery Life and Charging Speed

The Nothing Phone 3A packs a 5,000mAh battery, and during real-world testing, it consistently delivered between 5 to 6 hours of screen-on time. With light to moderate use, it can easily last a full day and sometimes stretch into a second. Overnight drain is minimal—just around 2% with everything enabled except mobile data.

Charging speed is rated at 45W, and it takes roughly one hour to go from 10% to 100%. However, like other Nothing phones, a charger is not included in the box. The phone also supports battery health optimizations to slow down degradation. Thermal performance during charging is solid, with no noticeable overheating. Overall, the battery performance is dependable and ideal for everyday users.

Pros And Cons of the Nothing Phone 3a

Pros:

Striking Transparent Design with Glyph Lights – Maintains Nothing’s unique design language with smart and interactive lighting.
Essential Key Functionality – A truly useful shortcut key that can capture, remind, and note with AI assistance.
Clean and Fast Nothing OS 3.1 – Minimal, ad-free software with timely updates and 6 years of security patches.
Bright AMOLED Display – Excellent brightness even in direct sunlight, with vibrant visuals for media consumption.
Good Daylight Photography – Especially solid results from the main and telephoto lenses, with creative filters and LUT presets.
Decent Battery Life with 50W Fast Charging – Easily lasts a full day or more with modest use and charges fully in 1 hour.

Cons:

UFS 2.2 Storage Slows Down Heavy Tasks – Slower app switching and camera lag during extended use or multitasking.
Inconsistent Camera Color Science & Weak Video Recording – Night shots and video stabilization need optimization.
No Charger in the Box & Downgraded Display Protection – Panda Glass replaces Gorilla Glass 5, and no HDR on Netflix.

Price and Availability

The Nothing Phone 3A is priced competitively in the mid-range segment, starting at $399 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. However, the phone does not come with a charger in the box—so you might want to bundle in the official 45W charger, which costs an additional $24. It’s available in two color options:

Black and White, both with the signature Glyph interface. The phone is being sold through Nothing’s official website and partner retailers. Global availability is expected to roll out gradually, depending on region-specific regulatory approvals. For now, the Phone 3A is widely available across India and select Asian and European markets.

Conclusion

The Nothing Phone 3a brings a refreshing experience to the mid-range smartphone market, especially for those who value design, clean software, and thoughtful features. Its transparent back with Glyph lighting keeps the iconic Nothing aesthetic alive, while the Essential Key adds a smart layer of convenience that you won’t find on any other phone in this price range.

Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 695 may not top the charts, but it handles daily tasks smoothly. While gaming is decent, power users might notice limitations. The cameras deliver great daylight performance, but inconsistencies in color tuning and average video capabilities hold them back from being best-in-class.

What really stands out is the software: Nothing OS 3.1 is minimal yet functional, and the Essential Key shows their vision for practical AI-driven features. Battery life is solid, charging is quick enough, and even though there are cutbacks like UFS 2.2 storage and downgraded Gorilla Glass, they’re mostly forgivable at this price point.

Overall, the Phone 3a is one of the most polished and stylish Android phones under $400. It’s a balanced, reliable, and enjoyable phone—just don’t expect miracles in camera or gaming.

Buy Nothing Phone (3a) here

(FAQs) About the Nothing Phone 3a

Is the Nothing Phone 3a good for gaming?

The Nothing Phone 3a can handle casual gaming and lighter titles smoothly, but performance may dip during heavy gaming sessions like Genshin Impact.

How is the camera quality of the Nothing Phone 3a?

The main and telephoto lenses offer sharp daylight photos with nice detail, but the ultra-wide camera and night video recording are average at best.

Does the Nothing Phone 3a have a telephoto lens?

Yes, it has a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, which is rare in this price range and adds versatility to portrait and zoom shots.

Is Nothing Phone 3a worth buying under $400?

Yes, if you’re looking for a unique design, clean software, and a solid daily performer. It offers excellent value despite a few compromises.

What are the software update promises for Nothing Phone 3a?

The Phone 3A will receive 3 years of Android OS updates and 6 years of security patches, putting it on par with more expensive competitors.

Does Nothing Phone 3a support HDR on Netflix or YouTube?

Currently, it lacks HDR support on Netflix, but the display is bright and vibrant enough for most users to enjoy video content comfortably.