Nothing began out as a hopeful client know-how startup solely half a decade in the past, and now it is a rising firm valued at over a billion {dollars}. Nothing’s flagship lineup is the Nothing Phone 3 collection, and it now consists of 4 completely different fashions spanning all value factors. The top-of-the-line Phone 3 retails for $799, whereas the most affordable Phone 3a Lite goes for roughly $329.
The Nothing Phone 3a Lite, Phone 3a, Phone 3a Pro, and Phone 3 all have lots in frequent — particularly among the many three most cost-effective fashions. U.S. availability for the lineup is sparse. The Phone 3a Lite is not out there within the area in any respect, whereas the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro are solely out there by way of a beta program with restricted mobile provider help. Only the flagship Nothing Phone 3 is constructed for true North American use.
Nothing Phone 3 collection: At a look
|
Category |
Nothing Phone 3a Lite |
Nothing Phone 3a |
Nothing Phone 3a Pro |
Nothing Phone 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Display |
6.77-inch 120Hz OLED, 2392 x 1080, HDR, 1300 nits HBM, 3000 nits max |
6.77-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED, 2392 x 1080, HDR10, 1300 nits HBM, 3000 nits max |
6.77-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED, 2392 x 1080, HDR10, 1300 nits HBM, 3000 nits max |
6.67-inch 120Hz OLED, 2800 x 1260, Gorilla Glass 7i, 1,600 HBM, 4,500 nits max |
|
OS |
Nothing OS 3.5 primarily based on Android 15 |
Nothing OS 3.1 primarily based on Android 15 |
Nothing OS 3.1 primarily based on Android 15 |
Nothing OS 3.5 primarily based on Android 15 |
|
Chipset |
Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 |
|
RAM |
8GB |
8GB/12GB |
8GB/12GB |
12GB/16GB |
|
Storage |
128GB/256GB |
128GB/256GB |
128GB/256GB |
256GB/512GB UFS 4.0 |
|
Rear digital camera 1 |
50MP f/1.88 Samsung, 1/1.57″ sensor, 4K30, OIS, PDAF |
50MP f/1.88 Samsung, 1/1.57″ sensor, 4K30, OIS, PDAF |
50MP f/1.88 Samsung, 1/1.56″ sensor, 4K30, OIS, dual-pixel PDAF |
50MP f/1.7 OmniVision OV50H, OIS |
|
Rear digital camera 2 |
8MP f/2.2 Sony, 120-degree FoV |
50MP f/2.0 Samsung, 1/2.74″ sensor, 2x optical zoom, EIS, Autofocus |
50MP f/2.55 Sony, 1/1.95″ sensor, 3x optical periscope zoom, OIS, Autofocus |
50MP f/2.7 ISOCELL JN5, 3x optical zoom, OIS |
|
Rear digital camera 3 |
2MP macro |
8MP f/2.2 Sony, 120-degree FoV |
8MP f/2.2 Sony, 120-degree FoV |
50MP f/2.2 ISOCELL JN1 wide-angle |
|
Front digital camera |
16MP f/2.5 vast |
32MP f/2.2 Samsung, 1/3.44″ sensor |
50MP f/2.2 Samsung, 1/2.76″ sensor |
50MP ISOCELL JN1, 4K60 video |
|
Ingress safety |
IP54 |
IP64 |
IP64 |
IP68 |
|
Connectivity |
WI-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, twin nano-SIM |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, world 5G bands, NFC, GPS, twin nano-SIM |
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, world 5G bands, NFC, GPS, twin nano-SIM |
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, Dual-band GPS, AptX HD, twin nano-SIM |
|
Security |
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor |
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor |
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor |
Optical in-display fingerprint sensor |
|
Audio |
Stereo audio system, 2 mics, USB-C |
Stereo audio system, 2 mics, USB-C |
Stereo audio system, 2 mics, USB-C |
Stereo audio system, 2 mics, USB-C |
|
Battery |
5,000mAh, 33W wired charging |
5,000mAh, 50W wired charging |
5,000mAh, 50W wired charging |
5,150mAh silicon-carbon battery (5,500mAh in India), 65W USB PD charging, 15W wi-fi charging |
|
Weight |
199g |
201g |
211g |
218g |
|
Dimensions |
164 x 78 x 8.3mm |
163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.35mm |
163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.39mm |
160.6 x 75.6 x 9mm |
|
Colors |
Black, White |
Black, White, Blue |
Grey, Black |
White, Black |
|
Software updates |
3 OS (to Android 18), 6 years safety updates |
3 OS (to Android 18), 6 years safety updates |
3 OS (to Android 18), 6 years safety updates |
5 OS (to Android 20), 7 years safety updates |
Nothing Phone 3a Lite: A go for many
The Nothing Phone 3a Lite is the most recent and most fascinating system within the Nothing Phone 3 lineup. It’s a particularly cut-down model of the Phone 3a that tries to be extra reasonably priced, however there’s extra to it than that. If you take a look at the specs, the Phone 3a Lite is successfully a CMF Phone 2 Pro in a Nothing-inspired shell with tweaked {hardware}. It’s priced at €249, and for now, it is unique to the U.Ok. and Europe.
The Phone 3a Lite appears extra just like the flagship Phone 3 than both of the 2 mid-tier variants, which have a centrally-positioned digital camera bump. Meanwhile, the Phone 3a Lite’s three rear cameras are a bit scattered across the top-left nook, very like the Phone 3. The digital camera system is highlighted by a 50MP major shooter, however the 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro lenses aren’t a lot to talk of.
It has a strong 6.77-inch OLED display supporting 120Hz refresh charges — the identical panel you’ll discover on the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. With a 3,000-nit peak brightness ranking, the Phone 3a Lite’s show will look higher than you’d anticipate for the value.
The catch is the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro processor, which implies the Phone 3a Lite merely will not carry out in addition to the opposite Phone 3a fashions. It comes with Nothing OS 3.5 primarily based on Android 15 out of the field, with three main Android OS upgrades to observe. A fairly large 5,000mAh battery rounds out the {hardware} expertise.
If you’re on this cellphone, you should know that Nothing actually put the “lite” within the Phone 3a Lite. There are quite a lot of minimize corners right here, and a few options — just like the 2MP macro lens — will not result in tangible advantages past the spec sheet. Unless you’re on a good price range, it in all probability is sensible to have a look at the Phone 3a, Phone 3a Pro, and Phone 3.
The price range purchase
If you’re in Europe and want an inexpensive Android cellphone with some aptitude, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite is a good choice.
Nothing Phone 3a: The price range choice
The Nothing Phone 3a is the primary entry-level model most customers should truly contemplate. It’s out there for U.S. clients by the use of the beta program, and there is additionally a model out there in India. The smartphone retails for $379 / £329 / €329 / ₹24,999, and is available in Black, White, or Blue (U.Ok./India unique) colorways.
Of the 4 Phone 3 units, I discover the Phone 3a’s design to be probably the most enticing. It options Nothing’s basic clear design with an oval-shaped rear digital camera bump. There are multicolor accents all through the chassis and Nothing’s iconic Glyph Interface. On the Phone 3a, it consists of three particular person LED strips that can be utilized to sign notifications, calls, timers, and extra. The physique has an IP64 certification for dust-resistance and light-weight water-resistance.
The show is similar 6.77-inch panel you’ll discover on the Phone 3a Lite and Phone 3a Pro. It’ll default to 1,300 nits in excessive brightness mode, with a 3,000-nit peak. The display additionally helps 120Hz refresh charges and DC dimming above 50% brightness for eye-friendliness.
For energy, there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. The chip is paired with 8GB and 12GB of RAM to deal with each day efficiency and light-weight AI processing or gaming. Like the opposite midrange Nothing telephones, the Phone 3a ships with the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.1 out of the field, with three future Android OS upgrades assured.
Whether you choose the Phone 3a or Phone 3a Pro will seemingly come all the way down to what digital camera high quality you want. The shows and processors are constant throughout each units, however the Phone 3a Pro has a barely higher primary and telephoto digital camera.
The starter Nothing cellphone
With a pretty design, triple-camera system, and an excellent show for the value, the Nothing Phone 3a is a good place to get into the Nothing ecosystem.
Nothing Phone 3a Pro: The mid-tier purchase
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro takes the baseline Phone 3a and provides a contemporary design and higher cameras. It’s out there in Grey and Black, and the 256GB/12GB variant retails for £449 / $459 / €459 / ₹33,999.
Starting with the similarities, the Phone 3a Pro has the very same 6.77-inch show because the Phone 3a. The measurement, refresh charge, decision, and peak brightness ranking are all an identical between fashions. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip is similar, too. A key distinction is that, outdoors of two India-exclusive fashions, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro ships with 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM as normal all over the place else.
Instead of an oval-shaped digital camera bump, it is a large circle on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Users nonetheless get the Glyph Interface on the again, and the LEDs work with Nothing OS 3.1 to indicate notifications and extra as anticipated. The distinction is what’s behind the digital camera bump. Despite having two 50MP rear cameras and a 3rd 8MP rear digital camera, similar to the Phone 3a, the Phone 3a Pro’s sensors are a bit completely different.
The primary digital camera is a 50MP, f/1.88 Samsung shooter, and it is accompanied by a 50MP periscope telephoto lens. That provides Phone 3a Pro customers as much as 3x optical zoom, up from simply 2x on the Phone 3a. The ultrawide lenses are the identical throughout fashions, so the Phone 3a Pro is the improve for individuals who actually need further zoom size.
At $459, the Phone 3a Pro is priced slightly below the Google Pixel 9a and OnePlus 13R, making it aggressive with one of the best price range Android telephones. Still, the U.S. beta-only entry will depart some AT&T and Verizon customers with out service, so it is a laborious promote for North American patrons.
The midrange purchase
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a Phone 3a with a extra premium design and a greater telephoto digital camera, sitting beneath the flagship Phone 3.
Nothing Phone 3: The flagship
The Nothing Phone 3 is the flagship choice, and it is the one model on this lineup formally offered within the U.S. — and formally supported by all of the nation’s mobile carriers. It’s priced like a flagship, at $799, however the options are nonetheless in midrange territory. Nothing shook issues up with the Phone 3, ditching the long-lasting Glyph Interface for a brand new Glyph Matrix, however this dot-matrix show appears on its approach to being simply as iconic.
With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, the Phone 3 is the quickest performer of the collection, though it’s going to nonetheless be a step behind Elite-branded SoCs. It ships with both 12GB or 16GB of reminiscence and both 256GB or 512GB of storage. It presents 5,150mAh of battery capability with 65W quick charging, which, to Nothing’s credit score, is firmly in flagship territory.
The cellphone’s design will not be for everybody, with Nothing’s basic clear design and asymmetrical rear digital camera lens placement. The whole rear chassis appears scattered, however in a means, that turns into an announcement piece of its personal. On the entrance, there is a flat 6.67-inch AMOLED show lined in Gorilla Glass 7i for defense.
The Phone 3’s cameras are extraordinarily strong, packing a trio of 50MP sensors. The major shooter is a 50MP, f/1.7 lens, and it is paired with a 50MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide. Our evaluation discovered that it is the finest digital camera system Nothing has ever shipped, taking clear pictures with little seen noise.
Those wanting to purchase the Nothing Phone 3, or any Nothing cellphone for that matter, will accomplish that due to the cellphone’s design and aptitude. It does not provide one of the best {hardware} or probably the most attractive worth proposition, however its appears and options are distinctive. The dot-matrix secondary show on the again is without doubt one of the coolest issues I’ve seen on a cellphone — you can put nearly something on it. With all that in thoughts, the Phone 3 is Nothing’s flagship for a motive.
Flagship for a motive
The Nothing Phone 3 sports activities one of the best chip within the lineup and a next-generation Glyph Matrix interface on the again. It’s a rear dot-matrix show that units the Phone 3 aside from each different cellphone in the marketplace.
