Review: Nothing Phone 3A Pro – A Stylish Midrange Smartphone with Impressive Zoom Camera

Nothing, based in London, has introduced a top-tier phone that stands out from cheaper mid-range models with its more affordable price and high-quality camera zoom.

The battle for mobile phone cameras has always been competitive, with each brand striving for better quality, longer reach, and multiple lenses. While many advancements have trickled down to cheaper models, optical zoom cameras have remained above the £600 mark.

Priced at £449 (459 Euro/$459/$849), Nothing’s offering is quite compelling.

The phone is based on the excellent 2A model, featuring striking “Glyph” LED strips that light up in intricate patterns for various notifications and functions.

The design of the phone is accentuated by the large camera cluster at the back, which protrudes significantly. The 3A Pro boasts glass on the front and back, with high-quality plastic sides.

Featuring a large and vibrant OLED screen, the phone also includes a fast optical fingerprint scanner located at the bottom of the screen.

specification

• screen: 6.77in 120Hz FHD+ OLED (387PPI)

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7S Gen 3

• Ram: 12GB

• Storage: 256GB

• operating system: Nothing OS3.1 (Android 15)

• camera: 50MP Main, 50MP 3X Tele, 8MP Ultra Addie, 50MP Selfie

• Connectivity: 5G, ESIM, WiFi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, and GNSS

• water resistance: IP64 (spray resistant)

• size: 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4mm

• Weight: 211g

The 3A Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chip, offering a balance of performance without feeling sluggish. The battery life is impressive, lasting around 3 days with general use.

Running on Nothing OS version 3.1, the 3A Pro provides a unique user experience with customization options and AI tools like Gemini. The AI-powered screen capture and note-taking features show promise but may need further refinement.

The 3A Pro’s camera setup includes a 50MP main camera, 50MP 3X telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide lens, delivering solid performance and real optical zoom capabilities.

Sustainability

Nothing promises the 3A Pro’s battery will maintain at least 90% capacity after 1,200 full charge cycles, showcasing its sustainability focus. The materials used in the phone’s construction include recycled aluminum, copper, plastic, steel, tin, and other elements.

price

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is priced at £449 (459 Euro/$459/$849).

Compared to competitors like the Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A56, Nothing’s offering stands out with its unique design, camera capabilities, and long-term software support.

verdict

The Nothing Phone 3A Pro is a solid contender in the mid-range smartphone market, offering a combination of impressive features, sleek design, and long-term support.

Strong Points: A great camera with 3x optical zoom, interesting design, 6 years of support, excellent screen, solid performance, long battery life, excellent fingerprint scanner, and excellent software with splash resistance.

Cons: AI requires work and cannot customize additional buttons. Only three years of Android version updates have a huge camera cluster protruding from the back.