The Nothing Phone 3a and 3A Pro are fun, flashy and affordable

A Nothing Phone 3A Pro with its back lighting shining bright at MWC 2025


The London -based technology company has nothing Formerly delighted with its lighting Android -Phones This offers much needed frivolity in a world full of simple, gray smartphones that take themselves too seriously. The Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro are cut from the same cloth as their predecessors, packing solid all-round specifications, affordable price tags and a design of the crowd that stands out.

The Nothing Phone 3A is the basic model in the new series, starting at $ 379 with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. In the UK you can pick up a Pared-Back model with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage for only £ 329, or get the model of 12 GB/256 GB for £ 379. The telephone 3A Pro has a more full camera system than the base 3A, but shares the same processor, display and batteries. It costs $ 459 (£ 449) for the model of 12 GB/256 GB.

I tested the Nothing Phone 3A Pro while I am on the floor in Barcelona for this year Mobile World Congress. I am very enthusiastic about the price and performance of the phone and look forward to seeing how things are accumulating against other affordable phones such as the new ones Samsung Galaxy A series and the Google Pixel 8a – as well as more expensive budget telephones such as the iPhone 16th.

A flashy design

A hand with the nothing telephone 3A Pro on MWC 2025

Flashy lights? Yes, please.

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The design is the first thing that stands out about these phones. The glass back reveals screws and data ribbons, making it an industrial look that I find attractive. The LED lights – which does not mention the Glyph – are littered around the camera units on both phones and lights up to warn you about incoming reports. They are a nice addition to nothing of phones that you will not find anywhere else.

Both telephones have 6.7-inch displays that looked clear and lively during my practical time, easy to combat the gray, cloudy of Barcelona again. Those under the clear afternoon California Sun can have a different experience. With an IP68 assessment of water resistance, taking calls in the pouring rain (again, not you, California) will be no problem.

Solid performance, Android 15 and AI

A nothing telephone 3A Pro with its control elements that was pulled down at MWC 2025

The display is lively and sharp.

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The 3A series Feeding is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 -Processor, which offered decent scores on our benchmarkts, especially given the price of the phones. While it doesn’t top nowadays flagship phonesThe results of the 3A Pro are more in line with the Pixel 8a and Galaxy A35 5GBoth are great phones.

With daily use, the phone has a lot of power for essential tasks, while games such as Alto’s Odyssey and Vampire Survivors ran smoothly.

Both phones work Android 15 in their core, but nothing has adjusted the interface heavily with a grim, monochrome aesthetics. It looks sleek, but I sometimes have trouble distinguishing app icons when they are reduced to minimalist black and white buttons. Yet you may be in the mono look, and if not, you can adjust the layout as desired. Nothing promises a total of six years of software and security support, which is good, especially considering the price.

Gemini Advanced, Gemini Live and Circle to search are all available to use on the phones, and although nothing has not thrown much of his own AI things (for which I am grateful), it has launched one tool that I really like. Called the essential space, it is designed as a central hub for storing your thoughts, notes, screenshots and ideas during the day.

The essential space on the Nothing Phone 3A Pro on MWC 2025

The essential space will fill with all your thoughts and ideas. Maybe.

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Do you see what shoes you like? Open the camera and use the special essential space button on the side of the phone to save a recording – together with your speech note about them – on your room. Do you have to buy Brie, Wodka, party hats and snake food on your way home? With a long button you can dictate your shopping list to add it to your room to check later.

In theory it is a nice idea, although it now seems limited in its functionality. Essential space is essentially a hub for screenshots and speech nuts, but I see the potential of it. It is refreshing to find a function that is both unique and really useful. Nothing emphasizes that essential space is still in beta, with more functions en route – so keep an eye on this space.

Good enough cameras

Both phones contain 50-megapixel main cameras and although nothing says that the pro-model has upgraded autofocus and dynamic range, I have not been able to compare them yet, so my thoughts here are based on my use of the phone 3A Pro.

With the main camera, this recording is lively and sharp.

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

Despite the challenging scene with high contrast, the telephone 3A Pro does a decent work in balance with clear highlights and shady areas.

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

There are different filters, but I especially like the black -white.

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

The Ultrawide camera delivers a balanced exposure in this recording.

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

While the base 3A packs a 50 megapixel televlento camera that is able to combine 2x optical zoom, the 3A Pros 50-megapixel periscope camera offers 3x optical zoom, with 6x “in-sensor” zoom, which effectively effectively effectively effective washed the sensor Out to reach a longer zoom.

Taken at 6x zoom, this shot remains beautiful and sharp

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

The basic telephone 3A has a 32-megapixel camera on the front and the 3A Pro has a 50-megapixel sensor that is larger to make sharper shots.

Testing the camera on the front of the pro was the perfect excuse to get a big beer. The image itself is great, especially given the relatively little light environment.

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

Nothing telephoning 3a, 3A Pro or a rival phone?

The Nothing Phone 3a and 3A Pro on MWC 2025

The nothing 3a (left) and nothing 3a pro (right).

Andrew Lanxon/Cnet

I am surprised by how little difference there is between the two models. With the same processor, display and 5000 mAh battery (with 50W quickly charging), the most important distinctions are the added periscoop zoom and the camera with a higher resolution on the front. Is photography important to you? If so, might jump for the pro. Otherwise save yourself a few dollars and go for the basic model.

Both phones seem to offer a solid overall experience at a very reasonable price. For $ 379 it is a great deal for a phone that can handle almost everything – especially when Apple $ 599 “affordable” for the iPhone 16th. However, unless you immediately need a new phone, it might be worthwhile to see how the newly announced Galaxy A26 and A36 from Samsung, or when Google’s Pixel 9a is coming.





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