This review covers the Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro, focusing on their design, features, performance, and camera capabilities. Both phones retain Nothing's signature translucent design, but the 3A Pro features a larger camera module to accommodate its 3x periscope lens. Key improvements include better cameras, longer battery life, and a new AI suite called Essential Space.
Both phones feature a 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness. The translucent design and Glyph interface are carried over from previous models, though the 3A Pro's camera module is a notable design change. The 3A Pro is slightly heavier at 211 grams compared to the 3A's 201 grams.
A new physical button, the Essential Key, works with the Essential Space AI suite. The Essential Key allows for various actions like screen capture, note-taking, voice memos, and accessing Essential Space. Essential Space utilizes AI for sorting images, recordings, and text, creating summaries and retrieving information from screenshots. Features like Flip to Record are still under development.
Both phones use the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor and offer a 5000mAh battery with 50W fast charging. Performance is described as zippy and smooth. Battery life lasts a full day, although wireless charging is not included.
Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 13, is praised for its clean and clutter-free interface, distinctive visual design, and fun ringtones and alerts. The Glyph interface, while deemed somewhat gimmicky at times, remains a unique feature.
The main difference between the two phones lies in their camera systems. Both phones have a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera, but the 3A Pro includes a 3x periscope lens, while the 3A has a 2x telephoto lens. The 3A Pro also boasts a 50MP front camera, compared to the 3A's 32MP selfie camera. Camera performance is considered significantly improved compared to previous Nothing phones.
The review concludes that the Nothing Phone 3A series balances old and new technology. While their quirky features might not appeal to everyone, they are described as well-designed phones with improved features. The reviewer, who identifies as a tech enthusiast, expresses strong positive feelings about both devices.