Nothing Phone 3a Series Launches with AI-Powered Features and Upgraded Cameras

Nothing Phone 3a Series Features Upgraded Cameras and Unique Styling

Nothing, known for its aesthetically-stripped-down smartphones announced the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro, successors to 2023's Nothing Phone 2. The new Nothing Phone 3a Pro, stylized Phone (3a) Pro, sports an upgraded camera system. With its mid-range $459 price tag, the handheld delivers relatively solid specifications and features on paper. At the heart of the rear triple camera array is a 50-megapixel Type 1/1.56 sensor paired with a 24mm equivalent f/1.9 aperture. This main camera is flanked by a 50-megapixel periscope camera with a Sony Lytia 600 Type 1/1.95 sensor and a 70mm equivalent lens. This 3x optical zoom lens also features 6x digital "lossless" zoom and 60x ultra zoom. The third camera is the ultra-wide module, which is a relative outlier. It has just eight megapixels of resolution and a small Type 1/4 sensor. The 15mm equivalent lens delivers 120 degrees of field of view. At $459, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro competes against products like the $600 iPhone 16e and its single 48-megapixel rear camera and OnePlus 13R smartphones, which, like the 3a Pro, features 50-megapixel main and telephoto cameras and an eight-megapixel ultra-wide camera. The vanilla Nothing Phone 3a, which costs a budget-friendly $379, differs significantly from its Pro sibling regarding cameras. The standard 3a has the same 50-megapixel main camera and ultra-wide unit, but trades in an inferior 2x telephoto lens (50-megapixels, Type 1/2.74). The Nothing Phone 3a also features a 32-megapixel f/2.2 front-facing camera, while the 3a Pro instead sports a 50-megapixel unit for selfies. Both phones feature the same 6.77-inch OLED screen, Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chips, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. The screens deliver 120Hz variable refresh rates and peak brightness up to 3,000 nits, significantly brighter than the Phone 2a. Each also promises, in typical 2025 fashion, to incorporate a lot of artificial intelligence (AI). For mobile photographers, the phones utilize AI algorithms and processing to deliver HDR images (Ultra XDR, technically, which combines eight RAW captures into a single frame), more accurate skin tones, better night photos, and improved saturation and contrast. AI also powers a new Essential Space, which is where users can store and organize whatever information they care most about, whether that's photos, notes, documents, or other files. Users can access this with a press of a new Essential Key on the phone. The Nothing 3a and 3a Pro are available to order now for $379 and $459. The standard 3a starts shipping next week on March 11, while the 3a Pro arrives a bit later on March 25.

Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro go official with telephoto cameras from $379

After it struck success with the Phone (2a) series, Nothing is back with more mid-range offerings. The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are built on the same formula, but with key upgrades including the missing telephoto cameras. The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are both built on the same core platform, starting with the display. A 6.77-inch LTPS AMOLED panel that can adjust between 30Hz-120Hz is paired with a much higher peak brightness of 3,000 nits, more than double that of Phone (2a). The battery on both devices remains the same at 5,000 mAh, but with faster 50W charging. Also upgraded are the build materials, which now includes glass on the backplate. Nothing says this helped in delivering an IP64 dust/water resistance rating, up from IP54. Under the hood, both devices are using the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, upgraded from a MediaTek chip in last year's Phone (2a), which Nothing says delivers a 33% performance boost and a 92% boost for AI tasks in particular. That's paired with 8GB of RAM (with optional virtual RAM) or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. So how do the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro differ? It starts (and mostly ends) with the cameras. The Nothing Phone (3a) has a 50MP main camera, a 50MP 2x telephoto camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 32MP front-facing camera. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro also has a 50MP main camera, a 50MP 2x telephoto camera, an 8MP ultrawide camera, but swaps out the front-facing camera for a third 50MP sensor. The Pro also gets improved sensors for the main and telephoto cameras, namely a Samsung GNJ and Sony LTY-600, respectively. Another notable difference is that only the Phone (3a) Pro has eSIM support - something that Phone (2a) lacked entirely. Besides that, differences are primarily aesthetic. The Phone (3a) Pro has a thicker camera module to accommodate the 3x telephoto hardware and is also 10g heavier at 211g total. The Pro also has a wildly different camera arrangement. Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 is available out of the box, and Nothing will provides 6 years of updates for these phones, but only 3 years of Android OS upgrades. Speaking of software, Nothing is introducing some more new upgrades with Nothing OS 3.1. This includes some tweaks to the Gallery, Camera, and Weather apps. The big new addition is "Essential Space," though, a new AI-powered experience launching in early access for the Phone (3a) series. The new app is designed to be a "hub" for "notes, ideas, and inspirations." The dedicated "Essential Key" on the side of both new devices (which cannot be remapped) is used for this feature. Pressing the key takes a screenshot which is then saved in Essential Space. Holding the key down allows you to add a voice recording, while a double-tap opens the app. Nothing says this app will expand to include "Camera Capture, Smart Collections, Focused Search and Flip to Record," but those have no ETA beyond "the coming months" yet. Phone (3) will presumably include more AI features like this. Nothing Phone (3a) will be available in white, black, and blue for £379 / $379 / €379 for the 12GB+256GB model. Phone (3a) Pro will cost £449 / $459 / €459 / ₹33,999 for the same variant. Both devices will be available via Nothing's "Beta Program" in the US as they lack some band support on some carriers in the States. Orders for Phone (3a) start today and will be delivered on March 11, while Phone (3a) Pro will be available to order on March 11 and will be delivered by March 25.

Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro launched with Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset: Check India price and features

Phone 3(a) is available in 2 variants. The 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage variant is priced at Rs 24,999 and the 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage variant is priced at Rs 26,999. The 3(a) Pro is available at a price of Rs 29,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB. Then there is a 8GB RAM + 256GB priced at Rs 31,999. Then there is a variant with 12GB RAM & 512GB Storage priced at Rs 33,999 Nothing today unveiled the Phone (3a) Series, enhancing its mid-range lineup with cutting-edge features. Building on the success of the Phone (2a), it introduces a sophisticated triple-camera system with optical zoom, a high-performance Snapdragon® processor, a brighter and more responsive display, and Nothing OS innovations like Essential Space -- all packaged in two distinctively refined designs. The Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro come with upgraded glass back panels, a more symmetrical internal structure, and refined visual details. The design incorporates Nothing's exposed aesthetic while integrating the new camera system and hardware. The Phone (3a) Series has an IP64 rating for improved durability and a carbon footprint of 51.3kg CO2e, the lowest for a Nothing smartphone so far. Here's a version with just the facts, without the promotional tone: The Phone (3a) features a 50MP telephoto camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a 50mm equivalent focal length. It supports 2x optical zoom and up to 4x lossless in-sensor zoom. AI-based clarity algorithms enable digital zoom up to 30x. The Phone (3a) Pro is equipped with a periscope telephoto camera featuring a 1/1.95-inch Sony LYTIA 600 sensor, a 70mm equivalent focal length, and an f/2.55 aperture. It includes optical image stabilization and a 3x optical zoom. The 50MP sensor allows up to 6x lossless in-sensor zoom, with AI enhancements extending it to 60x. It also supports telemacro capture with a minimum focus distance of 15cm. The Phone (3a) has a 50MP main sensor developed in collaboration with Samsung, utilizing on-sensor deep learning for image clarity, noise reduction, and color accuracy. The Phone (3a) Pro's 50MP main sensor improves autofocus speed by 43% and increases pixel full well capacity for better detail in high-contrast lighting. Both models include an ultra-wide camera with a 120º field of view and an upgraded Sony sensor for improved low-light performance. The Phone (3a) has a 32MP front camera, while the Phone (3a) Pro features a 50MP front camera with 4K recording, AI stabilization, and night video enhancement, offering a 74.4% increase in brightness and 33.7% noise reduction compared to the Phone (2a). The Phone (3a) Series is powered by the Snapdragon® 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, offering improved processing speeds and optimized performance with Nothing OS. The CPU is up to 33% faster than the Phone (2a), while the Qualcomm® Adreno™ GPU delivers an 11% improvement in graphics performance. The device also includes select Snapdragon Elite Gaming™ features. AI processing is 92% more efficient compared to the Phone (2a), enhancing tasks such as on-device voice-to-text transcription. The combination of hardware and software optimizations results in faster gaming, more stable frame rates, and extended battery life. The Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro feature 6.77-inch Full HD+ displays with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The touch sampling rate is 480Hz, doubling that of the Phone (2a), and reaches 1000Hz in Gaming Mode. The peak brightness has been increased by 131% to 3000 nits, while auto-brightness adjusts up to 1300 nits for outdoor visibility. Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 15, introduces updates to the Gallery, Camera, and Weather apps, along with enhanced stability, customization, and utility features. Users can personalize the experience with a monochromatic theme, hide app labels, and adjust lock screen and quick settings. The Phone (3a) Series will receive six years of updates, including three years of Android updates and six years of security and functionality patches. Essential Space is an AI-powered hub designed for capturing and organizing notes and ideas. The Essential Key, located on the right side of the device, provides quick access -- allowing users to send content, record voice notes, or view saved entries. Early Access is available for Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro users, with additional features like Camera Capture, Smart Collections, Focused Search, and Flip to Record set to launch in the coming months.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro breaks cover at MWC 2025

Nothing showcased its upcoming mid-range devices, the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on March 3, a day before their official launch. The phones were presented in a glass box, featuring white and grey colorways. Both variations of the phone are reported to come with improved specifications and incorporate Nothing's AI technology. The company has been actively teasing details in the lead-up to their launch, including live demonstrations at Qualcomm's booth during MWC. The devices are rumored to feature the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. The showcased devices exhibited distinctive designs, with the Phone 3a Pro appearing in a grey colorway, marked by a significant circular camera bump and curved Glyph lighting LEDs. This model is said to include three rear cameras, two of which are speculated to be 50MP, equipped with a new periscope lens. Conversely, the Phone 3a is presented in an all-white colorway, featuring a horizontal camera array reminiscent of Google's Pixel devices, complemented by a small red square on the rear panel. Images also revealed that the Nothing Phone 3a is equipped with three buttons. The volume and power buttons are both depicted in black, alongside a customizable action button, which could potentially launch various functions. In a promotional video, Nothing demonstrated that this action button could activate 'Essential spaces,' described as a second memory for users, allowing them to snap photos and capture voice notes while the AI organizes and categorizes the content. While the Glyph lighting is said to be customizable, it was not demonstrated at MWC. The anticipated phones are expected to feature a significant return of Nothing's signature Glyph interface, which serves both decorative and practical purposes by providing alerts through unique lighting patterns. Nothing Phone (3a) might go head-to-head with iPhone SE 4 A circular design element on the back of each device houses the rear cameras. The standard Phone 3a features a horizontal camera bar, while the Pro model distributes the cameras around the circular layout, likely to accommodate larger sensors or components. Both models are rumored to have a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera, with the Phone 3a including a 2x telephoto camera of undetermined resolution and the Phone 3a Pro featuring a 50MP telephoto camera with an unknown zoom level. During the reveal, Nothing did not confirm the presence of a periscope zoom on the Pro model and refrained from disclosing additional specifications. The side of the devices features what Nothing calls the "Essential Key," which is reportedly capable of taking screenshots and recording audio. There is anticipation that this key will have further functionality, aligning with Nothing's approach to integrating unique features into its devices. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, a notable enhancement for the Nothing Phone 3a series, was emphasized during the reveal. Qualcomm stated that the processor would provide robust performance and rapid 5G connectivity, ultimately enhancing features, including camera capabilities. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, introduced last summer, aims to meet the demands of AI and gaming. Both the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro are expected to feature 6.72-inch OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, akin to the Nothing Phone 2a Plus. The devices should offer a minimum of 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB, with the Pro model possibly including up to 12GB of RAM. Additionally, both devices are predicted to house 5,000 mAh batteries, which are anticipated to provide superior battery life.

Nothing's Phone 3A and 3A Pro use AI to organize all your stuff

The Nothing 3A phones were just announced with a new take on the company's "make tech more fun again" ethos. These devices have improved hardware over the Phone 2A, updated cameras, and a new feature called the Essential Space to store and index your miscellaneous screenshots, voice memos, and photographs, all through a dedicated button. Starting at $379 for the 3A and $459 for the 3A Pro, they offer solid specs for their midrange prices -- and a look at what Nothing has been working on for this AI-centric moment. The 3A and 3A Pro are mainly differentiated by their cameras, which you'll notice just by glancing at the two devices. The 3A Pro's prominent round camera housing includes a 3x periscope telephoto lens; the 3A offers a standard 2x zoom. Both phones include a 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera and an 8-megapixel ultrawide. The telephoto cameras on each use a 50-megapixel sensor for lossless crop zoom: 4x for the 3A and 6x for the 3A Pro. They're big phones, each with a 6.77-inch display, and the 3A Pro feels especially chunky with the protruding camera housing. Both use Nothing's striking translucent back panel design for a bold look, which balances an awkward camera bump on the 3A Pro. When I started using the phone I felt like my fingers were constantly bumping against the housing. I've adjusted to it after a few days and dig its Pop Socket-esque functionality. The phones come with Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chipsets, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, which is generous for the midrange class. They ship with Android 15 and Nothing is promising three years of OS updates and six years of security patches -- a decent, if not the best, software policy for a budget phone. They're being offered in the US through Nothing's beta program. The Glyph interface and LED light strips are still present, but Nothing seems to be shifting its efforts toward software features. The Essential Space is a new place to save screenshots, voice memos, and images, like Google's Pixel Screenshots app. It answers the eternal question: what do I do with this thing? Is your photo gallery cluttered with pictures of stuff you want to remember? Do you wish you had somewhere to keep all those inspiration photos for your bathroom makeover? Do you yearn for a place to put the information in an email you keep searching your inbox for every time you need it? Then you get what the Essential Space is all about. You save stuff there, it uses AI to pull out relevant bits of information, and it helps organize what would otherwise be left floating around your phone somewhere. Using the Essential Key to add things to the Essential Space took a little adjustment. It's right where I'm used to the power button sitting, so I kept pressing it unintentionally. A single press will capture a screenshot, and a double tap opens the app so you can browse through your collections. This feels backwards for reasons I can't quite explain, but I've mostly gotten used to it. Nitpicking aside, I think Nothing is onto something. I added screenshots of travel information for an upcoming flight that are otherwise spread across emails and apps. The Essential Space keeps it in one tidy spot and is good at pulling key timing and dates from the screengrabs. It'll even make a little to-do list for you. It didn't quite get everything right about my connecting flight, but I think that's because the date wasn't visible in both screenshots. The software seems to do a decent job when it has complete information to work with. The functionality is pretty simple right now. Nothing has more on the roadmap like a mode that starts recording a voice memo when you flip the phone over, and the ability to automatically organize related content into collections. It seems like a useful feature with a smart AI layer, rather than something that leans into AI just for kicks. The 3A is available to order March 4th and ships March 11th. The 3A Pro goes up for order March 11th, and will ship starting March 25th.

Nothing Reveals the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro for Fans of See-Through Hardware

The camera specifications are middling on paper, but it's the cool-looking chassis and light-up backside that always gets us. Nothing has been busy making something in its smartphone labs. The company, headed by OnePlus's co-founder, Carl Pei, announced two new mid-range devices at MWC 2025. The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro each promise a specific set of camera capabilities, boosted performance in their mid-range chipsets, and even some AI features. While the phones will only be available through a beta program for U.S. users, Nothing continues to make much ado about its super cool see-through smartphones that light up when someone sends a message. The Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are tier one and two of Nothing's mid-range set. The difference is mainly in the camera offerings, and though the two phones look virtually the same from the front, they are fully discernable as two different devices from the back. The Phone (3a) focuses mainly on telephoto camera performance, so you can inch close to something and take a clear picture. There's a 50-MP primary camera with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture, which Nothing says is "co-engineered with Samsung." There's a secondary 50-MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and 30x digital "ultra zoom". There's also an 8-MP ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120-degree field of view (FoV). The backside is a Pixel-like camera bar. The Phone (3a) Pro is more tuned for actual zoom, though it still relies on software to complete the job. The primary camera is a 50-MP sensor with a f/1.8 aperture and a 2x in-sensor zoom, which means it snaps a photo and zooms in for clarity. The periscope camera offers the real deal; It's a 50-MP sensor with 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and up to 60x digital zoom, which Nothing claims has been supercharged by "AI clarity-enhancing algorithms." I'm so curious to see this performance compared to something on the high-end, like Samsung's 100x digital zoom on the Galaxy Ultra series, considering the sensor size on the Phone (3a) Pro. There's also an 8-MP ultra-wide camera with an expansive 120-degree FoV. The Phone (3a) Pro can be easily identified by its circular, Oppo-like backside. Everything else inside the Nothing devices is the same across the board. Both devices run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mobile platform, the latest smartphone mid-range chip offering. Both displays are 6.7-inches with Full HD+ resolutions and 120Hz refresh rate. Nothing says the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro have screens that are "flagship size," so that "content has room to breathe." The phones are equipped with 5,000 mAh batteries, and Nothing promises up to two days of use on a charge. Essential Space hopes to show off what Nothing's mid-range phone can do with AI-centric tasks. Essential Space is a hub for your notes by text or voice. There's a physical Essential Key shortcut on the right side of the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. You can press it once to bring up Essential Space and long-press it to record a voice note. The feature is available in Early Access to anyone who buys the Phone (3a) series. Nothing says more AI-focused features will be launched in the coming months, including Camera Capture, Smart Collections, Focused Search, and Flip to Record. The abilities all sound pretty self-explanatory. The Phone (3a) will be available in black and white in the U.S., with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $380. There's also a blue variant floating around, though sadly, that won't make it to the States. The Phone (3a) Pro is available in grey and black, with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $460. Starting today, you can pre-order the Phone (3a) in beta or the Phone (3a) Pro beginning on March 11. There is no concrete ship date on when the phones will start arriving in the U.S., but we will get them in to test against other mid-range Android darlings. Will the rave-like backside skew the results? That's for the review to determine.

Leaked Details Reveal AI-Powered Features of Nothing Phone 3a Series

Nothing Phone 3a Series: AI Innovations, Price, and Launch Date Revealed Curious about the upcoming Nothing Phone 3a series? Leaked renders have unveiled exciting details about the and 3a Pro, set to launch on March 4. These smartphones are expected to feature groundbreaking AI-integrated capabilities, including the innovative Essential Key and a triple-camera setup for high-definition photography. Here's everything you need to know about the features, pricing, and what to expect from this highly anticipated release. unveils further information concerning the Essential Key, a button that can be found on the right side of the device. The button is associated with the Essential Space, which is an AI-powered muse for storing notes, screenshots and other items. Single taps on the button saves content while holding enables voice recording. Tapping it twice gives direct access to saved items without adding further gestures. Users are able to instantly send pictures to the hub with a feature called Camera Capture. It is expected that Essential Space will feature even more integrated AI functionalities. Other features include Focused search, which helps users look for specific saved items, Flip to record for swift note-taking, and Smart Collections which use advanced AI to categorize audio, images, and text with no much effort. The Essential Space is still, but is sure to cater to the first set of users who own the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Eventually, likely with the advancement of the flagship Nothing Phone 3, the features are bound to become more sophisticated. The Nothing Phone 3a is expected to be priced at EUR 349 (approx. ₹31,900) in Europe, while the Pro model could cost EUR 479 (approx. ₹43,800). In comparison, the Nothing Phone 2a launched in India at ₹23,999, with the Plus variant at ₹27,999. The standard Nothing Phone 3a will likely feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, a 6.77-inch display, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. It is expected to include a 50MP+8MP+50MP rear , a 32MP front camera and a 5000mAh battery. The upcoming release marks a significant step for Nothing, bringing AI-powered enhancements and a Pro variant to its lineup.

Nothing's Phone 3a Pro is a stylish, almost-flagship experience for $459

Nothing doesn't have a Phone 3 yet, instead choosing to make a lateral move to not one, but two new mid-range devices, the Nothing Phone 3a and, intriguingly, the 3a Pro. Reassuringly, Nothing continues to design phones unlike anything else out there. Its retro-future design aesthetic for the exposed-but-not hardware on the rear of the phones, as well as the dot-matrix fonts, animations and software, are all back. Hardware design remains Nothing's biggest strength. I get asked about the Nothing phone more than I do when I'm using the latest iPhone, Samsung's foldables or anything else. It's just different. The Phone 3a series now has a glass backing (upgraded from polycarbonate) and you can still see screw fittings, electronics and a return of Nothing's Glyph lighting system. The Phone 3a is rated IP64, adding better protection this year against rogue water sprays and liquid incidents. Nothing has once again rejigged the exposed hardware, and the Glyph lighting details are all at the top of the phone, circling the camera unit. On the Phone 3a Pro, courtesy of a new periscope sensor capable of 3X optical zoom, a substantial circular camera unit protrudes from the back. If you think the 3a Pro's camera module looks chunky, it also adds roughly 10 grams to its weight compared to the base Nothing Phone 3a. But for camera obsessives, only one of these phones will hold your attention. (Although the blue iteration of the Nothing Phone 3a is gorgeous.) The Nothing Phone 3a Pro's 50-megapixel telephoto sensor can stretch to 3x optical zoom, but it also includes a rather useable, in my early testing, lossless cropped 6x zoom. There's also a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.88 lens, and dual-pixel phase detection auto-focus (PDAF). Nothing has crammed in an ultrawide 8MP sensor with a 120-degree field of view. The 3a Pro also has a telemacro mode and can combine focus as close as 15cm (5.9 inches) away with the zoom of the telephoto. It's a feature that makes macro photography far more useful - and still rare on phones outside of China. The base model Phone 3a's main 50MP camera has single-pixel PDAF, but otherwise keeps the same primary camera specs. Its telephoto stretches to 2x optical zoom, and a third ultrawide 8MP camera. While we'll explore the camera more deeply in our review, my early impressions are positive. Images are crisp and Nothing has a knack for curated filters that look good. I especially like the frosted glass effect, which Nothing also offers for wallpaper customization. Nothing says its TrueLens Engine 3.0 combines AI-powered tone mapping with Ultra XDR, which it co-developed with Google, to tune photos. It involves a burst of 8 RAW images, which are all processed together to adjust the brightness of each pixel up to five times. Nothing's image processing seems to lean towards punchy, high-contrast photos and video. The Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro are otherwise identical in specs. Compared to the Nothing Phone 2a, both new devices have a bigger 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS display, now using Panda Glass rather than Corning's Gorilla Glass. As you might expect from most (but not all) phones, the 3a has an always-on display, can reach 120Hz refresh rates and it now hits 1,300 nits, making it brighter than the company's last phone, too. Once again, the phones both have a big 5,000mAh battery and fast charging at up to 50W. According to Nothing, this means it should take less than an hour to charge the device entirely, while you should be able to get halfway there in 19 minutes. One of the only parts of the Nothing Phone 3a series that hints that they aren't quite at a flagship level is their processor: a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. We'll put that chip through its paces in our review, but it is supposed to help with Nothing's own custom software pecadillos, like the TrueLens Engine. The company says that chip makes the 3a series 92 percent better at AI processing than its predecessor. In a nod to both its OnePlus history and the recent trend for adding buttons, Nothing added its Essential Key to the Phone 3a, on the right edge below the power button. Oddly, it has a different finish to the rest of the machined buttons on the 3a and feels a bit cheaper. It works like an AI assistant launcher on other smartphones, like Samsung's Gemini AI launcher, although the AI hooks come later. One press will capture and send content a screenshot to Nothing's Essential Space app, while a longer press will start recording a voice note. You can also double-press to launch straight into the Essential Space app, which is a storage space for all those collections. Nothing uses the same AI tricks we've seen elsewhere; it just simplifies them. The Phone 3a will transcribe your voice notes, automate reminders, and even describe your photos and screenshots if needed. As I juggle work commitments, other writing projects, life and everything else, this is an intriguing soup of AI tools, storage and automation, all in a single place. This also seems to be Nothing's equivalent of Android's Labs setting. The company is teasing further functionality, such as focused search, flip-to-record, Camera Capture (using the Essential key while in the camera app), Smart Collections of all your notes and more. It seems to be the Notes equivalent of how Google Photos gives you quick and easy access to the images and videos you're looking for. With the Phone 3a Pro's software more broadly, Nothing OS is fun. Despite a learning curve in places, it's playful. The icons, fonts, and animations across Nothing's take on Android 15 add a refreshing touch of personality in a sea of smartphone sameness. Perhaps there are a few too many creative cooks, as Nothing's decorative touches jostle with what I assume are Google's baked-in fonts and menus. Some of the icons are hard to discern, too. After powering up the Phone 3a for the first time, a pixelated smiley face appeared on the home screen. I'd tap it and realize it does nothing. It turns out this is Nothing's attempt at showing your screen time - but it doesn't need to be a 2x2 widget. Other nice touches include a monochrome theme (on these monochrome phones), app label removal and a smart app drawer that corrals similar apps together for more straightforward navigation. Availability in the US will come through a Beta Program, like in previous years. The Phone 3a ($379) is available to preorder now in grey, black and blue, with devices landing March 11, while the Phone 3a Pro ($459) in black and grey, goes on preorder March 11 and launches March 25. In the UK, the company's Nothing Store in London will be one of the first places to offer the phone directly, from 11AM GMT on March 8.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro First Impressions

Nothing has finally introduced its latest Phone 3a series in India and globally. The all-new Phone 3a series brings a lot of improvements and intelligence over the Phone 2a, which was launched last year. This time, we have two models in this series, including the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. While both devices offer almost the same set of features, the company has introduced its first Pro variant in the 'a' series. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro brings an updated rear panel, a new periscope lens, a new set of interesting AI features, and the popular Glyph interface. I got the chance to use the device for a brief period, and here's everything you need to know about the latest Nothing handset. Starting with the design language, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro sticks to the brand's design philosophy. You get a transparent back panel, which is now made of glass. The device is available in two colour options, Gray and Black. I received the former for review, and it sure gives me those Nothing vibes. The handset comes with a transparent glass back and a large circular camera module. But what makes it stand out from the other Nothing smartphones is the large circular camera module. The brand says that it used such a protruding circular module to incorporate the periscope lens. You also get the Glyph Interface surrounding the camera module, which looks good. However, such a large camera module makes it a bit difficult to hold the device easily. Moreover, such a large camera module also makes it wobble a bit when you place it on a flat surface. Moving on, the frame looks sturdy. On the left, you have the volume control button, while the right has a power on/off button alongside a dedicated button to access the new Essential Space feature. At the bottom there is a SIM tray, a USB Type-C port, and a speaker grille. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro features a 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz screen refresh rate. Coming to the display, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a large 6.77-inch Full HD+ flexible AMOLED panel. It is a 10-bit display offering a 120Hz screen refresh rate and up to 480Hz touch sampling rate, which can go up to 1,000Hz in gaming mode. It also features up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, which is useful outdoors. The screen does look vibrant and sharp. I enjoyed watching a couple of HDR videos on this smartphone. Like its smaller sibling, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. The handset offers up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. The smartphone offers three years of Android and four years of security updates. The device runs Nothing OS 3.1, which is based on Android 15. The company promises three years of Android and four years of security updates with this device, which is quite standard in this price segment. That said, Nothing has added a new Essential Space feature, which is a one-stop solution to gather all sorts of data (screenshots, camera captures and more) that gets tagged for recall using AI. There is a dedicated Essential Key right next to the power button to access this feature. We will talk more about this feature in our upcoming review. The phone features a triple-camera setup on the rear panel with a periscope lens. Coming to the cameras, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers three rear-facing cameras. The handset features a 50-megapixel primary camera with f/1.8 aperture. It also packs a 50-megapixel periscope camera with 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and 60x digital zoom. Apart from this, the handset also offers an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. On the front, there's a 50-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture for selfies. As for the battery, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro features a 5,000mAh battery with 50W fast charging You also get an IP54 rating, which makes it splashproof. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro features 50W fast charging and packs a 5,000mAh battery. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro definitely looks like an interesting smartphone in the mid-range. The transparent rear panel and the large circular camera module surely attract attention, even though it makes it difficult to hold for a prolonged period. While the device's core hardware specifications seem satisfactory, I have yet to explore its full potential in various departments. That said, we will discuss all the features of the latest Nothing Phone 3a Pro in the review, so stay tuned.

The Nothing Phone 3a button is no longer a mystery

For weeks, there has been significant buzz surrounding the Nothing (3a) series, which includes two phones set to be officially announced on Tuesday, March 4. One of the company's teasers has focused on a new button, the purpose of which has remained a mystery until now. We have learned that the new button will activate an AI assistant called Essential Space, which Nothing had previously teased. This button, likely named the "Essential Key," is designed to simplify users' tasks. It allows them to take notes, record voice memos, and capture photos using AI technology. The AI will focus on "Smart Collection," which will sort and categorize images, audio, and text. Recommended Videos However, we must wait for a live demonstration of the Nothing (3a) and Nothing (3a) Pro to see this feature in action. Please enable Javascript to view this content Your second memory. Capture, organise and take action with Essential Space. All with a little help from AI. pic.twitter.com/IeqzgetOwv — Nothing (@nothing) February 27, 2025 Besides the new Essential Key, both new Nothing phones are expected to feature a triple-camera setup, with the Pro model having a slightly better optical zoom and a higher-resolution front-facing camera. The Nothing (3a) Pro should feature a camera system with a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide camera with an expanded field of view, a 50MP periscope lens, and a 32MP front camera. This new arrangement enables 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and 60x ultra digital zoom. Additionally, the camera system offers enhancements for macro photography and new AI clarity algorithms powered by Nothing's TrueLens Engine 3.0. Once again, the new phones will feature Nothing's iconic transparent back and Glyph interface. Inside, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset should be present, ideal for mid-range phones. The phones will come with Android 15 preinstalled. Nothing tends to tease new features leading up to a product launch. With that in mind, I recommend linking to the company's X feed ahead of Tuesday's big reveal, as additional leaks may emerge.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro May Feature an AI Hub for Storing Notes, Screenshots

The new Essential Space app organises stored content using AI Nothing Phone 3a series is scheduled to be launched in India and globally on March 4 comprising two models -- Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. While the former is a direct successor to the Nothing Phone 2a from March last year, the latter is a new device which is expected to sit above the Phone 3a in the company's lineup. It is confirmed to come with a new button which, a report suggests, could be called Essential Key and it may support artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Citing a tipster, SmartPrix reports that Nothing Phone 3a Pro's Essential Key will serve as an "AI-powered hub". A press of the button, located on the right spine of the phone, is speculated to invoke a custom AI which has been integrated into a new app which the company calls Essential Space. With this, users may be able to press this button to quickly store digital content such as screenshots, voice notes, and photos in the aforementioned space. The British original equipment manufacturer (OEM) previously teased that the Essential Key will serve as a "second memory". As per the report, a screenshot will be captured if the button is pressed and held, while a long-press will commence a voice note recording. Further, it may enable users to access the stored content in Essential Space with a double tab. The key is also said to come with integration with the Camera app. It may act as a capture button to quickly snap photos and send them to Essential Space when the camera is invoked. The report suggests that Essential Space will feature an AI system called smart collections for sorting audio, images, and text, thus eliminating the need for manual organisation. Users may be able to find exactly what they're searching for leveraging the Focused Search feature. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is also reported to come with a Flip to Record functionality which lets users quickly commence recording of audio notes by flipping the handset.

Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro Review: Maturing Perfection

Budget phones often don't carry the charm, or the looks and come with a lot of compromises. But last year's Nothing Phone (2a) changed this perception with its transparent lights, good internals, and glyph lights. Now the brand is out with two new A-series successors, building on what was already great and fixing the flaws. After using the two phones continuously for a week, I will discuss what's new and has improved in this Nothing Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro review. Before moving on with the review, let us take a quick look at the key specifications of the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. No matter which device you pick, the unboxing experience will be underwhelming. That's because neither the Phone (3a) nor the Phone (3a) Pro come with a lot of stuff inside the box. Here's everything you get: The Nothing Phone (3a) series features a new button called the Essential key. This glossy presser sits right below the power button making it prone to accidental clicks. When pressed once it takes a screenshot of anything on your screen, and holding down records a voice note. Then you can jump into the Essentials Space app, and watch as the AI uses context from the screen grab and the voice note and generates a transcript or summary of it. We tried it out in the office, where we took a photo of the digital thermometer, and asked "remind me to pick up the battery for this". The intelligent AI soon added the reminder to pick up batteries for the thermometer. Nothing has also included three widgets allowing you to check your reminders and to-do list at a glance. Not only does it pick up context from the screen capture, but it neatly organizes them for you. This way you can quickly browse through them when needed. However, the AI takes a while to derive results and asks you to come back later. This is to be expected as Nothing itself mentions that this is an early access experience exclusive to the Phone (3a) and the (3a) Pro for now. Honestly, I did enjoy my limited time with the feature and would love to see how it matures. I can't help but wish Nothing would make the side key remappable to open more customization possibilities. Now let's talk about the other big change which is the camera department. The company has given priority to not only the camera hardware but the software and its algorithm as well. This is why, both the (3a) and the (3a) Pro pack additional lenses and come with Nothing's new camera app. The Phone (3a) includes a 50MP f/2.0 Samsung 2x telephoto camera. However, the Pro model receives a heftier 50MP 3x periscope lens. Other than that, they both have a 50MP main shooter and include a measly 8MP camera for ultrawide shots. With the specs out of the way, let's look at the samples. The 25mm primary lens takes good photos with enough light in the day on both phones. The pictures look clean, almost natural, and sharp. While the viewfinder tells a different story, more often than not, the results in the gallery were far better than expected. Nothing has done an excellent job when it comes to photos and it shows in both day and night situations. Although there is noise at times, the algorithm does a decent job of fixing that area. Now let's come to the zoom lenses. The 50mm x2 telephoto on the Phone (3a) captures rich and detailed shots. I really enjoyed using it when clicking photos of my friends and other Beebom colleagues. It offers clarity that I quite like. But the fixed focus lens finds itself in trouble when we get up close and personal with the subject for macro shots. Take a look at the photos I clicked from the Nothing Phone (3a). Taking things one step further, the (3a) Pro gets the chance to flex its muscles. The 3x periscope lens really does wonders in the areas it is meant for. It does a great job capturing the natural appeal of the subject, along with the texture of clothes and other finer details. This is something expected out of a flagship phone, but Nothing bought it to midrange. The macros also come out detailed and crisp to look at. I am very satisfied with the results I have got with the Phone (3a)Pro. The 8MP ultrawide lens on these devices does an apt job of capturing the wider perspective of the image. While this is certainly a downgrade from what we saw with the Phone (2a), it still manages to capture good results with enough light. Take that away and you get slightly grainy night photos but that is to be expected here. Both phones produce similar results as you can see in these shots. The selfie shooter on the base Phone (3a) has a 32MP lens, while the one on the (3a) Pro gets an upgrade to 50MP. No matter which phone you go with, you will get some good results. However, I did notice that it has some difficulties handling exposure at times. That said, I overall liked the clicks that I got from these devices, even in bokeh mode. The 3a Pro gets an edge here as the 50MP shooter captures more details and does a bit better in indoor lighting situations. As for videos, you get 4K 30 FPS recording on both the Pro and non-pro models. This is a limitation of the chipset, but you can lower the resolution to 1080p if you want to enjoy 60FPS videos. The (3a) also caps out on 1080p 60FPS videos on the selfie shooter meanwhile the (3a) Pro can do 4k 30FPS. If we talk about the design, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro definitely looks like the odd one out. It has a more bulky, and boxy design out of the two with the weird camera placement and the huge circular bump at the back. The Nothing Phone (3a) goes with a traditional route, keeping things more or less similar to its predecessor, the Phone 2a. The difference in design is also apparent in weight as the Phone (3a) weighs only 201 grams, meanwhile the Pro model weighs 211 grams. Both have a more edgier design this year, with completely flat sides which I am not a fan of. This along with 8.35 and 8.39mm thickness makes the two new Nothing Phones difficult to hold for too long. The Phone (3a) Pro is surely the thicker of the two, and it isn't pocket-friendly either thanks to the massive camera plateau. This was a necessary addition to house the 3x periscope lens which takes up more space hence the added bulk. Honestly, the Phone (3a) Pro's design reminds me of the Vivo X200 which was the best camera phone of last year. It also had a large circular flat disc on its back and the same trend goes here. However, the camera placement is something only a mother could love. It's weird, it's busy and it creeps me out with the spiraling pattern in the back. Reminding me of the artwork from Junji Ito's manga series, Uzumaki. If you can look past that or go with the (3a), then I am sure you will praise the design language of the Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. The transparent back is made of glass now. There's the usual placement of the volume buttons on the left, and the power and Essential key on the right side. The bottom houses the USB Type C port, SIM card tray, and primary speaker. Nothing has fitted both models with IP 64 protection, which should do well against splashes, but don't be taking these fellows for a dunk in the pool. On the front, you'll meet with a large 6.77-inch AMOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR 10+ support. The 6.7-inch screen size on the Phone 2a was already large enough so I am not sure why they went with an even larger display with the new devices. They output great visuals with sharp colors. They are not too over-saturated, which I applaud, and manage HDR content quite well. I have been catching up to Better Call Saul lately, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching an entire season of it on the Phone (3a) Pro's screen. However, music lovers will question the speaker's quality. The stereo speakers included in the Phone (3a) and the (3a) Pro are plenty loud, but sound hollow and murky at max volumes. Set them to 80% and you can enjoy a decent listening experience. Besides the design and the cameras, there's everything pretty much identical on the two smartphones. The Nothing Phone (3a) and the (3a) Pro come with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor inside. This offers a minor boost in performance compared to the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro used in the Phone 2a last year. It is coupled with 8 or 12GB RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. This midrange CPU offers decent numbers in benchmarks and remains quite stable through and through. I am showing results from the Phone (3a) Pro, but they are more or less the same on the (3a) too. It is a capable chipset, but I do wish Nothing went with the regular 7 Gen 3 instead. I played PUBG Mobile, Call Of Duty Mobile, and Genshin Impact on these devices. The first two games ran buttery smooth with low graphics and max framerates that topped off at 90FPS. The performance was consistently good and there weren't any major heating issues to speak of. However, Genshin Impact did give it some trouble. I played it at 60FPS but it kept fluctuating between the low 50s and high 40s. Seeing this, I didn't bother pushing these phones any further. With that out of the way, you wouldn't come across any hiccups in day-to-day usage. That's all thanks to the clean and lightweight Nothing OS 3.1 running on these devices based on Android 15. You get the typical Nothing OS treatment here with no ads, or bloatware that is sure to spoil you in days. While we have tried out the Nothing OS 3.0 update, the version running on the Phone 3a and the (3a) Pro felt oddly smoother, during my review period. It's snappy, quick, and works like a charm. Plus you get all of Nothing's own quirks like the Glyph interface support in the OS. Or their wallpaper space that I quite enjoy, and the dot matrix theme and widgets. The 3.0 update has only uplifted what was great about Nothing devices, and it is in full display with these phones. Finally, let's go over the battery specs. The Nothing Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro come with a 5,000mAh cell, the same as last year's model. This can last you up to 7-8 hours depending on your usage. However, there is an upgrade in terms of charging tech as the two devices now come with 50-watt fast charging support. But you'll need to pick up the charging brick on your own arrangments. We've now come to the conclusion of our Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro review. The new series clearly shows a more mature route the company is trying to take with their new phones. And I for one am stoked about it. These are some of the better camera-centric phones I have seen in this price segment, and they offer a great photographic experience you won't regret no matter which phone you decide to pick. That said, I think if you want a lighter, and less bulky device and don't care much about the super zoom, then you should save some bucks and get the Nothing Phone (3a). However, if you want to go all out on what Nothing has to offer, and want to have one of the best midrange cameras in your pocket then I don't need to convince you to get the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro.

Here's what the Nothing Phone 3a series' new button does

The button can be used to capture content, record a voice note, and access the hub where the content is saved. Nothing has two budget phones on the way in the form of the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. The company recently provided a look at the Pro, and today, it showed off the non-Pro model. If you look closely at both devices, you'll notice the 3a series features a new physical button. There have been some clues as to what this button does, but a new leak has now fully revealed its purpose. A tipster has helped Smartprix uncover the mystery behind the new physical button on the Phone 3a series. According to the outlet, the button is a dedicated key for activating Nothing's custom AI. This button is apparently the "Essential Key" and it is linked to an AI-powered hub known as Essential Space." It appears the Essential Key is designed for intuitive single-hand use of Nothing's AI. A single press allows the user to capture and send content to Essential Space. Long pressing on the button will open the recorder for you to create a voice note that will be saved in the hub. Meanwhile, double-pressing will take you directly to all of your saved content in Essential Space. Nothing is holding an event on March 4 where it will launch the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. This just happens to be when everyone will have their attention on Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025.

Leak shows how Nothing Phone 3a Pro's 'Essential Key' will work

Samsung's first trifold phone might debut with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 Summary A new leak shares details about a new software feature called Essential Space. The Essential Space hub will curate and collect your important data using AI. You can send data to Essential Space using a hardware key called the Essential Key. Device launches are becoming harder and harder to keep a secret. Over the years, we've seen plenty of products spoiled ahead of launches, at that seems to be the case with Nothing's next set of devices, the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, which have already seen plenty of exposure over the past few weeks ahead of their formal launch. Related Nothing Phone 3a Pro's camera island is... something Asymmetry or art? You decide Posts And while the brand has shared some secrets behind the Phone 3a, we're pretty sure there will be plenty more revealed, whether that's through official sources, or through leaked channels. With that said, Smartprix has now shared details about the Phone 3a's AI-driven effort called Essential Space and how it will be integrated into the software and activated using a physical button dubbed the Essential Key. Once this is fleshed out, this could get interesting Close Source: Smartprix As far as how Nothing's Essential Space will work, the brand seems to be envisioning it as a hub that can be used to store and better organize the things you do on your phone throughout the day, with the intention of creating order from chaos when it comes to a user's daily notes, voice recordings, photos, screenshots, and more. Now, what makes this even more interesting is that the phone will also have a dedicated key, the Essential Key, that can be used to record the aforementioned items into Essential Space without taking any extra steps. While it's unclear how deep this really goes, there's a good chance that there's going to be some excellent integration between apps and Essential Space in order to make the experience feel seamless. Of course, there's going to be some AI magic involved to keep things in order, according to the report, with Essential Space handling all the heavy lifting when it comes to organizing and sorting everything that you're introducing into the space. There's always the chance that these features could end up being quite different upon release, or not even release at all. So we'll just have to wait and see what Nothing announces when the Phone 3a series makes its official debut. Smartprix also shares that this could be the start of something bigger. While Essential Space will make its debut with the Nothing Phone 3a, that we won't see it fully in action until the Phone 3 makes its debut sometime later this year. Again, we've seen plenty of brands hop on the AI wagon before and integrate it into apps and services, so it will be interesting to see Nothing's implementation with this new project.