I got the Nothing Phone 3a Pro to use it for 2 weeks and I didn’t know how time flew. It’s time for me to return it and here’s my review after using it for 2weeks.
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Design & Build
The day I received the box was special- this was my first time holding a Nothing phone. From the moment I unboxed it, the 3a Pro felt different. Trust me, it gives off strong flagship vibes. The transparent design, signature glyph lights and solid in-hand feel make it look and feel premium in every way.
However, one design flaw I noticed is the placement of the Essential Key. It’s located too close to the power button, and I found myself accidentally pressing it quite often. Placing it on the top frame or somewhere less intrusive would’ve made a lot more sense.
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Display
The display is bright, punchy and visible even under harsh sunlight. It’s perfect for photographers like me who often check shots outdoors. It’s also great for content consumption- binge watching, reviewing photos or even editing on the go felt smooth and enjoyable.
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Camera
Now let’s talk camera. This is where the 3a Pro really impressed me.
The periscope telephoto lens is straight-up flagship level. Portraits come out with beautiful separation and depth and the macro shots? Stunning.
The telephoto doubling as a macro lens meant I never had to reach for my dedicated macro again. I wish I had a little more time to explore it outdoors, but it started raining heavily here during the last few days.
The main camera holds its own with sharp, balanced shots in most lighting conditions. The ultrawide isn’t the strongest, but it gets the job done when needed.
That said, there are a couple of things to note. There’s a noticeable shutter lag when using the camera for extended periods. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely there and could cause you to miss a key moment. Also, while recording video in 4K 30fps, the phone doesn’t utilize the telephoto lens. Instead, it digitally zooms in from the main camera, resulting in a drop in quality. I genuinely hope Nothing addresses this in a future update.
Here are some of the images which I shot from the 3a Pro.
Overall, the camera system gave me creative freedom and confidence on the go.
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Performance & Battery
The 3a is powered by the Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 and packs a 5000mAh battery.
Throughout the 14 days, performance never let me down. Smooth multitasking, fast app launches and reliable processing for editing large photo files- everything just worked.
Battery life was solid, I got nearly a full day of use even with camera heavy days. The phone held up well through my field tests.
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Pros:
Premium design with good CMF
Flagship-level telephoto camera
Great display
Bloatware free experience
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Cons:
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Final Thoughts
From design to camera, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro surprised me in all the right ways. As a photographer, the periscope lens alone is a game changer. While there are some cost-cutting choices like the inclusion of UFS 2.2 storage and the lack of wireless charging, you don’t really feel it when daily driving the phone, at least for now.
Despite a few minor drawbacks, it’s a phone I’ll remember long after returning it.
Nothing truly delivered something special.
