Pros:
My very first impression of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro was a bit negative when I saw the camera module online. The space below the camera module felt unbalanced. But after about an hour, I started to like the design. Now, when I look at it, it’s one of the coolest phones I know in terms of design. I assume the weirdness I felt initially was just my brain’s discomfort with something new and unorthodox. The cyberpunk look still feels fresh and catches the eye every single time. It’s a bold move from Nothing. The symmetrical bezels and the bright display is perfect. I also haven’t noticed any noise issues in low brightness, unlike some reports with the Phone 2a.
Cons:
The main issue for me is the size. I know the market for small phones is limited, and making a smaller phone is harder, but personally, this feels like a compromise. I wish we had a smaller option, maybe around 6.3 inches, like the size of a regular iPhone or Samsung.
Another minor gripe is the switch to a glass back. I never felt the plastic back on the Phone 2a was a compromise. Yes, it is more prone to scratches, but personally, I prefer the peace of mind of not worrying about breaking the glass, along with the lighter weight and potential cost savings. And most people will use the phone with a case anyway.
I was also concerned about the camera bump before getting my hands on the phone. While it is indeed one of the biggest protrusions I’ve seen, I got comfortable with it. The bump actually serves as a good resting spot for my fingers, improving grip. However, it slightly obstructs the visibility of the Glyph interface, especially the Glyph timer, when viewed from certain angles. It’s a minor issue but can be annoying.
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Pros:
Nothing OS is evolving, but even in its current state, it’s stable and well-designed. With 120Hz display, cruising through the OS feels buttery smooth. I love the philosophy of keeping things simple and giving users control. No bloat or silly features. The widgets are fun and useful, allowing me to accomplish many tasks directly from the home screen. The recent redesign of the quick settings page and lock screen customization was fantastic.
Cons:
While Nothing OS covers the basics really well, I wish it had more customization options and power-user features like other Android OEMs offer, I believe Nothing could introduce them in a clean and organized way.
Something new on the software side is Essential Space. it is a bold and ambitious addition from Nothing. The hardware button is a nice touch and shows how confident the company is in this feature. However, it feels unfinished, which is understandable since it’s in beta. My main issue, as MKBHD also pointed out in his review, is the lack of cross-platform support. Whatever is saved in Essential Space is only accessible on the phone. Even a simple web portal could bridge this gap for power users.
eg: I have a lock screen shortcut for Microsoft To Do. While it’s slightly less seamless than using the hardware button, it allows me to create tasks/reminders that are accessible across all major platforms which is huge, Because ideas can come not just at any time, but also anywhere.
It would be great if Essential Space could create calendar events or tasks in third-party apps using available APIs. Also, an option to replace the Google Discover page on the home launcher with Essential Space would be a nice touch. Like Nothing’s widgets, Essential Space has significant potential to grow and become much bigger than its initial impression.
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Pros:
Nothing OS remains smooth and responsive, even with the not the best in segment chipset. My main heavy apps are the camera, Lightroom Mobile, and Video editors, and the phone handles them well without noticeable slowdowns. except in in the export/render part.
Cons:
Coming from the Nothing Phone 1, I haven’t noticed a major jump in performance, which you kinda expect from a phone with not so much different price range.
While some criticize the use of UFS 2.2 storage and mid-tier RAM, it hasn’t impacted my experience yet. My only concern is how it will hold up in 2-3 years. However, Nothing’s track record with software optimization makes me hopeful.
(I just read the article about the decision to go with UFS2.2, do read it!)
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Pros:
In my perspective, the battery life is a solved problem in smartphones. Once we started getting full-day battery life, anything more than became a bonus. In that case, the Phone 3a Pro delivers a brilliant battery experience! With light use, it easily lasts 2 days, and charging is pretty fast too.
Cons:
The only reasonable improvement I can think of is adding more control and detailed stats in the battery settings, which would be helpful.
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Pros:
The star of the show! This is the first Nothing phone where I’ve truly fallen in love with the cameras. The periscope lens is a game changer. More than 75% of my shots are with the new lens, and the natural bokeh is beautiful, very comparable to something you see from DSLRs. The edge detection in portrait mode is also got better because of already existing natural separation, and even the bokeh filters, which I expected to be gimmicky. look surprisingly natural.
The exposure control is another highlight for me. Smartphone photos often turn out too flat in shadows and brighter than reality, but exposure control makes quick adjustments easy. The new Auto Tone feature is also great for bringing that contrast back to the image while capturing difficult conditions. Plus, the ability to apply LUTs directly in the camera app is an underrated gem, We’ve already started to see some amazing use cases.
The main lens is solid, much like the one on the Phone (2a). It really shines in low-light conditions and when capturing fast movements.
Cons:
The ultra-wide lens is disappointing for me. In anything but bright light, it’s barely usable, producing noticeably soft images.
The periscope lens, while excellent, has a slow shutter speed in low light (around 1/20s). Capturing moving subjects becomes a challenge. I wonder if its an optimization issue. increasing the shutter speed and dealing with the noise would be a better trade-off in my opinion.
Stabilization also needs improvement. Despite OIS, the periscope lens produces jerky footage in non ideal conditions. I’d appreciate an option to disable digital stabilization like on the Phone 1.
Another odd omission is the lack of exposure control for videos. Having this feature would be a game changer. I’m also disappointed that Nothing still doesn’t offer a pro video mode. a strange limitation across all their phones.
I know I’m being a bit picky here, but I believe highlighting these areas will give you a clearer picture of what compromises to expect for someone who reads the review. Plus, It’s win if this feedback reaches the development team.
You can checkout my twitter profile for photo/video samples: @raonehere
Final Thoughts
I’ve tried to keep this review as honest as possible, pointing out both the positives and negatives. The Phone 3a Pro is a solid device with standout design and a genuinely impressive camera system for the price. I hope you found this review helpful!
