## Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Review: Nowt Special, Just Filler
By GadgetLad
Let’s cut to the chase. Nothing has done it again, releasing yet another mid-range mobile with flashy features – but is there anything genuinely new worth celebrating? Spoiler alert: not really. The **Nothing Phone (3a) Pro** is here, asking for more of your hard-earned cash than the standard **Phone (3a)**, but does it realistically warrant the extra expense? Let’s take a closer look.
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## Design & Build: A Bulging Camera Hump That’s Gym Material
### A Recognizable Design, With One Major Unsightly Change
Nothing sticks to its typical formula – a semi-transparent back, bright **Glyph lights**, and the “I’m unique” branding. Fair enough, but they’ve added a **huge** camera bump on the rear. And when I say huge, I mean it sticks out like a sore thumb. Place it flat on a surface, and it’ll wobble like your Grandma after one too many glasses of wine.
### Bulky Yet Resilient
Weighing in at **211g**, it’s definitely heavier than its smaller counterpart, and if you’re transitioning from a lighter device, you’ll certainly feel it. On the plus side, it’s a **durable device**, boasting an **IP64** rating, meaning it can withstand splashes and keep going. Unfortunately, your colour options are limited to **dull grey or black** – no vibrant choices this time.
### The Frustrating ‘Essential Key’
There’s a new button clumsily attached to the side, dubbed the **Essential Key**. Sounds crucial, right? Wrong. It’s just an overhyped shortcut for voice notes and screenshots, but it’s **far too sensitive**. I lost track of the number of times I activated it just by retrieving the phone from my pocket. Majorly irritating.
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## Screen & Speakers: A Bright Spot in This Dull Narrative
### As Impressive as a Flagship, Just Less Expensive
The **6.77-inch AMOLED** display is **truly excellent**. **Vibrant hues, deep blacks, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate** make browsing and watching videos enjoyable. You **won’t notice** it’s not a 1440p screen unless you’re one of those pixel-counting enthusiasts.
### Stereo Speakers That Deliver
The **speakers** might not be earth-shattering, but for a mid-range device, they’re **reasonably loud and full-bodied**. Not going to replace your Bluetooth speaker, but they suffice for casual listening.
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## Performance: Quick, Until It Isn’t
### Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 – No Beast, But It Suffices
I anticipated Nothing to upgrade this phone with a more powerful chipset compared to the **Phone (3a)**… but nope! They’ve **added the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 3**, meaning **no significant improvement in performance**. For everyday tasks? **Smooth sailing**. Gaming? **Yeah, it struggles a bit**, and you might need to lower some settings for smoother gameplay.
### 12GB RAM & 256GB Storage – More Than Sufficient
With **12GB of RAM**, multitasking is a breeze, and **256GB of storage** is ample unless you hoard photos and videos like a maniac. No SD card slot, but honestly, **it’s 2025, embrace cloud storage**.
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## Cameras: Good, Until the Lights Dim
### 50MP Telephoto? Sounds Great, But…
On paper, the **Phone (3a) Pro’s cameras** should be **a significant improvement** over the base version:
– **50MP main sensor** – Produces sharp daytime images, but not drastically better than the (3a).
– **50MP periscope telephoto (3x zoom)** – Surprisingly **clear up to 6x zoom**, but past that, it collapses like a poorly cooked dinner.
– **8MP ultrawide** – Just **useless**. The quality drop is so drastic, you’ll wish you had simply stepped back instead.
– **50MP selfie camera** – Actually pretty good! Perfect for self-obsessed individuals.
### Low Light? Forget About It
Shots turn out **soft, noisy, and unreliable** when the lighting dims. The **Night Mode** attempts to help, but it’s hit or miss. If you have shaky hands, good luck with that.
### Video: Blah
You get **4K at 30fps**, which sounds decent, **until you check the results**. Footage can be acceptable in bright light, but **turn the lights down and it becomes a grainy disaster**.
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## Battery Life & Charging: Strong but Missing Wireless Charging (Again)
### 5000mAh Battery = All-Day Endurance
Battery life is **robust**. Even with **heavy use**, it easily lasts a day, sometimes even stretching to two with lighter use. If you’re a normal person who doesn’t game non-stop, **you’ll be just fine**.
### 50W Fast Charging – But No Charger in the Box
It juices up from **0–50% in about 30 minutes**, which is **quite speedy**, but **you’ll have to buy your own charger** because, of course, Nothing couldn’t be bothered to include one. **Still no wireless charging**, which is just embarrassing by now.
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## Software & Features: Sleek, Unique, and a Bit Gimmicky
### NothingOS 3.1 – A Fresh Take
Nothing’s **Android 15 skin is sleek, quick, and customizable**. You can apply **retro icons, quirky widgets, and adjust your home screen ’til your heart’s desire**. It’s actually **one of the best Android overlays available** – credit where it’s due.
### Glyph Lights – Still Just a Gimmick
The **Glyph lights** on the rear **remain more of a gimmick than a breakthrough**. You can set them to display notifications, indicate timer progress, or dance along with your music, but ultimately, **they’re more for show rather than a game-changer**.
### Essential Space – A Half-Baked AI Concept
The new **Essential Space app** consolidates **voice notes, photos, and screenshots** in one area, but it **appears underdeveloped**. The AI often **misclassifies items**, leading to **unnecessary clutter**. Good idea, needs improvement.
### Software Support – Fair Play
Nothing’s **promising three years of OS updates and six years of security patches**, which is **better than Samsung’s mid-range offerings**. Good job.
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## Price & Verdict: Better Off With the Cheaper Model
### £449/$459 – Is It Worth It? Not Really
You’re shelling out **£120/$80 more** than the **Nothing Phone (3a)** for **a marginally improved camera setup and a bulky camera bump**. That’s **about it**.
**Should you purchase the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?** Nah, probably not.
– **Opt for the Phone (3a)** instead – It’s **cheaper and virtually the same device**.
– **Hold out for the Pixel 9a** – It’ll **likely feature a superior camera** anyway.
– **If you truly want a Nothing phone, wait for the Phone (3)** – That will be the **real upgrade**.
The **Phone (3a) Pro** occupies **an odd middle ground** – **decent phone, poor value**.
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## Summary: “A Nothing Phone That’s a Bit Too Much for Nothing”
The **Nothing Phone (3a) Pro** is a **solid device, but a poor deal**. It boasts **an excellent display, reliable battery life, and distinctive software**, but **the camera upgrade isn’t worth the additional cash, and that camera bump is just absurd**. Unless Nothing reduces the price, **just grab the Phone (3a) and save your money**.
For **£449/$459**, there are **better options available**.
