Nothing Phone 3a Pro is both refreshing and special
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a refreshing addition to the smartphone market, blending the best features from its predecessors with cutting-edge technology. It’s a device that not only stands out with its unique design but also delivers on performance, camera capabilities, and user experience.
Build and Design
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro embodies a sophisticated design language, characterized by clean geometric shapes, flat surfaces, and straight sides. This design is reminiscent of industrial designs from the 60s and 70s, blended with playful elements and Japanese iconography.
The phone features high-grade tempered glass and precision-machined aluminum accents, creating a perfect balance of elegance and durability. The glyph lights, a signature feature of Nothing phones, add a unique touch to the design, making it both visually appealing and functional. These lights can be customized to display various notifications and effects, enhancing the overall user experience. I’m a fan of its overall design.
One of the standout features of the design is its thoughtful approach to functionality. The phone’s design is not just about looks; it’s also about creating a seamless interaction experience. For instance, the Essential Key, located on the side, allows users to capture content, record voice notes, or access Essential Space with ease. However, as noted, it can be mistaken for the Sleep/Wake button, leading to accidental screenshots.
Display
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro packs a stunning 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This screen delivers vivid colors, thanks to its 10-bit color depth, capable of displaying over 1.07 billion colors.
The peak brightness of 3000 nits ensures excellent visibility even in bright sunlight. The adaptive refresh rate and high touch sampling rate provide a smooth and responsive user experience, making it ideal for gaming and multimedia consumption like YouTube and Netflix streaming.
Hardware
Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G processor, built on TSMC’s 4nm process, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers top-tier performance in a mid-range package. This processor provides a significant boost in CPU speed and graphics capabilities, making it suitable for demanding tasks like gaming and multitasking. The inclusion of a Kryo 8-core CPU ensures efficient performance, while the AI Engine enhances AI-driven features across the device.
The phone also features up to 20 GB of RAM with a booster, ensuring seamless performance even with multiple apps running simultaneously. However, it’s worth noting that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while powerful, might not be the fastest flagship processor available in the market. For those looking for the absolute fastest in mobile processing, this might not be the phone you’re looking for.
It is worth nothing that another device with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G processor that directly competes – in terms of price and performance – with this device is the realme 14 Pro+ 5G
Benchmark
In terms of benchmarks, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro performs right on its alley, thanks to its powerful processor and efficient RAM management. It handles demanding games and applications with ease, making it a solid choice for gamers and heavy users.
Software and Other Software Features
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro runs on Nothing OS 3, which is designed to be effortlessly intuitive. This operating system offers a clean and minimalist UI that aligns perfectly with the phone’s design ethos. Users can customize the look and feel of the interface to some extent, but the default setup is well-suited for those who appreciate simplicity.
One of the standout software features is the Essential Space, which uses AI to organize content and prompt actions. Although still in development, this feature shows great potential, allowing users to capture, organize, and interact with content more efficiently. It’s reminiscent of devices like the PLAUD AI, which records and summarizes meetings, but Essential Space integrates this functionality directly into the phone.
Another notable feature is the integration with ChatGPT, allowing users to interact with AI directly from their device. This, combined with the Essential Key, makes the phone feel like a central hub for productivity and creativity.
Camera
The camera system on the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is truly impressive. It features a 50 MP main camera with OIS, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50 MP front camera capable of shooting 4K videos. The inclusion of a 50 MP periscope OIS camera offers up to 60x ultra zoom, making it ideal for capturing distant subjects with clarity.
The camera performance is excellent, with good contrast, vibrance, and clarity in photos. Portraits offer a pleasing bokeh effect, emphasizing the subject. Video recording is also commendable, with features like AI-powered stability enhancements in low-light conditions. The TrueLens Engine 3, with its advanced computational algorithms and AI processing, ensures professional-grade photography.
Audio
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro features dual stereo speakers, providing immersive audio. It supports a wide range of audio formats, including MP3, AAC, FLAC, and more. While not specifically highlighted as a key feature, the audio quality is more than sufficient for casual listening and multimedia consumption.
Battery
The phone is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, which offers decent endurance. In medium usage scenarios, it can last around 14 hours and 33 minutes on a single charge. Fast charging is supported at 50W, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. The battery performance is satisfactory, though it may not be the longest-lasting compared to some other devices in its class.
Verdict
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a compelling option for those looking for a unique blend of design, performance, and camera capabilities. It’s priced competitively at PhP27,990, making it an attractive choice for fans of the series. While it may not offer the absolute fastest in processor technology, its overall package is well-rounded and satisfying.
For those who value a distinctive design and a seamless user experience, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a great choice. However, if you’re waiting for the next flagship model or something more powerful, you might want to hold off until later in the year.
Overall, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a breath of fresh air in the smartphone market, offering a thoughtful design, impressive camera capabilities, and a user-friendly interface. It’s a must-have for fans of the series and a solid option for anyone seeking a stylish and capable smartphone.
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is now available in the Philippines via Digital Walker’s/Nothing Official’s Shopee page for PhP27,990.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
