Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Long Term Review: A Blend of Style Speed and Power

Among the ocean of smartphone copies, Nothing dared to be different. From day one, they were not merely making phones, but rather they were designing experiences. No dull stuff here; Nothing gives that huge dose of originality with every device. A transparent back is anything but subtle: It is a statement. A gesture of refusal to blend in with the crowd. An unusually pleasing user interface. Nothing just went on to carve out its own niche by re-doing the way in which we perceive an ordinary smartphone. And that story still flows into the Nothing Phone (3a) series. We did some deep dives into the Nothing Phone (3a); it’s time to let loose the Pro!

Hype or no hype? The Nada Phone 3a Pro 5G makes its entry into the Indian theatre starting at ₹29,999, that is, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Want to push for further storage? ₹31,999 is the price for an 8GB/256GB variant. Power buyers, attention: for ₹33,999, there is a 12GB RAM, 256GB storage powerhouse. However, then with a ton of options available in the market, does the 3a Pro really stand up and offer a bang for your buck? So let’s dive in and break down its features and see if it is worthy of your hard-earned money.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Design: Notable

• Dimensions – 163.52 x 77.50 x 8.39mm
• Weight – 211g
• Colours – Black and Grey

Nothing Phone 3a Pro doesn’t stray far from its roots, going with the transparent iconic design that made Nothing famous. Look closer- a bold, circular camera module sets it apart from the Phone 3a, thus forging an identity of its own within the Nothing family. It surely feels familiar, but different in a very refreshing way.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is available in two colour options.

The Pro-version did not get just an upgrade; it received a dazzling makeover. Gone is the plastic of yesteryear, replaced by a sleek glass panel that elevates both its looks and feel.

The variant Grey arrived for review, and the first impression was really almost premium. With the word cold and sterile plastic out of the window, this polycarbonate frame is in possession of a velvety soft-matte finish that is a pleasure to hold. Dust and splashes? No fuss. Protection is amped up to IP64, a welcome update, but the others seem to be moving the bar even higher at this time.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro ports and button placement are comfortable enough.

The rear panel commands attention with its large circular camera module. The intense design may appeal to some people, while the protruding module compromised the grip. I found it hard to place my index finger comfortably. The space around this module, the Glyph Interface, acts as a futuristic halo and elevates the look of the phone. It’s not just for looks, though; following in the footsteps of previous generations, the Glyph lights function as timers, dance to your tunes, and notify you of incoming communications. Head into Settings > Glyph Interface to customize those light patterns all for yourself.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Display: Sharp and Bright

• Display – 6.77-inch FHD+ flexible AMOLED display
• Refresh Rate – 120Hz screen refresh rate
• Other Features – 480Hz touch sampling rate, Panda Glass protection, 10-bit colour, HDR10+, 3,000nits peak brightness

The majestic screen of the Phone 3a Pro measures 6.77-inches! A canvas of colors opens up before-you with a crisp resolution of 1080 x 2392. Enjoy buttery-smooth frames thanks to the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate, and when you feel like treating yourself to some HDR content, get ready for 3000 nits of peak brightness. Say goodbye to ugly distortions! With a flat panel and glass design, this phone commands sharp viewing angles free from obtrusive reflections that usually torture curved screens.

The smartphone comes with a bright display, which makes it easier to read texts in outdoor conditions.

Here come two distinct color modes for a lively visual feast: Alive and Standard. Alive, out of the box, comes with poppy, very loud colors-anime lovers would smile on it! Want a softer palette? Simply choose Standard for more natural hues. And with HDR 10 & HDR 10+ certifications on board, Netflix and YouTube serve as cinematic showcases for an awesome HD delight.

Magic is in the air with a high refresh rate display- picture your fingertips gliding over glass. Scrolling and swiping just flows in elegant fluidity. Also, staying legible under the sun is an absolute must, and so this screen does not fail even under the harshest glare. And unlock with flair, inspired by the future, courtesy of an extremely responsive in-display fingerprint sensor, albeit a little too low for my liking. Now turn it up and allow your stereo speakers to suck you into a sphere of rich sound experience. Coupled with the pulsating Glyph light effects, your phone becomes a pocket-sized party ready to dispense the beats.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Software: Unique and Artsy

• Software version – Nothing OS 3.1
• Android version – Android 15
• Promised updates – 3 years of software, 6 years of security updates

The launch of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro heralds the release of Android 15, and it will be on display with NothingOS 3.2. Imagine an interface stripped to the bare essentials yet packed with intuition. Nothing has adopted the fine line of minimalism, and they have doubled down on that notion promising an uncluttered experience that is distinctly Nothing.

The NothingOS provide a clean and bloat-free experience.

The smartphone continues the legacy of Nothing OS in minimalism. That characteristic dot matrix font and black-and-white treatment return to impart a rare visual identity. But truly, the value resides in that blissfully bloat-free experience. In a smartphone world drowning in unwanted apps, Nothing resorts to an unusually clean and uncluttered interface: a rarity-again-commitment to user experience. Goodbye bloatware temptation.

Like the Nothing Phone (3a), the Pro version unlooses the fabulous power of Essential Space, Nothing’s intuitive AI companion. For an in-depth view of how this AI streamlines your digital life, read the full Nothing Phone (3a) review.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Performance: Good Daily Usage

• Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, 2.5GHz, 4nm
• RAM – Up to 12GB (LPDDR4X)
• Storage – Up to 256GB (UFS 2.2)

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro doesn’t just perform; it glides. A processor that anticipates your needs, enfolds while shrugging off daily demands with effortless grace. Imagine: YouTube streaming flawlessly, inputting Rs. on Instagram, your tracks pulsating in the background, and munching on an online article. Lag, we waste no time, put your fingers down on fluidity. And hydraulic jets of this intelligently tuned high refresh rate render every swipe, tap, and transition into a chill tempo of visual experience.

Gaming? Nothing Phone 3a Pro simply does not back down. I put it through a battery of tests-with maxing out Call of Duty: Mobile ratings (Very High graphics, insane frame rates), all for smooth buttery gliding with no lag or stutters. That feather-touch 480Hz touch sampling rate really makes the difference, with every tap and swipe being instantaneous (just remember to switch on Game Mode). Above all, the phone stays cool-they do get a bit warm under pressure, but it settles heat faster than you could say “game over.” Thumbs-up for thermals!

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Cameras: Decent Enough

• Primary camera – 50-megapixel, OIS, f/1.5 aperture, AF
• Ultrawide camera – 8-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, FF
• Telephoto camera – 50-megapixel, 2X, OIS, f/2.0 aperture, AF
• Selfie camera – 50-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture, FF

Against the backdrop of a slim-line silhouette, quite frankly, both the Phone 3a and its variant Phone 3a Pro diverge much in terms of photographic prowess. Yet while the 3a-both offer a triple-lens camera at the back-a survey of the cameras will clearly show that sensor choices are very different for the two-a difference or rather several differences that set them worlds apart.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro comes with a periscope lens that captures good photos.

The Phone 3a comes with a sharp 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN9 sensor, yet the Pro gives a better sensor: the Samsung ISOCELL GNJ. The real star here for the Pro, alas, is its telephoto lens: a 50MP Sony LYTIA 600 sensor with 3x optical zoom (70mm equivalent) and stable OIS. The 3a is not far behind with a 50MP Samsung sensor-based 2x telephoto lens with electronic stabilization. Zoom showdown!

And the real star? That 50MP selfie camera on the Phone 3a Pro. Kiss goodbye to any grainy memories! The Phone 3a with its 32MP just doesn’t cut it. Enough specs for now let’s get on comparing the real-world performance of the camera.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro daylight primary camera samples. (Tap to open)

In the light of the sun, the main camera is aflush with melodies. Images suddenly go into focus and reveal charming details. Contrast dances playfully, forming a dynamic range that suddenly pops. Colors burst forth with vibrancy under the sun’s kiss. Even going up to 2x zoom, such magic still exists: The clarity of details and the true nature of colors defy any digital tricks.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro daylight camera samples clicked using telephoto lens. (Tap to open)

For real, the winner here is accompanied by the telephoto lens that clicks sharp, detailed images with beautiful harmony together with the main camera. Portraits are so much fun since there is great subject separation and edge detection. Skin tones do look very realistic, while the colors are vibrant but natural. A nice bonus is this telephoto also doubles up as a macro lens, shooting breathtaking close-ups in daylight, while OIS takes care of steady shots all along.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro daylight camera samples clicked using wide-angle lens. (Tap to open)

Ultrawide lens? Let’s just say the camera is a shy sibling. It has enough good shots but gets trampled down in details in comparison to the main and telephoto ones. Barrel distortion is off the table for sure, but most pictures do turn out softer than I would like. It is an emergency kind of lens, so do not expect it to perform miracles.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro low-light camera samples clicked using primary sensor. (Tap to open)

The day fades into dusk; it is just in this moment that the main camera turns to its magnum opus, etching fine detail and preserving a breathtaking dynamic range. Shadows deepen with subtlety while highlights retain their glow even in the dimmest of settings-an enthralling balance carved in each shot.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro low-light camera samples clicked using the telephoto lens. (Tap to open)

In low-light situations, the telephoto lens stands out. The 3x zoom confers tremendous sharpness to and finer details upon images. Our OIS becomes a night-time hero, stabilizing shots against blur. Colors are true to life, although very rare incidences of ‘blooming’ from extreme points of light can be witnessed; these situations, however, are not particularly distracting.

Snapping selfies? In daylight, the front camera offers a high level of detail for sharp shots. At dusk, it performs reasonably well and delivers photos worthy of posting to Instagram. Skin tones are kept natural in portrait shots that really capture your essence. This mode works great in bright as well as low lighting.

Good features to have include shooting glorious 4K videos using both the main and front cameras. The telephoto and ultrawide lenses can do 1080p at most, though. And those 4K shots are gorgeous and really detailed with vibrant colors bursting forth.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Battery: Good output

• Battery Capacity – 5,000mAh
• Wired Charging – 50W
• Charger – Not Included in Box

The 5,000-mAh battery is not to be underestimated when talking about the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Though it might seem diminutive in a power cell world of giants, Nothing’s mastery under the hood transforms this one into a marathon runner. Forget peeking at the charging port every hour or two; the power this one sips is an awful lot less than what most phones chug down-an absolute delight!

The HD battery rundown test gave this phone the extra 29 hours and 15 minutes of non-stop video bliss. But the real showstopper? The PCMark Work battery test kept this phone going for 18 hours and 10 minutes of continuous simulated work. This is, indeed, a complete standard workdayand then much more.Nothing Phone 3a Pro confirms that battery life is more about clever optimization than about just straightforward capacity.

The PCMark Work battery test kept this device going for 18 hours and 10 minutes of simulated work, straining the phone to its limits. That is a full working dayand then some.The Nothing Phone 3a Pro suggests that battery life isn’t merely about capacity; it’s about smart optimization.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers a 50W fast charging support.

One could use benchmarking data and my real-life experience to prove this: this phone laughs in the face of the dreaded daily charge. Even if one pushes it with a day’s worth of doomscrolling through Reels, adrenaline-pumping BGMI battles, GPS-guided commutes, and endless YouTube binges, they would still have some juice. Forget battery anxiety; this thing is a marathon runner.

With a capable charger fitted in, the Phone 3a Pro can wield some serious fast charging at 50 watts. But lead me to this: no charger would accompany the box. Well, 50W is just fair speed; not fast at all when some other brands go about screaming 100 watts. I plugged in an 80W GaN charger and saw it go from zero to 47 percent in 30 minutes. Full? Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes would be enough.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Verdict

What can be intriguing about the Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G? Well, nothing really! The daring company Nothing has done more outrageous things with this successor, in a way begging to be “looked at.” The design? A conversation starter, if you will. That giant, circular camera module? Some might consider it path-breaking; I found it rather clumsy. Yet, this paramour of a phone remains rather sleek, gently gliding into your palm like a lovable murmur.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro offers a good value-for-money proposition in this price segment.

True to its name, Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a performer, a dancer even! The device confronts heavy duties with the common-fluid grace rarely seen at this segment and price. Cameras: A forensic replay of creating vibrant memories irrespective of ambient light. But the actual spark is the UI a breath of fresh air in a bloated ecosystem. It is clean and intuitive, enhancing the experience rather than hindering it. And if you are after something that dares to be different, with solid performance, equally capable cameras, and a design that can catch attention, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro must be considered.

The smartphone world is about to become hotter than ever. Buy fighters including the Realme GT 7T, the iQOO Neo 10R, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro are now gearing up to steal the limelight. This should be a full-on no-holds-barred fight for your attention – and your money.

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