The Phone (3a) series, the latest budget-friendly lineup from Nothing, just recently made its debut with the return of the brand’s unique design grabbing the spotlight. It comes in three colourways but the most intriguing option is definitely the new blue variant.
The Phone (3a) gets a new transparent glass back, replacing the plastic one from the Phone (2a), adding to its mechanical aesthetic. While it’s definitely a familiar design language, I’d say it’s a noticeable improvement from its predecessor. With the contrast between the blue and the metal plates and screws of the backplate, along with various textures and dimples, the new Nothing device looks like nothing else on the market.
The Glyph lighting design is pretty similar to last year’s with three LED strips for notifications, a volume indicator, a flashlight, and more. It’s my first time using Nothing, so I’m eager to find out whether it’s actually useful or just a gimmick that’ll wear off over time.
Speaking of potential gimmicks, the Phone (3a) is fitted with a new button just below the power button called the Essential Key. This is exclusively for its new AI feature called Essential Space that’s, well, essentially an AI notes app.
Display-wise, it gets a slightly bigger 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel with a higher global peak brightness of 1,300 nits. For photography, the phone retains its 50MP main camera with OIS and 8MP ultra-wide lens, but gains a new telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. Inside, it runs on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 50W charging.
Now, I’m not one to usually care that much about a phone’s design as long as there aren’t any impractical gimmicks — like curved displays — but, even I have to admit that its stunning visual look would make gravitate towards it if I was looking to buy a phone in this price range.
The Phone (3a) gets a price tag that’s relatively easy on the wallet and at this price point, you do seem to get a lot of bang for your buck, at least on paper. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be using the phone to see if Nothing’s mid-ranger has worth beyond just its looks, so look forward to that.
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