The perfect excuse to leave Apple behind

Comfort is nice, but it can also be limiting. That notion extends to smartphones, especially in my experience of admittedly finding safe harbor on Apple’s shores over the years. Luckily, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a welcome shot in the arm for the mid-range smartphone space. After spending time with its sister phone, the Nothing Phone (3a), I wasn’t sure whether there would be much to separate the two. Yet, Nothing’s more premium offering is so great it’s enough to make even the most loyal of Apple fans switch things up.

For context, I’ve been jumping back and forth between the lands of iOS and Android often when it comes to my phone. Finding myself enamored with the Huawei P30 Pro and the Honor 10 at one point, something always drew me back to the best iPhones sooner or later. The simplicity of Apple’s operating system, the multi-product ecosystem. It’s all very enticing, but Nothing has been quietly building up a fantastic world to live in, too.

Price and availability

Similarly to the Nothing Phone (3a), the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro aims to reduce the strain on your wallet, finding itself among the mid-range phone hierarchy. Priced at $459/£449, a jump from its predecessor’s base price of $379/£329, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro sports two colorways: black and silver. In typical Nothing fashion, the device features a striking design, showing off a sturdy, transparent glass back with waves, lines, and bolts to admire.

I can’t emphasize enough how great Nothing’s visual ethos is, leaving many of the brand’s rivals in the dust on this front. Depending on your storage needs, you can choose between a 128GB and 256GB model, with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Getting your hands on this handset, though, might be a challenge. In the United Kingdom, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is widely available at most high street retailers, including the likes of Argos, John Lewis, and Curry’s.

Beyond this, it can be a fairly elusive device to find. Online retailers such as Amazon are stocking Nothing’s latest phone, but the best way to currently get it in the United States is through the brand’s official website. However, my research points to limited 5G support in the United States, which is a caveat to consider. If you’re in the UK like me, then this isn’t an issue.

Again, like the Nothing Phone (3a), US customers are greeted with 14 days of post-purchase support through the Nothing beta program. Nothing’s software support policy also clarifies the promise of three years of Android and security updates going forward.

Specs

Here are the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro specs:

Performance and gaming

With the benefit of 12 GB of RAM, there’s plenty of horsepower to toy around with inside the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. My experience with the (3a) occasionally came across sluggish app loading times, in-app stutters, and pauses on the home screen. While they were rare, it was enough for me to notice. I’m happy to report that it is virtually nonexistent with this model. Aside from some minor stalls after an initial software update, performance across the board is fantastic here.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro promises 33% faster CPU and 11% faster GPU speeds, according to the brand itself, despite using the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G chip and an 8-core CPU. Together, this combination handles most gaming stalwarts with relative ease. I tend to spend my small-screen sessions in free mobile games such as Delta Force and Call of Duty: Mobile, both of which steamroll through the battlefield without a hitch. Better yet, you can push both games up to the max graphically without much compromise on performance, although it’ll sacrifice some of the (3a) Pro’s ample battery – more on that later.

Temperature control is brilliant as ever, too, utilizing the 4,500mm² steel vapor chamber to dissipate heat buildup quickly. Many of the best Android phones can get a little toasty, and while the (3a) Pro may get a tad warm during extended sessions, it’s never a cause for concern. It certainly doesn’t reach the levels of the Honor Magic 7 Pro or even the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Because of that aforementioned RAM upgrade, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro positions itself alongside Android greats like the Xiaomi 15, and it shows. It’s not just stellar gaming performance, either, as using everyday apps is painless. The usual entertainment outliers like YouTube and TikTok don’t falter in the face of endless scrolling, while the gauntlet of Google apps for work or leisure trudges on effortlessly. I typically use (3a) Pro with the RAM Booster setting engaged, taking advantage of the 8 GB allocation to truly get the most out of the device’s power, and I recommend doing the same.

Features and software

There’s not too much difference between the regular and Pro versions of the Nothing Phone 3(a), but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Dressed in Nothing’s own Android 15 skin, navigating the smartphone easily becomes second nature. If you prefer to keep things minimalistic, Nothing’s version of Android 15’s interface is a low-key affair, with muted colors and simplistic application logos. It matches the same choices as Nothing makes with its CMF Watch Pro and CMF Watch Pro 2 wearables, maintaining cohesion across the brand.

While I appreciate this no-nonsense, distraction-free approach, my brain itches for a splash of color to scratch it. In that regard, I opt to use the standard Android 15 theme, albeit with app names and widgets engaged. If you’re migrating over from an iPhone, then this level of customization is something you’ll appreciate.

I still struggle to see the full potential of Essential Space, though. This is Nothing’s new interactive way of brainstorming ideas, taking notes, and formulating plans with the app of a single button. To dismiss it as a glorified notes app is harsh, but for me, I’d much prefer to map the Essential Space to other functions, much like the iPhone 16’s action button. Although Nothing is expanding this feature with future updates, it feels redundant during my everyday usage currently.

Design

Astounding – that’s a superlative the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro design is worthy of. There isn’t anyone doing it quite like Nothing right now, at least on the aesthetic side. Boring and stale are words you won’t find anywhere near the (3a) and (3a) Pro, with 1970s industrialism manifesting across its eye-catching back. It’s a wicked crossover of NASA-punk, sci-fi, and futurism, coming across as something that wouldn’t feel out of place in Embark Studios’ ARC Raiders or Alex Cox’s cult classic Repo Man. That bleeds into the camera arrangement, an emboldened collection of lenses evoking a sense of wonder.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro casts an imposing shadow at first, with its larger form factor aping standard iPhone models or flashier Google Pixel phones. Protected by tempered Panda glass and IP64 protection from dust and moisture, I can rest easy that most splashes of rain or water from washing up the dishes aren’t going to cause it any harm. That being said, it isn’t the greatest water protection around. I still reckon the Pixel Pro 9 XL is a champ for that.

One of the first things I do when getting a new phone is seek out accessories. Buying screen protectors for Nothing’s new batch of handsets isn’t exactly easy, though. I’ve tested various options from Amazon and eBay, and many of them aren’t a true fit. Sadly, Nothing doesn’t offer an alternative, so keep that in mind. Cases are also hit and miss from third parties, and Nothing still doesn’t provide one within the box.

Display

Sticking with the 6.77-inch display, you can still get a helping of OLED goodness, and boy, does it shine. The ability to use its 120Hz refresh rate is a godsend, especially combined with HDR10-compatible content. That means streaming MobLand on Paramount Plus or watching portions of Avengers: Infinity War on the train looks brilliant. Colors pop too, but never feel overly saturated, although you can experiment with different color profiles if you wish.

Direct sunlight doesn’t seem to phase the display, either, and that’s been a massive boon while traveling on trains or walking around my town center. The peak brightness of 3,000 nits during HDR video is doing the heavy lifting on that end. For comparison, the Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, which also employs a 6.77″ screen, reaches a max of 1,300 nits. App animations, gestures, and general screen response are satisfying, with each keystroke of haptic feedback tapping a steady beat.

Fingerprint detection is still a little finicky if you’re prone to using biometric app features. Despite this, it’s undoubtedly one of the slickest displays at this price point, and at least to my eye, a cut above rivals like the OnePlus 12R and RedMagic 10 Air.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro cameras

Providing the means for Instagram-worthy snaps has been in the wheelhouse of Nothing for a while, and the (3a) Pro more than steps up to the mark. Incorporating a 70mm periscope lens, not unlike the same kind you can find in the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or certain OnePlus phones, pushing the 3x zoom to its limits is nothing but impressive. Not just because I can hone in on subjects from afar, but the clarity of the image is exceptional.

Displaying great contrast and decent color reproduction, the (3a) Pro’s results are ripe for post-processing in Lightroom or Snapseed. Two 50 MP lenses bulk up the (3a) Pro’s camera, offering an aperture as low as f/1.9. You can switch between 15mm, 24mm, 50mm, 70mm, and 140mm focal lengths on the fly, the latter of which uses a Sony sensor at the heart of it. Wide-angle lenses are always the culprit of issues, and while it isn’t awful by any means, don’t get too excited about it here.

The 50 MP selfie camera won’t be for everyone, at least from a file-size perspective. Because of the increased MP count, selfies are much more taxing on your storage than most phones. I also find the portrait mode to be a little too aggressive at times. Despite giving you a better camera selection this time, Nothing doesn’t move past 4K 30 FPS, with 1080p 30/60 FPS kept in reserve. Sure, shooting at 4K 60 FPS isn’t for everyone, but it’s nice to have that option.

Battery

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports 50W fast charging, giving it plenty of stamina for daily use. The rapid charging feature is just as it’s described, climbing from a 20% charge to a full tank within 40 minutes. Nothing, again, still doesn’t include a charging adapter. You’ll need to buy one separately to reap the full benefits. However, there is a Nothing USB-C cable bundled in, which the brand encourages you to use for the best results.

Should you buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro?

While I think the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a stunning piece of kit, it may be hard to justify the leap up from its predecessor. Using the same chipset, form factor, and display, the main upgrades here are the increased RAM and refined camera setup. However, I still recommend it wholeheartedly if you’re in the market for a handset that is a step above the budget phone arena.

Like the Nothing Phone (3a) before it, this is a standout choice for gaming, handling demanding titles while barely breaking a sweat. Nothing’s bold, stripped-back approach to design is always a treat to the eyes and keeps the brand distinct in a market of decidedly boring selections.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for worthwhile alternatives in your hunt for a new phone, then these options below are excellent choices.

Google Pixel 9a

Google is among the titans of Android smartphones, and for good reason. The Google Pixel 9a is another solid entry into its library, slotting alongside the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s mid-range price. You won’t see Nothing’s unique skin of Android 15 here, but the Pixel 9a is a sleek, no-thrills approach to smartphones. It’s powerful enough for most mobile games, has a great camera, and won’t break the bank.

iPhone 16e

Want an iPhone but aren’t bothered about the Max or standard model? That’s where the iPhone 16e comes in. Similar to Apple’s SE models, this iteration of the popular flagship comes equipped with Apple Intelligence and access to all the Apple Arcade Games available, while offering a respectable amount of power under the hood. Its singular camera is decent, but you might find yourself hoping for something more.