The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has been in my hands for a full week now, and after rigorous testing, it’s time to dive deep into what this device truly offers. Nothing has consistently pushed the boundaries of smartphone design with its transparent aesthetic and minimalistic approach. But does the Phone 3a Pro hold up in real-world usage? After one week of continuous testing, I have gathered all the insights you need before deciding whether to buy this smartphone.

Unboxing Experience: Premium and Thoughtful

From the moment you unbox the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, you get a sense of uniqueness. The packaging is sleek, minimalist, and unmistakably Nothing. The transparent design language extends to the accessories as well. Inside the box, you get:

• The Nothing Phone 3a Pro itself
• A USB-C cable (transparent, of course)
• A SIM ejector tool
• Basic documentation (but no charger, as expected)

The company maintains its stance on sustainability by omitting the charger. If you don’t own a compatible fast charger, you must purchase one separately.

Read the Full Review blog about the Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Design: Striking Yet Practical

After a week of using the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, I can confidently say it turns heads wherever you go. The transparent back panel with Glyph lighting is more refined this time, allowing for improved functionality beyond just aesthetics. Compared to the Nothing Phone 2a, the 3a Pro feels more premium, with a solid aluminum frame and slightly curved edges that enhance ergonomics.

Despite its glass build, the phone is surprisingly comfortable to hold, thanks to well-balanced weight distribution. The Gorilla Glass Victus protection ensures durability, but the phone remains a fingerprint magnet.

Display: Stunning and Smooth

One of the best parts of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is its 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. Over the past week, I’ve extensively tested this display for:

• Outdoor visibility: Excellent brightness levels make it easy to read under direct sunlight.
• Color accuracy: Deep blacks, vibrant colors, and HDR10+ support enhance the media consumption experience.
• Smoothness: Scrolling, gaming, and animations feel buttery smooth, making everyday usage a delight.

Watching content on Netflix, YouTube, and Disney+ was an absolute joy. The stereo speakers add to the experience, producing loud and immersive audio.

Performance: Fast, Fluid, and Reliable

At the heart of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. Over one week, I pushed this phone to its limits. Here’s how it performed:

• Day-to-day usage: No lags, stutters, or slowdowns. Multitasking is effortless.
• Gaming: High-end titles like Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile run smoothly at high settings.
• Thermal management: The phone stays cool even during long gaming sessions, thanks to an improved cooling system.

In benchmarks, it scored close to 1.2 million on AnTuTu, which places it right in the flagship category. Real-world usage backs up these numbers with excellent fluidity in all tasks.

Software: Nothing OS 3.5 is Polished

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro runs on Nothing OS 3.5, based on Android 14. After using it for a week, I appreciate how clean and bloatware-free the software experience is. Some key takeaways:

• Minimalist UI: No unnecessary pre-installed apps or bloatware.
• Customization: The Glyph interface allows users to assign custom lighting patterns for notifications.
• Regular Updates: Nothing promises 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches.

Animations are fluid, and the phone feels responsive. No ads, no spam notifications, just pure Android bliss with a Nothing twist.

Camera: A Step Forward but Not Perfect

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro houses a 50MP primary sensor with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. The camera performance is good, but does it live up to flagship standards? After a week of capturing hundreds of shots, here’s what I found:

• Daylight photography: Crisp details, vibrant colors, and accurate dynamic range.
• Low-light performance: Improved Night Mode helps, but some noise is present.
• Ultra-wide shots: Good consistency with minimal distortion.
• Selfies: The 32MP front camera produces sharp, natural-looking selfies.
• Video: 4K recording at 60fps is smooth, but stabilization could be better.

The camera is not the absolute best in the market, but for the price, it holds up well.

Battery Life: All-Day Endurance

With a 4,700mAh battery, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has proven to be a reliable daily driver. After a week of testing:

• Screen-on time: 7-8 hours consistently.
• Charging: 45W wired charging fills up the battery in around 45 minutes.
• Wireless charging: Supported at 15W.
• Battery optimization: Standby drain is minimal.

Even with heavy usage, I never had to worry about running out of juice before bedtime.

Connectivity & Other Features

In the past week, I have tested connectivity extensively. 5G support is flawless, and call quality is excellent. Other features include:

• WiFi 6E support
• Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos
• Under-display fingerprint scanner (fast & accurate)
• Face unlock (quick, but less secure than fingerprint)
• IP54 water resistance (not fully waterproof, but splash-resistant)

Final Verdict: Is the Nothing Phone 3a Pro Worth It?

After one week of extensive testing, I can confidently say that the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is one of the best mid-premium smartphones of 2024. Here’s a final breakdown:

Pros:

• Unique, eye-catching design
• Excellent 120Hz AMOLED display
• Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
• Clean, bloat-free Nothing OS 3.5
• Reliable battery life with fast charging

Cons:

• No charger in the box
• Camera is good, but not the absolute best
• No official IP68 rating

For those who value design, clean software, and solid performance, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is worth considering. If cameras are your priority, you might want to explore alternatives. But as a daily driver, this phone is a solid choice that stands out in a sea of generic smartphones.

Would I continue using it? Absolutely. The combination of premium design, powerful internals, and a unique software experience makes it an exciting and refreshing device in the smartphone market.