Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Review: Is It Really That Pro?

Nothing has built a reputation for sleek designs and those signature Glyph lights that always steal the spotlight. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro carries that legacy forward but adds its own twist. While the back panel sticks to familiar territory, the camera module is massive—so big that it manages to look both unusual and oddly appealing.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

Rs 31,999
8.2

Design & Build

9.0/10

Display

8.5/10

Performance

8.0/10

Battery Life

8.5/10

Camera Quality

7.5/10

UI Experience

9.0/10

Audio

7.5/10

Day To Day Usage

8.0/10

Value for Money

8.0/10

What Is Good?

  • Good looking design, something different
  • Display quality is great
  • Everyday performance is smooth
  • Extraordinary software experience, easy to use
  • Selfies have good skin tones and details
  • Reliable battery life

What Is Bad?

  • Bulky, very heavy
  • Inconsistent image quality
  • Audio quality can be better

Under the hood, it runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC and packs a robust 5,000mAh battery. With a bold design and capable internals, this device enters the Rs 35,000 segment with a statement. But why slap a Pro tag on this chunky beast? I’ve been using the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro for a while now, and here’s my take.

Pricing and Availability

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro will be available on Flipkart in three variants. The prices include a bank offer of Rs 2,000, and the sale begins on March 11.

Variant Price
8GB RAM + 128GB Storage Rs 29,999
8GB RAM + 256GB Storage Rs 31,999
12GB RAM + 256GB Storage Rs 33,999

Design and Display

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro stays true to the brand’s signature style with its transparent back, which gives you a glimpse of its internals. What I really like, though, is how understated the Glyph lights are—they look premium without constantly demanding attention.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Design

Now, about that camera module—it’s not just big, it’s huge. The bump is so pronounced that when the phone is placed on a table, it doesn’t just sit there; it leans.

The transparent back may look cool, but it’s also a smudge magnet. And as someone who could be Monica from Friends in another life, I can confirm—fingerprints show up instantly.

The overall design is strangely appealing. I don’t completely love it, but I also don’t dislike it—I’m just hovering in neutral territory. The real issue, though, is the weight. This thing is hefty, to the point where I’ve started calling it the chonky boy of smartphones. If it had a spirit animal, it would definitely be a bulldog—sturdy and unapologetically heavy.

Design Specifications
Weight 211 grams
Thickness 8.3mm
Colours Grey and Black
IP Rating IP64 dust and water resistant
Port and Button Placements Bottom: Primary microphone, USB port, Speaker grille, SIM tray
Top: Secondary microphone
Right Side: Volume buttons
Left Side: Power button and Essential Space

The Flip to Glyph feature is a tiny yet stylish flex. Every time I place the phone face-down, the Glyph lights blink twice—subtle yet eye-catching, almost like a playful wink from the phone.

The haptic feedback is absolutely top-tier. Whether I’m typing, getting a call, or receiving a notification, the vibration feels incredibly refined. It’s so good that I’d rather go case-free just to experience it fully. Call me dramatic, but once you feel these haptics, there’s no turning back.

Then there’s the Essential Space, Nothing’s take on a must-have shortcut button. It’s not quite like Apple’s Camera Control button—it’s actually smarter. I can save and recall important content, and with a long press, I can even record voice notes on the fly. Double-pressing it pulls up everything I’ve saved—quick and seamless.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Essential Space

But here’s the catch: the placement is a little awkward. I have to stretch my fingers in ways that feel unnatural. If you have tiny hands, you’re in luck. If not, well, prepare for some unexpected finger yoga.

The moment I powered on this phone, I felt like I had just ignited a futuristic glow stick. The way the display gradually lit up from the power button outward was oddly satisfying.

Then, reality hit me—the bezels are massive. No matter how much I tried to pretend they weren’t there, they demanded attention. As for the brightness, the screen is bright enough to handle direct sunlight like a champ.

Display Specifications
Size 6.77-inch
Type Flexible AMOLED display
Resolution 1080 x 2392 pixels
Refresh Rate 120Hz adaptive
Peak Brightness Claimed: 3000 nits Tested: 1917 nits
Minimum Brightness 21 nits

I watched Thirty-Nine on Netflix, and I have to admit, the colours popped, the details were crisp, and the blacks looked impressive. But with no HDR support, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the experience could have been even better.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Display

In the audio department, at full volume, the sound felt off—so much so that I often had to lower it to avoid irritation. Distortion was noticeable, which took away from the multimedia experience and left me a little disappointed.

Hardware and Software

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC—the same chip that powers its little sibling, the Nothing Phone (3a). It also makes an appearance in other smartphones like the Realme P3 Pro, Realme 14 Pro Plus, and Redmi Note 14 Pro+. Our AnTuTu score graph below spills the beans on how they stack up—check it out.

realme GT 6T
1,465,167
OnePlus Nord 4
1,145,842
realme P3 Pro
826,979
realme 14 Pro Plus
822,171
Nothing Phone 3a Pro
806,678
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G
712,313
AnTuTu Overall benchmark score analysis

In daily use, this phone handled everything without breaking a sweat. No overheating, no sudden bursts of warmth—just smooth sailing. The CPU throttling test results back that up too, showing solid stability under load.

When it came to multitasking, it didn’t flinch either, handling multiple background apps effortlessly.

Hardware Specifications
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
RAM Up to 12GB
Storage Up to 256GB
Storage Test 806678
CPU Throttling Test 95 per cent of its max performance
Software Version Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 15
3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches
Connectivity Details Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4

Gaming, though, was where things got interesting. My colleague put BGMI to the test, and initially, the phone capped out at 60fps on high graphics. But after a software update, it flexed its muscles and hit 90fps. Overall, the gameplay session was smooth, without any overheating or frame drops. That said, the OnePlus Nord 4 did sneak ahead in gaming performance. For the full breakdown, our YouTube video has all the details.

Gaming on Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

This phone’s software is refreshingly simple. The widgets, app icons, and overall interface feel polished and easy to navigate. Even my mom, a lifelong iPhone user, gave it a go. Normally, she treats Android phones like an unsolvable puzzle, constantly asking, “Where’s this? How do I do that?” But this time? Not a single question. Trust me, if she can use it without a hint of confusion, anyone can.

Customisation is another win. I liked tweaking the home and lock screens with different colours, icon packs, and layouts. The subtle Glyph lights on the back add just the right amount of flair. I even played around with some experimental features, like syncing the Glyph progress with Uber, Zomato, and Google Calendar. Oh, and the AirPods support works like a charm—it even shows the battery percentage, just like on an iPhone.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Software

In short, this is one of the smoothest software experiences in the Android universe. Plus, Nothing promises three years of software updates, ensuring this phone stays fresh for a good while.

Cameras

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro packs a triple-camera setup on the back, and the primary sensor delivers some seriously crisp shots. Bright colours, like vibrant yellows, pop with the right amount of saturation while still looking natural.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Camera Module

Switching to the ultra-wide lens gives you an expanded view, which is great for capturing more in a frame. But, as expected, there’s a bit of distortion at the edges, making objects near the corners look stretched. It’s not a dealbreaker, though—the overall image quality holds up well.

Portrait mode does a solid job of keeping skin tones realistic and colours balanced. However, the background blur can be inconsistent. In some shots, it felt like the processing couldn’t decide what to blur, leaving half the background sharp. The edge detection definitely needs some refining.

Camera Specifications
Primary Camera 50-megapixel Samsung with OIS
f/1.88 aperture
Secondary Camera 50-megapixel Sony Periscope with OIS
f/2.55 aperture, 3x optical zoom
Tertiary Camera 8-megapixel Sony ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture
120-degree Field of View
Selfie Camera 50-megapixel Samsung, f/2.2 aperture
81.2-degree Field of View
Video Recording Capabilities Up to 4K at 30fps

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s periscope camera sets it apart from its non-Pro sibling. The 3x optical zoom makes capturing distant subjects effortless. However, I did notice some colour inconsistencies across different shots, which was a little frustrating. Aside from that, the results were pretty impressive.

Low-light performance is solid, especially when handling bold colours like oranges. Plus, lens flare wasn’t much of an issue, even when shooting bright light sources directly.

Selfies were a pleasant surprise. Whether in daylight or low light, the front camera keeps skin tones, colours, and background details on point without losing quality.

Battery and Charging

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro packs a 5,000mAh battery, which sounds solid on paper. But with brands in this price range pushing for even bigger batteries, a little extra juice wouldn’t have hurt.

Like many modern flagships, this phone ditches the charging adapter in the box—so be prepared to spend a bit more. So, any PD charger lying around should get the job done. I took this phone from zero to hero (100%) in just 38 minutes, which is seriously impressive.

PCMark Battery Test results of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

Battery Specifications
Battery 5,000mAh
Charging Adapter 50W charging, no charger in the box
Charging Time 38 minutes
PCMark Battery Test 13 hours and 57 minutes

In the PCMark Battery Test, it clocked 13 hours and 57 minutes—not groundbreaking, but respectable. Check out our PCMark graph below to see how it stacks up against the competition.

Nothing Phone 3a
22 H 20 M
OnePlus Nord 4
18 H 20 M
realme 14 Pro Plus
15 H 53 M
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G
15 H 25 M
realme P3 Pro
15 H 11 M
Nothing Phone 3a Pro
13 H 57 M
PC Mark Battery Test Benchmark Score Analysis (hrs & mins)

For everyday use, heavy users can squeeze out seven to eight hours, while lighter users, like me, can comfortably coast through a full day.

Verdict

So, what exactly makes the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Pro? The display quality, chipset and performance, battery capacity, charging details, and software are all identical to its younger sibling, the Nothing Phone (3a). The only real upgrades here are a periscope camera and a slightly higher megapixel count on the selfie shooter. At this point, Nothing is just following the industry trend of adding a “Pro” tag whenever they throw in an extra camera.

Design-wise, this phone is a chef’s kiss. Nothing has nailed the aesthetic once again, and the phone definitely stands out. But with that sleek look comes a bit of extra weight, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Performance is solid for daily use—smooth, reliable, and no complaints there. But if gaming is your priority, you might want to consider the OnePlus Nord 4, Realme GT 6T, or Realme P3 Pro, which is a slightly more budget-friendly option.

The camera setup has potential but isn’t flawless. Some shots are fantastic, while others look like the software had a mild existential crisis mid-processing. Hopefully, a future update will fix that.

So, if you’re new to Nothing, this is a great phone to dive in with. But if you’re already using the Nothing Phone (2a) or (2a) Plus, you might want to sit this one out.