Nothing Phone 3(a) long-term review; value champion in its price segment, find out why

London-based smartphone brand Nothing recently launched its new line-up of 3(a) devices. Consisting of 2 smartphones, the Nothing Phone 3(a) and the 3(a) Pro. This is different from last year, since the Pro variant is replacing or rather upgrading the Plus variant. Following the same ethos and brand philosophy, the 3(a) series, builds on the unique design proposition, strong OS experience, and a performance that will satisfy the user base. However, this time around, it is also the pricing that has made the devices talk of the town. Especially the Phone 3(a), which starts at a lucrative price of Rs. 24,999. But what makes your money worth? I tell you in my long-term review.

Also, for the folks who want to read our opinion about the Nothing Phone 3(a) Pro. Wait out, we are working on a long-form review video. In the meantime you can check out the unboxing for the devices -

Price & Availability

Phone 3(a) is available in 2 variants. The 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage variant is priced at Rs 24,999 and the 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage variant is priced at Rs 26,999. You can buy it online on Flipkart and select offline stores.

Design & Display

The Nothing Phone 3(a) builds upon the design philosophy seen in its predecessors, striking a refined balance between minimalism and modern aesthetics. Contrary to my initial assumption, the design isn’t polarizing at all. In fact, everyone who has seen the device so far has appreciated its look—a contrast to the Pro model, which I'll discuss in detail in my video.

Speaking of design, the 3(a) brings back the beloved Glyph lights. For those unfamiliar, this is a customizable LED setup on the back that can be programmed for various functions, from app notifications to ringtones and even personalized light patterns. In its third iteration, the Glyph interface remains a head-turner.

However, for me, its primary utility is limited to call and message notifications. Since I usually keep my phone on silent and face-down, the Glyph lights serve their purpose well. That said, while the customization options are extensive, I suspect even younger users who enjoy personalizing their devices may eventually outgrow the feature.

The back panel is undoubtedly stylish, but a closer look reveals that it’s made of plastic—albeit high-quality and durable. However, it does not support wireless charging, which isn’t surprising given the price segment.
Finally, the flat edges contribute to a comfortable grip, making the phone easier to hold and handle.

Another noteworthy addition to the design is the Essential Key. This customizable button allows you to trigger different apps and supports single-click, double-click, and long-press functions. You can use it to access the Essentials Space, launch the voice recorder, or even take photos in the native camera app. However, its functionality is currently limited to these features, which is why I didn’t find myself using it as often as I had hoped. That said, its placement at the bottom right makes it particularly convenient for snapping pictures.

When it comes to taking screenshots, though, nothing beats the ease of a three-finger swipe.
Before wrapping up this section, I have to mention one small but noticeable omission—Nothing has done away with the beautifully designed transparent SIM ejector tool that used to come with their devices. While most users may not even notice, longtime fans of the brand might feel a tinge of disappointment.

Now, let's talk about the display. This device features a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and an impressive peak brightness of 3000 nits. For its price segment, the display stands out—large, vibrant, and highly responsive. Having used the device extensively for the past 15 days, I’m genuinely impressed.

The expansive screen enhances the reading experience, while the high refresh rate makes scrolling and navigation incredibly smooth. If you enjoy consuming content on the go, this display won’t disappoint. Plus, with HDR10+ support, you can stream high-quality content on third-party apps.

Additionally, the device includes an optical under-display fingerprint sensor. It registers fingerprints swiftly and unlocks the phone quickly, performing as expected—neither exceeding nor falling short of industry standards.

Software

The Nothing Phone 3(a) comes with Android 15 out of the box, paired with Nothing OS 3.1. Beyond its hardware, Nothing’s UI has always been one of its standout features, and this time is no different. The level of thought put into the software experience is impressive.

The device offers deep customization, allowing users to tweak themes and layouts while also providing a diverse range of widgets. Some, like battery, camera, and clock, are native to Nothing, while others come from Google’s suite of apps. Personally, I found the calendar and camera widgets most useful, but there’s something here for everyone.

The UI is clean, minimal, and visually appealing. If you're switching to a Nothing phone for the first time, you’ll likely appreciate the bloat-free experience.

On the software front, Nothing has done a great job, committing to three years of OS updates and six years of security updates—a solid promise for long-term users.

Performance

Powering the Nothing Phone 3(a) is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a fitting choice for this price segment. In my experience so far, performance has been solid—smooth, responsive, and free of any noticeable lags. The device handles multitasking well, and RAM management is excellent, keeping multiple apps running in the background without slowdowns.

For everyday tasks like web browsing, social media, and content streaming, the experience is seamless.
When it comes to gaming, there are some trade-offs. While the phone can push high-quality graphics in Call of Duty: Mobile, maintaining stable frame rates can be a challenge. However, setting graphics to mid-tier ensures a consistently smooth experience.

The variant I’m using comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. If you're planning to keep the device for at least three years, I’d recommend going for this variant—extra storage always comes in handy in the long run.

Battery life on the Phone 3(a) is impressive. I consistently got around 6.5 hours of screen-on time with everyday use, which is better than most competitors in this range. Power users will appreciate this longevity.
The device supports 50W wired charging, capable of charging the 5000mAh battery from 0-100% in about 55 minutes—a respectable speed that ensures you’re never out of power for long.

Camera

The Phone 3a captures images with a slightly warmer tone. Despite this, details and sharpness remain consistent. The smartphone also features an 8MP ultra-wide camera, where colour variations are minimal.
The Phone 3a is equipped with a 50MP telephoto lens capable of 2x optical zoom. It captures good detail at 2x zoom, but images become less sharp when zooming further. That said, the telephoto camera performs well in bright conditions, being less prone to overexposure.

Additionally, it produces better portraits at 2x zoom.

The front-facing camera on the Phone 3a is a 32MP sensor. While selfies are decent and usable, facial details can appear over-softened in low-light conditions.

For videography, both the primary and telephoto cameras support 4K at 30fps. However, the ultra-wide camera is limited to 1080p at 30fps. The front camera also lacks 4K recording but supports 1080p at 60fps.

Verdict

The Nothing Phone 3(a) refines its signature design while delivering a clean software experience and solid everyday performance. Its 6.7-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, and 50MP telephoto camera make it a compelling choice in its price range. With a long-lasting battery, thoughtful UI, and competitive pricing starting at Rs 24,999, it stands out, though gaming and camera enthusiasts may find some limitations.