London-based tech agency Nothing has delighted us earlier than with its light-up Android telephones that present some much-needed frivolity in a world stuffed with plain, grey smartphones that take themselves too severely. The Nothing Cellphone 3A and 3A Professional are lower from the identical fabric as their predecessors, packing stable all-round specs, reasonably priced value tags and an LED-infused design that stands out from the gang.
The Nothing Cellphone 3A is the bottom mannequin within the new sequence, beginning at $379 with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Within the UK, you’ll be able to decide up a pared-back mannequin with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage for under £329, or get the 12GB/256GB mannequin for £379. The Cellphone 3A Professional has a extra full-featured digicam system than the bottom 3A, however shares the identical processor, show and batteries. It prices $459 (£449) for the 12GB/256GB mannequin.
I have been testing the Nothing Cellphone 3A Professional whereas on the bottom in Barcelona for this 12 months’s Cell World Congress. I am fairly eager on the cellphone’s stability of value and efficiency and stay up for seeing the way it stacks up towards different reasonably priced telephones like the brand new Samsung Galaxy A sequence and the Google Pixel 8A — in addition to pricier funds telephones just like the iPhone 16E.
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Nothing Cellphone 3A’s flashy design
Flashy lights? Sure, please.
The design is the very first thing that stands out about these telephones. The glass again reveals screws and information ribbons, giving it an industrial look that I discover interesting. The LED lights — which Nothing calls the Glyph — are strewn across the digicam items on each telephones and lightweight as much as warn you to incoming notifications. They are a enjoyable addition to Nothing’s telephones that you simply will not discover anyplace else.
Each telephones have 6.7-inch shows that seemed vibrant and vibrant throughout my hands-on time, simply countering Barcelona’s grey, overcast climate. These underneath the intense noon California solar might have a unique expertise. With an IP68 water resistance ranking, taking calls within the pouring rain (once more, not you, California) will not be an issue.
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Nothing Cellphone 3A and 3A Professional efficiency
The show is vibrant and sharp.
Powering the 3A sequence is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which supplied first rate scores on our benchmark checks, particularly contemplating the worth of the telephones. Whereas not topping immediately’s flagship telephones, the 3A Professional’s outcomes are extra in keeping with the Pixel 8A and Galaxy A35 5G, each of that are nice telephones.
In on a regular basis use, the cellphone has loads of energy for important duties, whereas video games like Alto’s Odyssey and Vampire Survivors ran easily.
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Nothing Cellphone 3A and AI
Each telephones run Android 15 at their core, however Nothing has closely custom-made the interface with a stark, monochrome aesthetic. It appears modern, however I generally wrestle to tell apart app icons once they’re decreased to minimalist black-and-white buttons. Nonetheless, you may be into the mono look, and if not, you’ll be able to customise the format to your liking. Nothing guarantees a complete of six years of software program and safety help, which is sweet, particularly contemplating the worth.
Gemini Superior, Gemini Reside and Circle to Search are all obtainable to make use of on the telephones, and whereas Nothing hasn’t thrown in a lot of its personal AI stuff (for which I am grateful), it has launched one software that I fairly like. Referred to as the Important Area, it is designed as a central hub for storing your ideas, notes, screenshots and concepts all through the day.
The Important Area will refill with all of your ideas and concepts. Possibly.
See some footwear you want? Open the digicam and use the devoted Important Area button on the facet of the cellphone to avoid wasting a shot — alongside together with your voice word about them — to your Area. Want to purchase brie, vodka, occasion hats and snake meals on the way in which residence? An extended button press will allow you to dictate your buying record so as to add it to your Area to test later.
It is a good thought in idea, although proper now it appears restricted in its performance. Important Area is basically a hub for screenshots and voice notes, however I see its potential. It is refreshing to discover a characteristic that is each distinctive and genuinely helpful. Nothing emphasizes that Important Area remains to be in beta, with extra options on the way in which — so regulate this house.
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Nothing Cellphone 3A Professional digicam
Each telephones pack 50-megapixel most important cameras and whereas Nothing says the Professional mannequin has upgraded autofocus and dynamic vary, I have not but been capable of evaluate them, so my ideas listed below are based mostly on my use of the Cellphone 3A Professional.
Taken with the principle digicam, this shot is vibrant and sharp.
Regardless of the difficult high-contrast scene, the Cellphone 3A Professional does a good job balancing vibrant highlights and shadowy areas.
There are numerous filters, however I notably just like the black-and-white one.
The ultrawide digicam delivers a well-balanced publicity on this shot.
Whereas the bottom 3A packs a 50 megapixel telephoto digicam able to 2x optical zoom, the 3A Professional’s 50-megapixel periscope digicam affords 3x optical zoom, with 6x “in-sensor” zoom, which successfully crops the sensor out to realize an extended zoom.
Taken at 6x zoom, this shot stays good and sharp
The bottom Cellphone 3A has a 32-megapixel front-facing digicam and the 3A Professional has a 50-megapixel sensor that is bigger to assist take sharper pictures.
Testing the Professional’s front-facing digicam was the proper excuse to get a big beer. The picture itself is okay, particularly contemplating the comparatively low-light atmosphere.
Nothing Cellphone 3A, 3A Professional or a rival cellphone?
The Nothing 3A (left) and Nothing 3A Professional (proper).
I am stunned by how little distinction there may be between the 2 fashions. With the identical processor, show, and 5,000mAh battery (with 50W quick charging), the principle distinctions are the added periscope zoom and the higher-resolution front-facing digicam. Is pictures essential to you? In that case, perhaps spring for the professional. In any other case, save your self a couple of dollars and go for the bottom mannequin.
Each telephones appear to supply a stable total expertise at a genuinely affordable value. At $379, it is a terrific deal for a cellphone that may deal with virtually something — particularly when Apple considers $599 “reasonably priced” for the iPhone 16E. Nevertheless, until you want a brand new cellphone instantly, it could be value ready to see how Samsung’s newly introduced Galaxy A26 and A36 stack up, or if Google’s Pixel 9A is simply across the nook.
Watch this: Nothing Cellphone 3A Unboxing