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The Nothing Phone 3a Pro landed on March 4, 2025, at MWC. It’s the beefier sibling in Nothing’s latest A-series, promising mid-range muscle with that signature flair—think glowing glyph lights and a see-through back.
Priced around $450 in India (₹37,999 on Flipkart), it’s gunning for attention in a crowded market. So, does it live up to the hype? Here’s a quick review after putting it through its paces in Bangalore’s chaotic mix of rain, traffic, and Wi-Fi woes.
Straight out of the box, the 3a Pro grabs the eye. That transparent rear—showing off coils and screws—still feels like a sci-fi prop, even if the novelty’s worn off since the Phone (1). At 195 grams, it’s heftier than the 3a’s 183 grams, thanks to a bigger 5,200mAh battery and a beefy camera hump. The circular module’s a departure from Nothing’s squircle obsession, housing three lenses that jut out a bit—wobble alert on flat surfaces. The aluminum frame’s solid, with a matte finish that doesn’t slip, and the IP68 rating means it shrugged off a splashy Holi test I threw at it. The glyph lights? Still cool—13 LEDs pulsing for calls or timers—but I mostly kept them off to save juice. It’s a looker, no doubt, though the weight might bug some.
The 6.77-inch AMOLED screen is a stunner. Nothing cranks it up to 3,000 nits peak brightness—overkill indoors, but a lifesaver under India’s blazing March sun. Scrolling at 120Hz feels silky, whether it is doom-scrolling on X or flicking through Flipkart deals. Colors pop without being garish, and the FHD+ resolution (2412x1080) keeps text sharp for late-night Kindle sessions. The Essential Key—a new side button—wakes the display to a handy AI hub, though I’ll get to that later. My gripe? The flat glass picks up fingerprints like a detective, and there’s no headphone jack—dongle life it is.
Powering this thing is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It’s a step up from the 3a’s Dimensity days, and daily tasks—WhatsApp, Chrome, BGMI—fly without hiccups. Running Genshin Impact on medium settings, and it holds steady at 40-50 FPS, though the back warmed up after 30 minutes. Nothing OS 3.0, built on Android 15, keeps things breezy with its dotty aesthetic and zero bloat. The Essential Space AI, triggered by that side key, spits out quick notes or summaries—neat for jotting ideas mid-commute, but it’s no ChatGPT. Multitasking’s smooth, and the haptic feedback’s got a satisfying click. It’s not flagship-fast, but for the price, it punches above its weight.
The triple-camera setup’s where the Pro flexes. The 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX766) snaps vibrant shots—my balcony flowers looked Instagram-ready, even in drizzle. Low-light pics hold detail, though noise creeps in. The 50MP ultrawide’s descent, capturing wide-angle chaos at Brigade Road without too much distortion. But the star? A 12MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. It’s rare at this price, and zooming into street signs or Holi crowds felt crisp and fun. The 50MP front cam’s a selfie champ—skin tones stay natural, even with my patchy beard. Video’s solid at 4K 30fps, though stabilization wobbles on bumpy auto rides.
That 5,200mAh battery’s a tank. It squeezed two days out of it—emails, YouTube, and an hour of Asphalt 9—before plugging in. Nothing’s 50W wired charging fills it to 80% in about 40 minutes; no charger in the box, though, so used my old OnePlus brick. Wireless charging’s here too, at 15W—slow but handy for my desk pad. It’s a practical powerhouse, especially for Bangalore’s power-cut-prone corners.
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro isn’t perfect. The glyph lights feel gimmicky after a while, and US buyers still face import hassles—no official stateside release yet. But for ₹37,999, customers get a stylish slab with a stellar screen, a rare telephoto lens, and battery life that laughs at daily grind. It’s not topping a Galaxy S24, but it doesn’t have to—this is mid-range done right. If you are in India and crave something different, it’s a solid pick. Grab it on the next Flipkart sale before stocks vanish.
