You might not have heard of the British tech brand Nothing, but I can promise that the look of its gadgets will catch your eye. Trust me, having these new scifiinspired phones out on my desk over the past few weeks of testing has generated a lot of interest from my colleagues!
Since its launch four years ago, Nothing’s mission statement has been to “make tech fun again” with its wireless earbuds and smartphones. They’re defined by eyecatching semitransparent designs with futuristic lighting, bold colours, impressive features and affordable pricing.
Nothing’s latest launches are the Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. These models deliver a lot of smartphone features you’d usually have to pay a lot for at much lower prices, with super unique designs that the tech enthusiast in your life should love.
These handsets succeed the highly popular Nothing Phone (2a) series, which were some of Good Housekeeping’s best budget phones over the last year, but add levelledup camera systems, upgraded performance and processors, and an extra physical button with AI features. How do they perform with regular use? Read on for my honest review of both the Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro.
Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro: At a glance
Nothing Phone (3a)
Cons
Less software support than rivals- No wireless charging
- AI features aren’t exciting (yet)
Key specifications
| Display | 6.77inch AMOLED |
|---|---|
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB |
| Cameras | 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP 2x telephoto, 32MP frontfacing |
| Weight | 201g |
What I like about the Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro
The best thing about both of these phones is the price. The regular Nothing Phone (3a) is the better value of the two, starting at £329, while the (3a) Pro starts at £449.
While there’s a price difference, there isn’t a big difference on the spec sheet. These phones both have the same big and bright displays, the same powerful Snapdragon processor, the same battery and fast charging. They also have quite similar camera systems (more on those in a moment). They both have a smart “Glyph lighting” system on the back, which lights up to count down timers or to show priority notifications. It’s not for everyone, but I’ve found it useful if you take the time to set it up!
I’m also a big fan of the minimalist version of Android that both these phones use, which is called Nothing OS. It’s focused on a monochrome aesthetic, with a lot of personalisation and fewer distractions. You can hide a lot of the home screen features designed to grab your attention, such as removing app names and switching off colourful icons.
You’ll notice that the design of both phones is striking. There’s nothing else that looks quite like a Nothing phone available right now. They’re like something straight out of a scifi film, all transparency, glowing lights and sleek curves. There’s an appealing range of available colours, too. Underneath the futuristic exterior is a capable processor and excellent battery, which will capably get you through a whole day of intensive use.
What about cameras? Camera performance was one of the notable downsides of Nothing’s (2a) series phones, and there’s a serious improvement in these handsets. For starters, they come with proper telephoto cameras, which is one more camera than most phones in this price tier. You’re getting a 50megapixel 2x zoom on the (3a) and a 50megapixel 3x zoom on the (3a) Pro. This means both have extra reach and the Pro, in particular, is great for photos of anything in the distance.
Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro camera sample photos
These telephotos join a system that has an 8megapixel ultrawide and 50megapixel main lens, which are the same on both phones. On test, both phones delivered impressively crisp and detailed images, with custom preset looks (like B&W Film, Lenticular and Soft Focus) that are loads of fun to use. There’s also closeup macro photography on board here, the selfie cameras are good, and the phones have highquality video recording.
What I don’t like about the Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro
There’s a lot more that I like about these phones than I don’t, and it’s important to remember that they offer some of the best specs you’re going to find at this price. But they’re not faultless, and it’s clear that Nothing has made concessions to compete at the budget end of the smartphone market.
While most of the cameras are fantastic, there’s been a notable downgrade with the ultrawide lens. This may not be the mostused perspective, but it’s still a shame that results look muddier from this particular option.
As with several phones under £500, there’s no wireless charging. This may not be a dealbreaker for you, especially given that the wired charging is fast, but some will depend on the convenience of wireless charging. And, while the phone is rated IP64 for dust and water resistance, that’s a much lower level of protection than you’ll find from the iPhone 16e or the Google Pixel 9a.
From my perspective, both phones are also very big to hold and use, with a screen that’s about as big as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, making them a little harder to recommend. And the design isn’t for everyone. While I find the regular (3a) quite sleek and cool, I’m less sure about the (3a) Pro’s enormous camera housing. It’s going to be divisive!
There’s also an artificial intelligence (AI) feature here: the Essential Space. It gets its own shiny button, and you can use it to send information on the screen to an area that should function as your “second memory” on the device. You can also press and hold it to record quick voice notes. I didn’t necessarily dislike this button, but I haven’t found a lot of use for it either.
It’s also becoming quite standard for smartphones to promise around seven years of software and security updates. Samsung and Google both now promote this, and Apple has supported its phones for a long time, too. Nothing, on the other hand, just assures buyers they’ll get software and security updates for three years, which is a little disappointing by comparison, given how long we hold onto our phones.
The Good Housekeeping verdict on the Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro
Overall, either the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Phone (3a) Pro are top choices for anyone looking for a highspec smartphone that’s under £500. In all honesty, I’m surprised at how good both of these phones are, given how affordable they are. I’m highly impressed by the camera improvements, the slick software and the capable processor that Nothing has managed to cram into these handsets.
While there are some downsides, there aren’t as many as you’d expect, and none that are serious deal breakers at this price. These phones have funky and interesting designs, excellent displays and a long battery life. Whichever one you pick, they’re some of the most featurepacked smartphones you can buy on a budget.
Simon Cocks is Good Housekeeping UK’s Technology Editor, overseeing tech shopping content and strategy for the title. He previously also worked across other titles including Esquire UK, Digital Spy, Men’s Health UK and Women’s Health UK.
Simon specialises in testing the latest smart gadgets, home entertainment gear, headphones, speakers, portable chargers, radios, ebook readers and smartphones. He’s reviewed top tech products from brands including Google, Apple, Amazon, JBL and Bose.
A magazine journalism graduate from Kingston University in 2014, Simon also worked on the Discovery and Silkroad inflight magazines. He then gained experience writing about entertainment at SFX and Total Film. He also contributed reviews and interviews to TwitchFilm (later ScreenAnarchy), CultBox and Frame Rated.
He joined Good Housekeeping UK as the Editorial Assistant for Special Projects and was part of Good Housekeeping’s Consumer Affairs Team between 2014 and 2019. In this role, he conducted price comparison research, wrote detailed household and moneysaving advice guides and edited thousands of indepth reviews for the Good Housekeeping Institute.
He has focused on technology and gadgets since 2020, where he started by testing out power banks and instant cameras. He writes reviews, roundups, news articles and deals updates, and also covers top tech deals during sales like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
When not testing out the latest gizmos, you’ll find Simon either catching up with the newest releases at his local cinema or out shooting with his beloved compact camera.
You can follow Simon on Instagram, on Bluesky, on LinkedIn and on Threads.
