The Nothing Phone (3a) is the version of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro with a shorter focal length telephoto lens. It thus goes from a X4 equivalent on the Pro model to a X2 equivalent on the model we are testing here. For the rest, the configuration is essentially the same: same Snapdragon 7s Gen3 chip engraved in 4nm, same guarantees in terms of durability, same 6.77-inch OLED screen, etc.
We therefore offer you an express test of the Nothing Phone (3a). We will focus on the main difference: the camera part. We've also included a screen section because, surprise, while both screens have the same technical specifications, they are indeed different.
If you want more details on the design, battery life, or performance, head over to our Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review, which details these elements. They are exactly the same on both products.
Nothing Phone (3a) Price and Availability
The Nothing Phone (3a) costs 349 euros in its base configuration (8 + 256GB) and 399 euros in the more advanced configuration (12 + 256GB).
Three colors are available: white, black, and blue.
Camera: Is the X2 telephoto lens a game changer?
The Nothing Phone (3a)'s main camera is the same as the (3a) Pro's. The same logic applies to the ultra-wide angle. On the other hand, the telephoto lens has been trimmed down a bit, going from an X3 to X2 equivalent. Let's take a look at these differences with the 01lab photo scene.
Before that, let's show you some shots taken with the two similar modules between the two smartphones so you can get an idea of their photo quality.
Now let's move on to the photo scene. So we compared the performance of the (3a) and (3a) Pro on their respective telephoto lenses.
Let's start with a well-lit scene. On the left is the shot of the (3a) and on the right is the shot of the Pro.
Beyond the focal length, which inevitably differs somewhat, we can see a rather different treatment. The (3a) almost overexposed the scene, as can be seen in certain white textures that are almost burnt. This necessarily gives a more natural rendering on the (3a) Pro. Overall, the sharpness is quite similar. In the corners, the (3a) Pro is very slightly more precise, but not to a significant extent for an average user.
On night scenes, the (3a) Pro's telephoto lens therefore seems slightly more gifted for exposure.
Let's move on to the photo scene plunged into darkness. We kept the order of appearance, with the (3a) on the left and the (3a) Pro on the right.
And there, surprise (or not?), the (3a) Pro gave us a shot with much more accurate colorimetry than its counterpart. In fact, the normal 3a opted for a color temperature that plunged the shot into warm tones, and this in a way that was undoubtedly too caricatured. We also see much more noise in the gray areas and a much stronger accentuation of microdetails, which gives a slightly more artificial appearance to the image.
Overall, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro's 3X telephoto lens provides a real bonus, in addition to its longer focal length, which can be useful in portraits.
Screen: a bit worse than the Pro
While on paper, the Nothing Phone (3a)'s screen is exactly the same as the Pro's, we noticed that the panels of the two devices are slightly different.
Indeed, their calibration differs. The Nothing Phone (3a) is therefore slightly less precise than its friend. It displays a worse Delta E2000 (DCI-P3), rising to 3.21 against 2.94.
Furthermore, our model was plagued by an annoying bug: the color temperature slider simply didn't work. Whether we moved left or right on it, the setting was the same. This is probably a simple bug that Nothing will be able to fix.
And also...
As a reminder, what you're reading here is a quick test. We therefore focused on the differences between this model and the Pro model. Let's mention here a few common elements that might interest you.
The design, to begin with, is definitely one of the strengths of these two phones. By focusing on a play on transparency, visible screws, and large blocks of color, the Nothing (3a) really stands out. Its central camera block is unlike any other, especially since it is surrounded by the Glyph interface, white LED strips that can turn on and off according to various actions.
Let's also talk about battery life in a nutshell. On our mixed battery life protocol, the smartphone took 17 hours and 18 minutes to go from 100% to 5%. A very decent performance, which could be considered average. This allows it to hope to reach a day and a half of moderate use.
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