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 filled with plain, grey smartphones that take themselves too critically. The Nothing Cellphone 3A and 3A Professional are reduce from the identical fabric as their predecessors, packing stable all-round specs, reasonably priced worth tags and an LED-infused design that stands out from the group.
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 choose up a pared-back mannequin with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage for less than £329, or get the 12GB/256GB mannequin for £379. The Cellphone 3A Professional has a extra full-featured digital camera 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 yr’s Cellular World Congress. I am fairly eager on the cellphone’s stability of worth and efficiency and sit up for seeing the way it stacks up in opposition to different reasonably priced telephones like the brand new Samsung Galaxy A sequence and the Google Pixel 8A — in addition to pricier finances telephones just like the iPhone 16E.
A 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 knowledge ribbons, giving it an industrial look that I discover interesting. The LED lights — which Nothing calls the Glyph — are strewn across the digital camera models on each telephones and lightweight as much as provide you with a warning to incoming notifications. They seem to be a enjoyable addition to Nothing’s telephones that you just will not discover anyplace else.
Each telephones have 6.7-inch shows that seemed shiny and vibrant throughout my hands-on time, simply countering Barcelona’s grey, overcast climate. These beneath the intense noon California solar could have a special expertise. With an IP68 water resistance score, taking calls within the pouring rain (once more, not you, California) will not be an issue.
Stable efficiency, Android 15 and AI
The show is vibrant and sharp.
Powering the 3A sequence is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which supplied respectable scores on our benchmark exams, particularly contemplating the value of the telephones. Whereas not topping right this moment’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.
Each telephones run Android 15 at their core, however Nothing has closely personalized the interface with a stark, monochrome aesthetic. It appears glossy, however I generally wrestle to tell apart app icons once they’re diminished to minimalist black-and-white buttons. Nonetheless, you is likely to be into the mono look, and if not, you’ll be able to customise the structure to your liking. Nothing guarantees a complete of six years of software program and safety assist, which is nice, particularly contemplating the value.
Gemini Superior, Gemini Dwell and Circle to Search are all accessible 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 device that I fairly like. Known 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 replenish with all of your ideas and concepts. Possibly.
See some sneakers you want? Open the digital camera and use the devoted Important Area button on the aspect of the cellphone to save lots of a shot — alongside along with your voice observe about them — to your Area. Want to purchase brie, vodka, celebration hats and snake meals on the way in which residence? A protracted button press will allow you to dictate your buying record so as to add it to your Area to examine later.
It is a good concept in idea, although proper now it appears restricted in its performance. Important Area is actually 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 keep watch over this area.
Adequate cameras
Each telephones pack 50-megapixel principal cameras and whereas Nothing says the Professional mannequin has upgraded autofocus and dynamic vary, I have never but been in a position to evaluate them, so my ideas listed below are based mostly on my use of the Cellphone 3A Professional.
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Taken with the primary digital camera, this shot is vibrant and sharp.
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Regardless of the difficult high-contrast scene, the Cellphone 3A Professional does an honest job balancing shiny highlights and shadowy areas.
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There are numerous filters, however I significantly just like the black and white one.
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The ultrawide digital camera delivers a well-balanced publicity on this shot.
Whereas the bottom 3A packs a 50 megapixel telephoto digital camera able to 2x optical zoom, the 3A Professional’s 50-megapixel periscope digital camera provides 3x optical zoom, with 6x “in-sensor” zoom, which successfully crops the sensor out to attain an extended zoom.
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Taken at 6x zoom, this shot stays good and sharp
The bottom Cellphone 3A has a 32-megapixel front-facing digital camera and the 3A Professional has a 50-megapixel sensor that is bigger to assist take sharper photographs.
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Testing the Professional’s front-facing digital camera 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 shocked 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 primary distinctions are the added periscope zoom and the higher-resolution front-facing digital camera. Is images necessary to you? In that case, possibly spring for the professional. In any other case, save your self a couple of bucks and go for the bottom mannequin.
Each telephones appear to supply a stable total expertise at a genuinely cheap worth. At $379, it is an awesome deal for a cellphone that may deal with nearly something — particularly when Apple considers $599 “reasonably priced” for the iPhone 16E. Nonetheless, except you want a brand new cellphone immediately, it could be price 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.
