How the 2 mid-rangers stack up

• The usual Cellphone 3a expertise

  Nothing Cellphone 3a

  The Cellphone 3a is Nothing’s next-generation midrange Android handset, which is slated to formally launch on March 4, 2025.

• 

  The Cellphone 3a with an enhanced zoom lens

  Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional

  The Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional is a mid-range handset with a 6.77-inch show, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, and a uniquely designed rear triple digital camera design.

Cellular machine maker Nothing not too long ago launched its latest lineup of mid-range Android smartphones, the Cellphone 3a and the marginally costlier Phone 3a Pro. Each 3a Collection units are aggressively priced, whereas providing a novel design language and a definite software program expertise.

For those who’re out there for a mid-ranger handset, then Nothing’s newest merchandise are value contemplating. This is how the Cellphone 3a and the Cellphone 3a Professional stack up towards each other, from match and end, to digital camera tech, and all the things in between.

See our course of

How we test and review products at Pocket-lint

We do not do arm-chair analysis. We purchase and take a look at our personal merchandise, and we solely publish purchaser’s guides with merchandise we have truly reviewed.

Value, specs, and availability

• 	Nothing Cellphone (3a)	Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional
  Model	Nothing	Nothing
  SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
  Show	6.77-inch, 1080 x 2392, 120Hz	6.77-inch, 1080 x 2392, 120Hz
  RAM	8GB, 12GB	8GB, 12GB
  Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB
  Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Working System	Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15)	Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15)
  Entrance digital camera	32-megapixel (large), f/2.2, 1/3.44-inch	50-megapixel (large), f/2.2, 1/2.76-inch
  Rear digital camera	50-megapixel (large) f/1.88 1/1.57-inch, 50-megapixel (telephoto) f/2.0 1/2.74-inch, 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) f/2.2 1/4.0-inch	50-megapixel (large) f/1.9 1/1.57-inch, 50-megapixel (periscope telephoto) f/2.6 1/1.95-inch, 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) f/2.2 1/4.0-inch
  Dimensions	6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33-inches (163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm)	6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33-inches (163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm)
  Colours	Black, White, Blue	Gray, Black
  Show sort	AMOLED	AMOLED
  Weight	7.09 oz (201 g)	7.44 oz (211 g)
  Cost pace	50W wired	50W wired
  IP Ranking	IP64	IP64
  Value	$380	$460
  Launch	March 4, 2025	March 11, 2025

For probably the most half, the Nothing Cellphone 3a and Cellphone 3a Professional are comparable when it comes to inner specs and parts. Each ship with the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor underneath the hood, each function 6.77-inch 1080 x 2392 decision AMOLED show panels, and each are fitted with 5,000mAh battery packs.

The primary differentiating issue between the 2 fashions is their rear zoom digital camera {hardware}, in addition to the visible variations in design for his or her respective digital camera hump protrusions. Other than that, the units are extremely related, even providing equal optical fingerprint sensors, 50W wired charging assist, and IP64 water and dust resistance.

By way of colours on provide, the usual Cellphone 3a is on the market in black and white variants, whereas the 3a Professional could be had in gray or black. A blue-hued 3a mannequin is on the market internationally, however there is no phrase on if and when it will make its means onto American shores.

Each Cellphone 3a Collection units are actually broadly obtainable for buy. Within the US, the 3a prices $380 and comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 3a Professional, in the meantime, prices $460 and ships with the identical 12GB + 256GB specs configuration.

0:39

Associated

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro feels like an Android flagship in disguise

Nothing is again at it once more with its newest mid-ranger, the Cellphone 3a Professional – here is how the handset stacks up in at the moment’s uber-competitive Android scene.

Design and construct

The 3a Professional stands out with its distinctive digital camera protrusion

By way of bodily design, each Cellphone 3a Collection fashions feel and appear related: each share roughly an identical dimensions of 6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33-inches (163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4mm), and weight clocks in at 7.09oz (201g) and seven.44 oz (211g) for the 3a and the 3a Professional, respectively.

Each models function Nothing’s distinctive design language, full with translucent rear panels, faux-ribbon cables, and the distinctive triple LED Glyph interface flanking their digital camera sections. The place the usual 3a comes with a horizontal triple digital camera array that resembles that of final yr’s Phone 2a Plus, the 3a Professional encompasses a full-blown digital camera plateau that is confirmed to be an acquired taste.

Associated

Nothing is turning heads again with its new Phone 3a Series

Nothing has formally unveiled its mid-range Cellphone 3a Collection at Cellular World Congress 2025, however leaks spoiled a lot of the shock issue.

Show

Each telephones provide the identical show panel expertise

Each Cellphone 3a Collection units provide function parity on the show panel entrance. Each fashions are outfitted with massive 6.77-inch AMOLED screens, with the identical 1080 x 2392 pixel decision and the identical 800 nits of typical brightness + 3000 nits of peak brightness.

Each shows are able to dynamically adjusting between 30 and 120Hz refresh price modes, and they’re lined by the identical Panda Glass tempered glass resolution (which seems to be a lower-cost various to the extra widespread Gorilla Glass on most flagship telephones). Bezels are equally skinny and symmetrical at 2.3mm, and each screens are solely flat with no curved edges in sight.

Associated

The iPhone’s Action button is coming to Nothing phones, and I’m a big fan

It is a uncommon flash of significant enhancement on the newest smartphones.

Internals

The 2 mid-rangers share the identical {hardware} parts

Internally, the Nothing Cellphone 3a and 3a Professional are basically the identical cellphone. They’re each powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 mid-range processor, supplemented by the identical 12GB of RAM and 256GB of inner storage.

Each handsets embrace 5,000mAh battery packs, 50W wired charging speeds, official IP64 ingress safety rankings, and optical under-display fingerprint sensors. In addition they include NFC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and eSIM assist, whereas missing wi-fi Qi and Qi2 charging, and never together with ultra-wide band (UWB) assist.

Associated

Nothing’s glowing new phone is a light in the dark

Nothing has introduced a glow-in-the-dark cellphone created in collaboration with members of its group.

Cameras

The Professional mannequin ships with a extra superior periscope zoom lens

Concerning digital camera metrics, each units ship with related optical setups except for their zoom lenses. The 3a and 3a Professional share the identical 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor at f/cease 1.9 and the identical 8-megapixel ultra-wide shooter at f/cease 2.2.

The 3a comes with a 50-megapixel f/2.0 telephoto lens able to zooming optically at as much as 2x, whereas the 3a Professional’s 50-megapixel f/2.6 digital camera makes use of extra superior periscope expertise to allow 3X optical zoom. On the selfie-facing facet, the 3a’s 32-megapixel f/2.2 lens is of a notably decrease decision than the 3a Professional’s 50-megapixel f/2.2 sensor.

Associated

Nothing’s Ear (Open) are the most comfortable earbuds I’ve worn because they don’t go in my ears

For those who’re like me and discover most common wi-fi earbuds uncomfortable, the Ear (Open)’s on-ear design could possibly be what you’ve got been ready for.

Verdict: How do the 2 Nothing Cellphone 3a Collection telephones stack up to one another?

Each 3a Collection units are wonderful mid-rangers that punch effectively above their weight

With the units costing $380 and $460 for the Cellphone 3a and Cellphone 3a Professional, respectively, each fashions provide a compelling package deal at an affordable value. The handsets are well-built, and each present a novel design language that elevates them effectively above the generic mid-range Android cellphone designs of the world.

The 2 models would possibly lack niceties like wi-fi charging or extra superior IP water and mud resistance rankings, however they test all the mandatory packing containers wanted to supply a strong Android expertise throughout the board. That is doubly true on the software program entrance, through which Nothing’s OS skin is glossy, performant, and visually engaging.

The usual 3a provides nearly the identical cellphone expertise because the 3a Professional, with the one sacrifice being when it comes to its telephoto zoom capabilities. For those who do not significantly care about having the very best optics — or if you happen to merely dislike the 3a Professional’s digital camera design — then the common 3a is the way in which to go.

Best for followers of distinctive cellphone designs

Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional

The Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional is a mid-range handset with a 6.77-inch show, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, and a uniquely designed rear triple digital camera design.

If you’d like your cellphone to carry out double responsibility as a press release piece, then the 3a Professional and its eye-catching digital camera design might be the fitting name. The cellphone is barely marginally costlier than the usual 3a, however it provides much more flexibility when it comes to its optical zoom capabilities, along with providing a barely extra superior front-facing shooter.

Associated

I need this new budget phone from Nothing to revive the modular dream

The CMF Cellphone 1 could possibly be much more customizable than even flagship smartphones due to its distinctive design.