Unlike other companies, Nothing has chosen not to release a Phone 3. Instead, it has introduced two new mid-range devices: the Nothing Phone 3a and the 3a Pro. Fortunately, Nothing continues to design unique phones that stand out from the rest. The company’s retro-future design aesthetic, which features exposed hardware on the rear and dot-matrix fonts, animations, and software, is still present.

Nothing’s strength lies in its hardware design. The unique design of its phones generates more interest than the latest iPhone, Samsung’s foldables, or any other device. The Phone 3a series boasts a glass backing, an upgrade from the previous polycarbonate material, and still features visible screw fittings, electronics, and the return of Nothing’s Glyph lighting system. The Phone 3a has a rating of IP64, providing enhanced protection against water sprays and liquid incidents.

Nothing has revised the exposed hardware, with the Glyph lighting details now located at the top of the phone, encircling the camera unit. The Phone 3a Pro features a substantial circular camera unit that protrudes from the back, courtesy of a new periscope sensor capable of 3X optical zoom.

The camera module on the 3a Pro appears chunky and adds around 10 grams to its weight compared to the base Nothing Phone 3a. However, for camera enthusiasts, only the 3a Pro will be of interest. The blue iteration of the Nothing Phone 3a is also noteworthy.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s 50-megapixel telephoto sensor can achieve 3x optical zoom and includes a lossless cropped 6x zoom. It also features a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.88 lens and dual-pixel phase detection auto-focus (PDAF). Additionally, the phone has an ultrawide 8MP sensor with a 120-degree field of view.

The 3a Pro also features a telemacro mode, allowing users to combine focus as close as 15cm (5.9 inches) away with the zoom of the telephoto. This feature makes macro photography more useful and is rare on phones outside of China.

In comparison, the base model Phone 3a’s main 50MP camera has single-pixel PDAF but maintains the same primary camera specs. Its telephoto stretches to 2x optical zoom, and it has a third ultrawide 8MP camera.

Initial impressions of the camera are positive, with crisp images and curated filters that look good. The frosted glass effect, also available for wallpaper customization, is particularly notable.

Nothing’s TrueLens Engine 3.0 combines AI-powered tone mapping with Ultra XDR, which it co-developed with Google, to enhance photos. This involves processing a burst of 8 RAW images to adjust the brightness of each pixel up to five times. Nothing’s image processing tends to produce punchy, high-contrast photos and video.

The Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro are identical in specs, with the exception of the camera. Compared to the Nothing Phone 2a, both new devices feature a larger 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS display, now using Panda Glass instead of Corning’s Gorilla Glass. The display has an always-on feature, can reach 120Hz refresh rates, and achieves 1,300 nits, making it brighter than the company’s previous phone.

Both phones have a large 5,000mAh battery and support fast charging at up to 50W. According to Nothing, this means the device can be fully charged in under an hour, with a 50% charge achievable in 19 minutes. The only aspect that suggests the Phone 3a series is not quite at a flagship level is the processor: a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3.

Nothing has added its Essential Key to the Phone 3a, located on the right edge below the power button. This key can be used to launch the Essential Space app, capture and send screenshots, or start recording voice notes. The Essential Space app serves as a storage space for collections and will feature further functionality, such as focused search and flip-to-record, in the future.

Nothing’s software is fun, despite a learning curve in some areas. The company’s take on Android 15 adds a touch of personality to the phone. However, some of the icons can be difficult to discern, and the decorative touches sometimes clash with Google’s fonts and menus.

Other notable features include a monochrome theme, app label removal, and a smart app drawer that organizes similar apps together for easier navigation.

The Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro will be available in the US through a Beta Program. The Phone 3a, priced at $379, can be preordered now in grey, black, and blue, with devices shipping on March 11. The Phone 3a Pro, priced at $459, will be available for preorder on March 11 and will launch on March 25. In the UK, the Nothing Store in London will be one of the first places to offer the phone directly, starting at 11AM GMT on March 8.