Nothing launches the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro mid-range devices
Nothing has opted for a strategic sidestep rather than a direct successor to its flagship, introducing the mid-range Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro. These devices retain Nothing’s signature retro-futuristic aesthetic, characterized by exposed hardware elements, dot-matrix fonts, and unique software animations.
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Hardware design remains a key differentiator. The Phone 3a series features a glass back, replacing polycarbonate, and maintains the visible screw fittings and Glyph lighting system. The Phone 3a gains IP64 water resistance, enhancing its durability.
The Glyph lighting and exposed hardware are now concentrated around the camera unit at the top. The 3a Pro, with its new periscope zoom lens, sports a prominent circular camera module, adding a bit of heft.
Camera enthusiasts will gravitate towards the 3a Pro. Its 50MP telephoto lens offers 3x optical zoom and a usable 6x lossless cropped zoom. It also features a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens. A telemacro mode, combining zoom with close-up focus, is a notable feature, rare outside of Chinese smartphones. The base 3a model has a 2x optical zoom telephoto and shares the 50MP primary and 8MP ultrawide sensors.
Early camera impressions are positive, with crisp images and curated filters. Nothing’s TrueLens Engine 3.0, powered by AI and co-developed with Google, enhances photo processing through multi-frame RAW image processing.
Both models share identical specs beyond the camera. They feature a 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS display with Panda Glass, 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,300 nits brightness. A 5,000mAh battery supports 50W fast charging, promising a full charge in under an hour.
A Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor powers the devices, a mid-range choice. Nothing claims a 92% AI processing improvement over its predecessor, benefiting features like the TrueLens Engine.
See also
The Phone 3a introduces the Essential Key, a customizable button for quick access to AI features and Nothing’s Essential Space app, a centralized hub for notes and media. AI features include voice note transcription, automated reminders, and image descriptions.
Nothing OS, based on Android 15, is playful and feature-rich, with unique icons, fonts, and animations. However, some design choices, like the pixelated smiley face widget for screen time, are questionable.
Other software features include a monochrome theme, app label removal, and a smart app drawer. Nothing is also teasing features like focused search and smart collections.
The Phone 3a ($379) launches March 11, and the 3a Pro ($459) launches March 25.
Crédito: Link de origem