Nothing showcased its upcoming mid-range devices, the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on March 3, a day before their official launch. The phones were presented in a glass box, featuring white and grey colorways.
Both variations of the phone are reported to come with improved specifications and incorporate Nothing’s AI technology. The company has been actively teasing details in the lead-up to their launch, including live demonstrations at Qualcomm’s booth during MWC. The devices are rumored to feature the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset.
Nothing showcases Phone 3a and 3a Pro ahead of launch
The showcased devices exhibited distinctive designs, with the Phone 3a Pro appearing in a grey colorway, marked by a significant circular camera bump and curved Glyph lighting LEDs. This model is said to include three rear cameras, two of which are speculated to be 50MP, equipped with a new periscope lens. Conversely, the Phone 3a is presented in an all-white colorway, featuring a horizontal camera array reminiscent of Google’s Pixel devices, complemented by a small red square on the rear panel.
Images also revealed that the Nothing Phone 3a is equipped with three buttons. The volume and power buttons are both depicted in black, alongside a customizable action button, which could potentially launch various functions. In a promotional video, Nothing demonstrated that this action button could activate ‘Essential spaces,’ described as a second memory for users, allowing them to snap photos and capture voice notes while the AI organizes and categorizes the content.
While the Glyph lighting is said to be customizable, it was not demonstrated at MWC. The anticipated phones are expected to feature a significant return of Nothing’s signature Glyph interface, which serves both decorative and practical purposes by providing alerts through unique lighting patterns.
Nothing Phone (3a) might go head-to-head with iPhone SE 4
A circular design element on the back of each device houses the rear cameras. The standard Phone 3a features a horizontal camera bar, while the Pro model distributes the cameras around the circular layout, likely to accommodate larger sensors or components. Both models are rumored to have a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide camera, with the Phone 3a including a 2x telephoto camera of undetermined resolution and the Phone 3a Pro featuring a 50MP telephoto camera with an unknown zoom level.
During the reveal, Nothing did not confirm the presence of a periscope zoom on the Pro model and refrained from disclosing additional specifications. The side of the devices features what Nothing calls the “Essential Key,” which is reportedly capable of taking screenshots and recording audio. There is anticipation that this key will have further functionality, aligning with Nothing’s approach to integrating unique features into its devices.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, a notable enhancement for the Nothing Phone 3a series, was emphasized during the reveal. Qualcomm stated that the processor would provide robust performance and rapid 5G connectivity, ultimately enhancing features, including camera capabilities. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, introduced last summer, aims to meet the demands of AI and gaming.
Both the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro are expected to feature 6.72-inch OLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, akin to the Nothing Phone 2a Plus. The devices should offer a minimum of 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB, with the Pro model possibly including up to 12GB of RAM. Additionally, both devices are predicted to house 5,000 mAh batteries, which are anticipated to provide superior battery life.
Featured image credit: Nothing
