The Nothing Phone (4a) has officially arrived, and naturally the biggest question is: what has actually changed compared to the Nothing Phone (3a)?

Nothing has built its reputation around bold design, clean software, and a unique identity in the smartphone market. With every new release, the company tries to refine its philosophy rather than completely reinvent it.

The Nothing Phone (4a) continues that approach. On paper, there are several upgrades such as:

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor
• UFS 3.1 storage
• Larger 5400mAh battery
• Telephoto zoom camera
• Updated Glyph interface
• Higher resolution display

But does the experience really feel better in everyday use?

In this detailed review, we’ll cover everything about the Nothing Phone (4a) including design changes, display quality, performance, software experience, camera capabilities, battery life, connectivity features, and pricing.

Let’s start from the beginning.

Unboxing Experience

The Nothing Phone (4a) comes in the company’s signature minimalist packaging. However, opening the box requires a bit of care. If you try to open it roughly, the packaging can easily get damaged.

Inside the box you get:

• Nothing Phone (4a)
• USB Type-C to Type-C cable
• SIM ejector tool
• User manual and documentation

Like many modern smartphones, there is no charger included in the box. The phone supports 50W fast charging, but you will need to purchase a compatible charger separately.

Nothing does include a transparent design aesthetic, which is the brand’s signature element.

Once you take the device out of the box, the first impression is clear: this is unmistakably a Nothing phone.

Design and Build Quality

The Nothing Phone (4a) continues the company’s transparent design philosophy.

The model I tested is the white color variant, which personally looks the most appealing. However, the phone is also available in several other colors including:

• Blue
• Black
• Pink

Each variant keeps the distinctive semi-transparent design that Nothing phones are known for.

At first glance, the device looks similar to the previous generation. But if you look carefully, you’ll notice several design changes.

Button Layout Changes

One of the biggest design changes is the button placement.

On the Nothing Phone (3a), the layout was slightly confusing. The volume buttons were placed on the left side, while the power button and essential key were on the right side.

This sometimes caused confusion when users tried to unlock the phone or adjust volume quickly.

On the Nothing Phone (4a), the company has redesigned this layout:

• Volume buttons are now on the right side
• Power button and Essential key have moved to the left

This reduces accidental presses and makes the phone easier to use.

Updated Transparent Back Design

The back of the Nothing Phone (4a) still uses a transparent aesthetic, but there are subtle improvements in texture and detailing.

The back panel is made of glass, while the frame uses polycarbonate plastic.

Some noticeable changes include:

• Slightly refined camera layout
• More visible design elements around the battery structure
• Enhanced detailing around the camera module
• A slightly different texture pattern near the top section

These changes are subtle but they add character to the device.

New Glyph Interface Design

The Glyph interface is one of the most recognizable features of Nothing phones.

With the Nothing Phone (4a), the company has introduced a modified Glyph lighting system.

Instead of the traditional segmented lighting pattern, the phone now features:

• A bar-style Glyph light design
• Square-shaped lighting modules
• A total of 63 mini LEDs

These lights can be customized for:

• Incoming calls
• Notifications
• Charging indicator
• Timer progress
• Volume indicator

The Glyph interface also supports several smart features such as:

• Flip to Glyph
• Glyph timer
• Glyph progress bar
• Third-party app integrations

For example, you can track ride arrival times in apps like Uber using Glyph lights.

However, personally, I tend to keep the Glyph lights turned off most of the time. They look cool but they are not always necessary.

Still, they remain a unique design identity for Nothing phones.

In-Hand Feel and Build

Despite the changes, the in-hand experience of the Nothing Phone (4a) feels very similar to the previous generation.

The weight of the device is about 204 grams, compared to around 200 grams for the Nothing Phone (3a).

The thickness is also quite similar, so the phone doesn’t feel dramatically different when held.

However, the slightly larger battery means the device feels a bit more solid.

IP Rating and Durability

The Nothing Phone (4a) comes with IP64 certification, which means it has basic protection against dust and splashes.

While this isn’t the highest rating available today, it is sufficient for everyday use.

Speakers and Haptics

The phone includes dual stereo speakers.

Audio quality is:

• Loud enough for media consumption
• Clear in most situations
• Balanced for calls and videos

The haptic motor is also reasonably good, although it could still be improved slightly through software optimization.

Display Quality

The Nothing Phone (4a) features a 6.7-inch flexible AMOLED display.

This display brings some noticeable improvements over the previous generation.

Display Specifications

• 6.7-inch LTPS flexible AMOLED panel
• 120Hz refresh rate
• 1.5K resolution
• HDR10 support
• 10-bit color depth

Compared to the Nothing Phone (3a), the display resolution has been upgraded from Full HD+ to 1.5K, which means sharper visuals.

The phone also includes an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, which works reliably.

Refresh Rate Performance

The display supports 120Hz refresh rate, and in most cases the phone automatically operates at 120Hz.

Unlike some smartphones, there isn’t a separate option to force 120Hz manually. The system automatically optimizes the refresh rate based on the content being displayed.

Overall, scrolling feels smooth and animations appear fluid.

Always-On Display

The device also includes a permanent Always-On Display option.

You can enable it to continuously show:

• Clock
• Notifications
• Battery status

This is useful for quickly checking information without unlocking the phone.

Performance and Processor

One of the major upgrades in the Nothing Phone (4a) is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor.

This is an improvement over the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 used in the Nothing Phone (3a).

Performance Specifications

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset
• LPDDR4X RAM
• UFS 3.1 storage

Previously, the Nothing Phone (3a) used UFS 2.2 storage. The upgrade to UFS 3.1 significantly improves app opening speed and file transfer performance.

The expected AnTuTu benchmark score for this processor is around 1.1 million, which places it comfortably in the upper mid-range performance category.

Real-World Performance

For everyday tasks such as:

• Social media
• Web browsing
• Video streaming
• Messaging

the Nothing Phone (4a) performs smoothly.

The clean Nothing OS interface also helps maintain smooth animations and responsiveness.

However, this is not primarily a gaming phone.

Light to moderate gaming works well, and some games like BGMI can run at up to 120FPS.

But if gaming is your main priority, there are other phones in this price segment that focus more heavily on gaming performance.

Nothing OS 4.1 Software Experience

One of the biggest reasons many users choose Nothing phones is the clean software experience.

The Nothing Phone (4a) runs on Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16.

Nothing OS has always focused on:

• Minimal design
• Smooth animations
• Clean interface
• No heavy bloatware

And that philosophy continues here.

Software Update Policy

Nothing promises:

• 3 years of Android updates
• 6 years of security updates

For a phone in this price segment, that is actually a respectable commitment.

Nothing also has a good reputation for pushing regular small software updates that improve performance and add new features.

Nothing OS Interface and New Features

Nothing OS follows a unique monochrome design language that makes it visually different from other Android skins.

The interface feels clean, and the overall UI animations give the phone a smooth and responsive experience.

Some notable software features include:

• Custom widgets
• Minimalist app icons
• Dot-matrix themed UI elements
• Customizable lock screen

Recently, Nothing has also been adding more functionality to the system.

For example:

New Gallery App

Nothing introduced its own Gallery application, which is gradually improving.

Inside the gallery you now get features like:

• AI Reflection Remover
• AI Object Removal
• Photo editing tools

These features help remove unwanted objects or reflections from images.

However, the phone still comes with Google Photos, so users can choose whichever they prefer.

AI Features on Nothing Phone (4a)

Nothing has started introducing several AI-powered tools inside the phone.

Some of the available AI features include:

AI Eraser

Allows you to remove unwanted objects from photos.

AI Reflection Remover

Helps remove reflections from glass surfaces in photos.

AI Cutout Tool

Lets you isolate objects in photos and create stickers.

Circle to Search

Google’s Circle to Search feature is available, allowing you to search for information directly from your screen.

Gemini AI Assistant

Nothing Phone (4a) also integrates Google Gemini, which acts as the system AI assistant.

This means you can:

• Ask questions
• Generate summaries
• Get contextual information

directly from your phone.

Essential Key and Essential Space

Another unique feature is the Essential Key.

The Essential Key can be used to quickly capture information and store it inside Essential Space.

Essential Space acts like a smart memory tool, where you can save:

• Notes
• Screenshots
• Important reminders
• Images

This feature can be very useful for productivity users.

Performance in Daily Use

Because Nothing OS is lightweight, the phone feels faster than many devices in the same category.

Even though the processor is mid-range, the clean UI makes the phone feel very responsive.

In daily usage such as:

• Social media
• Web browsing
• Messaging
• Watching videos

the performance remains smooth.

Nothing phones are known for their fluid UI animations, and that continues with the Phone (4a).

However, some users noticed that the lock screen wallpaper customization option has been removed, which received criticism from the community.

Hopefully, Nothing may bring it back in a future update.

Gaming Performance

While the Nothing Phone (4a) is not designed as a gaming phone, it can still handle casual gaming quite well.

Games like:

• BGMI
• Call of Duty Mobile
• Asphalt

can run smoothly.

BGMI supports up to 120FPS, which is impressive for a mid-range phone.

However, if gaming is your main focus, there are other phones in this price range specifically designed for gaming.

Still, for occasional gaming, the performance is perfectly acceptable.

Camera System

The Nothing Phone (4a) features a triple camera setup on the back.

Rear Cameras

• 50MP Main Camera (with OIS)
• 8MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• 3.5x Telephoto Periscope Lens

The telephoto lens is a major upgrade compared to the previous generation.

Front Camera

• 32MP Selfie Camera

This setup provides more flexibility for photography.

Camera Comparison: Nothing Phone (3a) vs Nothing Phone (4a)

The biggest improvement is in zoom photography.

Nothing Phone (3a) supported 30x digital zoom, but image quality degraded quickly.

With the 3.5x periscope telephoto lens, the Nothing Phone (4a) can produce noticeably better zoom photos.

Zoom photos from the Phone (4a) show:

• Better details
• Better sharpness
• Improved highlight control

For users who like taking zoom photos, this is a meaningful upgrade.

Photo Quality

In normal photography, the main camera performs well.

The phone produces:

• Good dynamic range
• Balanced colors
• Decent detail levels

In some scenes, the Phone (4a) handles highlights better than the previous model.

However, the camera processing still needs some improvement.

Sometimes photos can look slightly inconsistent, especially in HDR scenes.

This can likely be improved with future software updates.

Ultra-Wide Camera Performance

The ultra-wide camera is still 8MP, which is the same as the previous generation.

Because of the lower resolution, ultra-wide photos can appear softer, especially in low light.

However, in daylight conditions, the photos are still usable.

For a phone under ₹30,000, the performance is acceptable.

Video Recording

The Nothing Phone (4a) supports the following video recording modes:

• 4K at 30FPS
• 1080p at 60FPS

However, there are some limitations.

When recording in 4K, the phone only uses the main camera and does not switch to the telephoto lens.

Video stabilization works well, and the footage looks steady.

Audio recording quality is also decent.

The phone captures clear sound even in outdoor environments.

Selfie Camera Performance

The 32MP front camera captures good selfies.

Selfie photos show:

• Natural skin tones
• Decent sharpness
• Good lighting balance

The front camera supports 1080p video recording, but 4K video is not available for selfies.

Macro Photography

Interestingly, macro photography is handled through the main camera.

When you zoom to around 3.5x, the phone switches into macro mode.

This allows you to capture close-up shots with decent detail.

Camera Presets and Filters

Nothing phones also offer several camera presets.

One interesting preset is Cine Amber, which gives videos a slightly vintage cinematic look.

Users can also customize:

• Contrast
• Saturation
• Warmth
• Tint

These settings can be saved as custom presets for future use.

Battery Life

The Nothing Phone (4a) comes with a 5400mAh battery.

This is larger than the battery in the previous generation.

However, it is still a standard lithium battery, not a silicon-carbon battery.

In real usage, the phone easily lasts:

• One full day of heavy use
• Up to 1.5 days with moderate use

Battery life is one of the improvements in this generation.

Charging Speed

The phone supports 50W fast charging.

However, the charger is not included in the box.

With a compatible charger, the phone can charge relatively quickly.

Connectivity Features

In terms of connectivity, the phone includes:

• Dual SIM support
• 5G connectivity
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.4
• USB Type-C (Gen 2)

However, there are some limitations.

Missing NFC

One surprising change is that NFC has been removed.

The Nothing Phone (3a) supported NFC, but the Phone (4a) does not.

This may disappoint users who rely on contactless payments.

Nothing Phone (3a) vs Nothing Phone (4a)

Here are the main improvements in the new model:

Overall, the Phone (4a) offers several upgrades but also removes NFC.

Pricing

The Nothing Phone (4a) comes in three variants.

The base variant:

8GB RAM + 128GB storage

Price: ₹31,000

However, with a ₹4,000 card discount, the effective price becomes: ₹27,000

Other variants are priced higher depending on RAM and storage.

Final Verdict

The Nothing Phone (4a) is a refined upgrade rather than a completely new experience.

The phone improves several areas:

• Faster processor
• Better storage
• Higher resolution display
• Telephoto zoom camera
• Larger battery

At the same time, some things remain the same or slightly disappointing:

• Ultra-wide camera is still 8MP
• NFC has been removed
• No charger in the box

For users who love the Nothing design language and clean software, the Phone (4a) remains a strong option in the mid-range segment.

However, if camera versatility or gaming performance is your top priority, there are competing phones worth considering.

Still, the Nothing Phone (4a) stands out for its unique design, clean software experience, and improved hardware.

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Photo Credit: Gyan Therapy (YouTube)

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 & 𝑭𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑻𝒆𝒄𝒉 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔&𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑻𝑬𝑪𝑯𝑵𝑶𝑿𝑴𝑨𝑹𝑻𝒐𝒏 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌, 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎, 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒘. 𝑩𝒚 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑫𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑬𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒃𝒐𝒙. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 & 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀.