Let’s be real for a second. The hype around the Nothing Phone 3a has been absolutely crazy. I know many of you are tempted to buy it. I actually bought this phone with my own money, and I even ordered the “Pro” version (review coming soon!) just to see if it’s worth your hard-earned cash.
But after using the base model of the Nothing Phone 3a, which launched at ₹25,000, I have a blunt answer for you: I don’t recommend this phone to everyone.. It’s a great phone, but only for a specific type of user.
Here is my completely honest, no-nonsense review.
The Unboxing Disappointment
Let’s start with what you get—or rather, what you don’t get. When I opened the box, it felt empty. You get the phone, a cable, and a SIM tool. That’s it. There is no charger and no back case. So, you are spending ₹25,000 on the phone, and then you have to spend extra for a charger and a case. Honestly, a basic case would have been nice.
Design: It’s a Looker!
Okay, putting the box aside, the phone itself looks stunning. I got the White color, and it is my personal favorite. Unlike the Nothing Phone 2a which was plastic, this one comes with a glass body (Panda Glass protection). It feels premium, but it is a bit heavy and bulky in the hand, weighing around 205 grams.
The display is super bright—hitting up to 2500 nits outdoors. Everything looks crisp. But, the bezels (the borders around the screen) look quite thick for a 2025 phone. It feels a bit dated when you look at the front.
What is that “Essential Key”? (Is it a Gimmick?)
You might have noticed an extra button below the power button. It’s called the Essential Key. My first thought was, Is another button really necessary? But after using it, I actually found it useful.
Here is a real example from my usage: I was scrolling through Instagram and saw a reel about the Arunachalam Temple. I instantly wanted to plan a trip there next month. Instead of opening a notes app and typing it out, I just long-pressed the Essential Key and said, “Remind me to go to Arunachalam next month”. It instantly saved my voice note and even took a screenshot of the reel for context. It’s a small feature, but it’s super handy for saving random thoughts quickly.
The Cameras: A Mixed Bag
This is the most confusing part of the phone. The 50MP Main Camera and the 50MP Telephoto Camera are absolutely fantastic. The portrait shots at 2X zoom are next-level. The details are sharp, and the processing is excellent. If you love taking portraits of people, you will fall in love with this camera.
But then comes the ugly part… Why did Nothing include an 8MP Ultrawide camera?. It is terrible. The details are poor, and honestly, they should have just removed it and used that budget elsewhere. It feels useless. Also, there is no option to record Bokeh (Portrait) video, which is a feature I missed.
Performance: Gamers, Look Away
This phone runs on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. For daily use—like browsing, Instagram, and calls—it is buttery smooth. The clean Nothing OS (Android 15) with zero bloatware makes the experience feel very premium.
But if you are a gamer, this is NOT for you. I played BGMI on it. While it supports 90fps, the battery drain is scary. I lost 20% battery in just one hour of gaming. Also, the storage is UFS 2.2. In a ₹25,000 phone, using UFS 2.2 is unacceptable. I tried transferring an 11GB file from my SSD to the phone, and it took 7 minutes!. That is painfully slow compared to other phones in this price range.
Battery Life
It has a 5000mAh battery. With moderate usage, I got about 7.5 hours of screen-on time. It’s decent, but not great compared to competitors offering 5500mAh or 6000mAh these days. And remember, you have to buy the 65W charger separately (₹2,500 extra) to get fast charging speeds.
My Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Let me give it to you straight.
You SHOULD buy this if:
- You care about looks and design. You want a phone that stands out.
- You take a lot of Portrait photos (the 2x camera is amazing).
- You want a clean, smooth software experience without junk apps.
You should SKIP this if:
- You are a heavy gamer.
- You transfer large files often (the storage speed is slow).
- You want a charger in the box.
Price Tip: The launch price is around ₹25,000. Personally, I feel that is a bit expensive for what it offers. If you can wait for a sale and get it for around ₹23,000, it’s a much better deal.
If you found this review helpful, please share it! Let me know in the comments—would you pick this or wait for the Pro model?
Also Read: Realme 13 Pro Plus 5G Review: Real Talk from a Real User
