Last year’s Nothing Phone (2a) is the most successful device in Nothing’s lineup. This 4-year-old phone maker already made a dent in emerging markets like India, thanks to the phone’s aggressive pricing and the quirky marketing tactics of Carl Pei, Nothing’s CEO. Now the brand is coming out with its successor, the Nothing Phone (3a), to their hit formula. It brings some new changes, but are they enough to entice you to upgrade from the Phone (2a)? Let’s discuss this in this Nothing Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a) comparison.
Nothing Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Key Specifications
Here’s a complete look at the spec difference between the Nothing Phone (3a), and the Phone (2a). Have a look:
Specs Nothing Phone (3a) Nothing Phone (2a) Weight 201 grams 190 grams Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm) Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro (4 nm) RAM/Storage 8/12 GB RAM, 128/256 GB storage 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage Display 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3000 nits (peak brightness), 10 Bit colors 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED, 120 Hz, 1300 nits (peak brightness), 10 Bit colors Rear Camera 50MP Main + 50MP 2x Telephoto + 8MP Ultrawide 50 MP Main + 50 MP Ultrawide Front Camera 32MP 32MP Video Up to 4K at 30FPS Up to 4K at 30FPS Dual SIM Yes; Does not support eSIM Yes; Does not support eSIM Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC USB-C Type C Type C Battery 5,000 mAh 5,000 mAh Charging 50W fast charging, no wireless charging 45W fast wired charging, no wireless charging IP Rating IP64 IP54 Software Nothing OS 3.1 Based on Android 15, 3 years of OS updates Nothing OS 2.0 Based on Android 14, 3 years of OS updates
Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Box Contents
Even though Nothing‘s “a” series offers great value at a midrange price, one thing they share with the big players in the industry is the lack of a charging brick. The box of the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (2a) only contains the bare essentials.
These include the smartphone itself, USB-C to C charging cable, SIM ejector pin, and paperwork. Sadly, Nothing switched the cool transparent charging cable that shipped with the Phone (2a) but switched to a boring white one in the Phone (3a).
Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Triple’s the Perspective for a Closer Look
The camera department has remained an Achilles heel with Nothing smartphones. This was apparent on the Phone (2a), as despite having two 50MP (main + ultrawide) cameras at the back, the image quality was just decent. The camera app also didn’t do much to elevate the experience.
This is what the company is fixing with the (3a) series. The new device adds a third, 50MP 2x telephoto lens into the mix and switches the 50MP ultrawide with an 8MP shooter. Post-processing has been improved, along with a revamped camera app which feels more polished and professional. This is the biggest difference between the two generations. But let’s see the results.
Both the phones share the same 50MP Samsung sensor with f/1.88 aperture. This 23mm camera can still take good images in both day and night situations. However, Nothing has tweaked the post-processing algorithms on the Phone (3a). As you can tell, the Phone (2a) clicks brighter images that don’t carry as many details and overblow the shadows.
The Phone (3a) on the other hand, takes crisp and sharper photos. It does a little too good a job of preserving shadows, that certain areas appear darker than they should. The Phone (2a)’s results appear better at first, but zooming in slightly reveals a blurry mess which isn’t the case on the (3a).
Nothing Phone (2a) definitely benefits from a bigger size 50MP ultrawide lens, as it allows it to capture more details in the shot. The 8MP lens on the Phone (3a) does a pretty good job keeping up, producing better-looking results in my opinion. Still, the details just aren’t good enough due to the smaller sensor.
The new 50MP telephoto camera is also a Samsung sensor with f/2.0 aperture. This new lens lets you get up close and personal with your subject. Offering higher quality photos when zooming into 2x, 4x, or even 6x. You can push it up to 30x while the Nothing Phone (2a) could only do 10x. The images clicked with this lens are sharper in both day and night scenarios, giving a clear edge in the camera department to the Phone (3a).
That said, the Nothing Phone (3a) at this point cannot take macro shots which is something the Phone (2a) can do with ease. The 25cm focus distance of the 2x telephoto makes it impossible to click any good macros with the Phone (3a), and this needs to be fixed soon. Another thing I noticed across all the Phone (3a) photos is they all have a reddish tint to them, which is the same issue we saw when the Phone (2a) came out.
As for selfies, Nothing Phone (3a) still includes the 32MP sensor we saw on the Phone (2a). So the results are somewhat similar, but the software trickery offers a bit of improved images on the newer model. Weirdly, the Phone (2a) adds that red tint I talked about above, while the 3a brings a more natural-looking look to the results.
In terms of videos, there is not much improvement here as the Phone (3a) still tops out at 4k 30FPS video recording. You’ll need to switch to 1080p to get the smooth 60FPS video captures. This is the same case as the Nothing Phone (2a), and like that device, it is a limitation of the processor they used.
Nothing Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Design and Display
The Phone (2a)’s design was charming in its own right. The excessively curved corners of the device made it easy to handle. However, with the Phone (3a), Nothing has gone for a more squared approach, completely flattening the sides, and making the chassis bigger to house the new screen.
The transparent exteriors of the back are still present on the (3a), but it goes for a genuine glass back instead of the plastic one on the previous generation. This adds a touch of premium-ness to the device which is always welcomed. The three light bars surrounding the cameras are still here, but it is disappointing that Nothing’s iconic Glyph lights have not gone through any change.
As discussed above, the Phone (3a) includes a triple camera setup laid down horizontally. Just like how the Phone (2a) accommodated its two rear lenses at the back. The pattern at the back has also been changed from the Phone (2a). It used to be inspired by the New York City subway system. But now I am not sure what it represents. That said. I like it a lot and prefer the look of the Phone 3a compared to the Phone (2a).
Other than that, the Phone (3a) has IP 64 certification compared to the IP 54 on the (2a). So the newer model can withstand more water and dust, but still try to keep it as dry as possible. The button placement is still the same with the volume rockers on the left, and the power button on the right. The USB type C port is at the bottom, along with the SIM card tray and the primary speaker on both Android smartphones.
You might have noticed another key right below the power button on the Nothing Phone (3a). This is the much-teased Essential Space button. It lets you take quick screenshots, and add notes or voice memos along with it. The Essential Space AI will then create a reminder and add it to the to-do list automatically for you. Think of it as an improved version of the Pixel’s Screenshot app. However, it is not remappable as of now and is in early development phases making its debut with the Phone (3a).
In the front, the Phone (2a) had an adequately sized 6.7-inch display while Nothing went for a massive 6.77-inch panel on the new Phone (3a). Apart from size, the rest of the specs remain mostly identical. These are 10-bit full HD+ displays with 120Hz refresh rate. Both phones have optical fingerprint scanners, and while the Phone (2a) has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, the Phone (3a) opts for Panda Glass.
When comparing the two, I noticed that the (3a)’s display handles HDR content, and darker content better than the (2a). While watching The Flash movie, I noticed the Phone (2a) often brightened the black portions in the scenes which didn’t happen with the new device. That said, I am not a fan of the stereo speaker setup on the Phone (3a) as it sounds holo at max volume. It fills up the room just fine, but you are better off at 70-80% if you want the best experience.
Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Performance, Software and Battery
This comparison is already stretching long, so let’s talk internals quickly. The Nothing Phone (2a) came with MediaTek Dimensity 7200Pro, which is a capable midrange pick. But this year, the company went with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 for the Phone (3a). This is coupled with 8 or 12GB of RAM which is available for both the Phone (3a) and the (2a).
As you can see in benchmarks, the new chipset does prove to be more stable. However, it only offers a minor 10% gain in raw performance. I wish they went with the regular 7 Gen 3. This would have allowed for a bigger leap in power and enabled 4k 60 FPS video recording.
In gaming, I played the typical suite of BGMI, COD Mobile, and Genshin Impact. I didn’t face any issues on the first two as they ran as smoothly as they could. However, both the devices only managed to do 90FPS with the lowest graphics. Oddly, the 120FPS option was missing for the two Nothing smartphones. Genshin Impact took a further toll on these devices as they struggled to keep up the demanding title at 60 FPS, often dipping down to 50s and even 40s. However, the newer Phone (3a) offered more consistent performance throughout my gameplay session.
Coming to day to day usage, the software experience is as fluid as it can be. The Phone (2a) has received the Nothing OS 3.0 update based on Android 15, meanwhile, the Phone (3a) comes with Nothing OS 3.1 out of the box. As always, the company offers a clean, bloat, and adware-free experience keeping their skin light and responsive.
There’s not a big difference I noticed between the two apart from the fact that animations felt smoother on the Phone (3a) than the (2a). Can’t say whether it is the result of good optimization, the latest version, or the CPU.
Other than that, there’s the Essential space which we talked about above, and the revamped camera app. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Nothing blesses the Phone (2a) with the same camera improvements and the new app with the 3.1 update. Both smartphones are slated to receive 3 years of software updates. Since the 2a has already been out for a year, it will only go up to Android 17 while the Phone (3a) could go up to Android 18 or higher.
Lastly, we come to the battery. The Phone (3a) and the Phone (2a) both share a similar 5000mAh capacity. You can expect a similar screen time of about 7 hours from both devices. Nothing hasn’t improved anything in this department, apart from the fact that the Phone (3a) can charge at 50 watts while the (2a) only supports 45 watts. But you will need to buy a supported charging brick separately.
Nothing Phone (3a) vs Phone (2a): Is It Worth the Upgrade?
The Nothing Phone (2a) was an excellent midrange device that was praised by all. So I understand that it is not easy to top it even for the company itself. I guess that is why the Phone (3a) doesn’t bring a whole lot of major changes and improves what needs fixing. The 2x telephoto camera is a welcome addition to its price range, and it reflects that Nothing listened and gave people what they asked for.
Since it is available for the same launch price as the Phone (2a), I think you should definitely pick it up if you are looking for a good camera phone for the price. But if you already own a Phone (2a), then there isn’t much to get you excited and make the jump. Sure the Essentials key looks interesting, but it is a feature under development. So you can hold on to your precious Phone (2a) for another year and wait till maybe next year.
