Short answer: the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro are very close relatives. According to the published reviews we summarised, they share the same 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chip, the same 5,000mAh battery and the same IP64 rating. The real decision is the zoom camera, the front camera and which variant you end up with. If you shoot distant subjects or portraits, the Pro’s 3x periscope telephoto is the reason to choose it. If you mainly want the Nothing look, screen and software and a 2x telephoto is enough, the Nothing Phone (3a) covers almost everything else.
How this comparison was made: the picks below are based on official specifications and published reviews summarised in our individual reviews, not hands-on testing. Measured figures come from GSMArena’s lab tests as quoted in those reviews. Prices and availability on Amazon.in change, so we quote no prices here.
Check the variant before you order. The listing we link for the Nothing Phone (3a) is the White 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model, while Nothing’s India page also lists 8GB + 256GB and Black and Blue colours. The listing for the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is titled simply “Nothing Phone (3a) Pro 5G” with no RAM, storage or colour, so we cannot confirm which configuration that link opens. Read the variant on the Amazon page before you buy.
Quick verdict: which one should you choose?
- Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) if you want the Nothing design, a bright AMOLED screen and a 2x telephoto, and prefer a slightly lighter phone at 201 g
- Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if a 3x periscope telephoto matters most for portraits and distant subjects
- Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a 50MP front camera, or a listed eSIM
- Choose either one if you accept IP64 only, no charger confirmed in the box and real-world charging below the 50W headline, because both share those limits
Nothing Phone (3a) vs Nothing Phone (3a) Pro: specs side by side
Nothing’s India pages confirm the headline specifications. Charging speed, IP rating, weight and software policy come from GSMArena’s spec sheets, so confirm anything that matters on the Amazon listing. Where a review did not state a detail, the table says “Not confirmed”.
| Spec | Nothing Phone (3a) | Nothing Phone (3a) Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080 x 2392, 120Hz, HDR10+ | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080 x 2392, 120Hz, HDR10+, 10-bit colour |
| Brightness (GSMArena) | 737 nits manual, 1,273 nits auto | 766 nits manual, 1,307 nits auto |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| Memory and storage | 8GB with 128GB or 256GB (India page) | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB or 12GB + 256GB |
| Main camera | 50MP, OIS | 50MP, f/1.9, OIS |
| Telephoto | 50MP, 2x optical | 50MP periscope, 3x optical, f/2.6, OIS |
| Ultra-wide | 8MP | 8MP |
| Front camera | 32MP | 50MP, 4K at 30fps |
| Battery and charging | 5,000mAh, 50W wired | 5,000mAh, 50W wired, no wireless |
| Software | Android 15, Nothing OS 3.1, up to 3 major upgrades | Android 15, Nothing OS 3.1, up to 3 major upgrades |
| Weight | 201 g | 211 g |
| Protection | IP64 | IP64 |
| eSIM | Not confirmed | Listed by GSMArena |
| Colours (Nothing’s page) | Black, Blue, White | Grey, Black |
Cameras: 2x telephoto vs 3x periscope
This is the biggest difference. Both phones pair a 50MP main camera with optical stabilisation and an 8MP ultra-wide. The Nothing Phone (3a) adds a 50MP telephoto with 2x optical zoom. The Pro uses a 50MP periscope-style telephoto at 70mm equivalent with 3x optical zoom. Optical zoom keeps detail that digital cropping loses, so the longer lens should help with portraits and distant subjects. GSMArena’s note says the Pro differs mainly by having the 3x telephoto instead of the 2x one.
The Pro has limits too: GSMArena says its zoom camera does not record 4K video. The Nothing Phone (3a) records up to 4K at 30fps and 1080p at up to 120fps on its rear cameras. For selfies, the Nothing Phone (3a) has a 32MP sensor and the Pro a 50MP one. Front video capability for the Nothing Phone (3a) is Not confirmed. We do not describe photo quality, because neither review had scored image-quality comparisons; check independent sample photos if the camera decides your purchase.
Who it suits: the Nothing Phone (3a) suits casual zoom shots. The Pro suits people who zoom often and accept that its zoom lens skips 4K video.
Design, build and durability
Both phones have Nothing’s rear lighting, with three LED strips and 26 addressable zones. Dimensions are listed as 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm for both, but the Pro is 211 g against 201 g.
Our reviews describe the materials differently. The Nothing Phone (3a) review quotes GSMArena as listing a plastic body with a glass front and back. The Pro review quotes it as a glass front and back with a plastic frame. Because the wording differs, check the exact materials on the product page. Both are IP64: dust-tight and protected against splashes, but not a submersion rating. The Pro review also notes that the Essential Key moved the Power button to a spot that takes time to get used to.
Who it suits: the Nothing Phone (3a) suits anyone sensitive to weight. The Pro is fine if you do not mind the extra 10 g. For durability, neither has an edge.
Display and performance
The screens are the same size and resolution. The Pro review adds 10-bit colour, which the Nothing Phone (3a) review does not mention, so that detail is Not confirmed for the Nothing Phone (3a). GSMArena’s lab results are close: 737 and 1,273 nits for the Nothing Phone (3a), 766 and 1,307 nits for the Pro, manual and auto brightness respectively. Both are described as comfortable outdoors.
Both run the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, aimed at smooth everyday use, streaming, photography and light-to-moderate gaming. GSMArena calls the Pro not a powerhouse in any capacity. High-frame-rate gaming is limited on both, with most titles capped below 60fps and PUBG reaching 90fps at 90Hz. Both launched on Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 and up to three major Android upgrades per GSMArena, but Nothing’s India pages do not state the policy, so check the current terms.
Who it suits: do not pick one for performance, because the chip is the same. Heavy gamers should look at other phones.
Battery and charging
Both have a 5,000mAh battery and 50W wired charging. GSMArena’s Active Use Score was 13 hours 32 minutes for the Nothing Phone (3a) and 13 hours 37 minutes for the Pro, a gap too small to matter. For both, the reviewer said gaming and web browsing endurance could be better.
The headline number misleads. With a third-party 100W PPS charger, GSMArena saw both phones draw no more than 30W. The Nothing Phone (3a) reached 50% in 23 minutes and a full charge in just over an hour, although a comparison table on the same page shows slightly different figures. The Pro reached 50% in 23 minutes and a full charge in 1 hour 6 minutes in the same test, while the spec list quotes 50% in 19 minutes and 56 minutes for a full charge. Charger choice may affect results.
Box contents: GSMArena’s review units came with a USB Type-C cable and SIM ejector tool but no charger or case. The India box may differ, so check the listing.
Who it suits: battery and charging are effectively a tie. Choose on the camera, not on endurance.
Sound and everyday use
Both phones have stereo speakers using the earpiece and a bottom-firing speaker. GSMArena rated loudness Very Good and noted some imbalance between the two. Both have the Essential Key and Nothing’s dot-matrix software, plus 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 and NFC. Neither review verified India 5G band support, warranty terms or service-centre coverage, so confirm those with the seller.
Who it suits: the daily experience is nearly identical. If eSIM matters, only the Pro has it listed.
Who should buy which
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a bright 120Hz AMOLED screen, stereo speakers and a 2x telephoto in a slightly lighter phone. Read our Nothing Phone (3a) review, then check the current price on Amazon.in. The linked listing is the White 8GB + 128GB model.
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if the 3x periscope telephoto is why you are upgrading, or you want the 50MP front camera. Read our Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review, then check the current price on Amazon.in. The listing does not state RAM, storage or colour, so confirm the variant first.
Frequently asked questions
Do the two phones use the same processor?
Yes. Both use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 on a 4 nm process, so everyday speed should be similar.
Is the Pro’s 3x zoom much better than the 2x zoom?
A 3x periscope lens reaches further than a 2x lens, and optical zoom keeps more detail than cropping. We cannot say how the photos compare, because our reviews had no scored image-quality tests.
Does either phone support wireless charging?
Our Pro review states there is no wireless charging, and the Nothing Phone (3a) review lists only 50W wired charging. In GSMArena’s tests neither drew more than 30W.
Will a charger be in the box?
In GSMArena’s review units, no. The India retail box may differ, so check the Amazon listing.
Our full reviews
Sources
This comparison summarises our own reviews: Nothing Phone (3a) review and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review, which draw on Nothing’s India product pages and GSMArena’s specification sheets and review pages, checked on 29 October 2026. We fetched no additional manufacturer pages.
