Nothing Phone (3a) Lite Review: Eye-Catching Looks and Reliable Performance With a Few Compromises

The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is the company’s latest attempt to bring its distinct design language and clean software experience to a more accessible price point. On the surface, the 3a Lite promises smooth performance, long battery life, and the signature Nothing aesthetic that has become instantly recognizable. But does it deliver enough to justify its place in an increasingly competitive midrange market? Here’s my full, real-world experience with the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Unboxing

The Phone (3a) Lite comes with a slim yet modular box that houses the handset, a protective case, the USB-C to USB-C charging cable, and the iconic SIM ejector pin.

Talking about the unboxing experience, it remains quite familiar, as the box still includes the pull tab first seen on the Nothing Ear (1), the company’s first product. First, you are greeted by a message (printed on the box that contains the case) that welcomes you to the Nothing community, and below it is the Phone 3a Lite itself.

Below the phone is the cable and the SIM ejector PIN. However, the company doesn’t include a power adapter in the box, which is a slight letdown. While CMF by Nothing sells a 33W charger on Flipkart for Rs. 899, Nothing’s 45W USB-C charger costs Rs. 2,299.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Design & Build

The Phone 3a Lite continues the legacy of Nothing’s unique transparency glass back panels, but with a fresh twist. I received the smartphone in the classic white color, which is the easiest to recognize (that it’s a Nothing phone) yet the most different in any room.

With a Panda Glass back that blends into the flat, matte-finish plastic frame (with rounded edges), the phone feels premium and solid in the hand. The asymmetric design on the back, unlike most smartphones in the segment, is an eye-turner. While my younger sister and a few of my friends liked it, stating that it’s different yet subtle, one said that it is a bit too random.

The handset measures 164 x 78 x 8.3 mm, which makes it slightly thicker than the CMF Phone 2 Pro (7.8 mm), but the added thickness and heft (199 grams vs. 185 grams) lend the device greater gravitas, giving it a firmer, more anchored feel. This is one of the smartphones you’d want to use without a cover (but a child inside of me still likes to use one).

To me, the design looks raw yet refined, revealing the phone’s aesthetically placed interiors while covering them with a squeaky-clean layer of glass to add finesse. The placement of the back cameras might remind you of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, since the phones share a similar design, but the CMF smartphone comes with a removable back panel, whereas the Phone (3a) Lite doesn’t.

Since this is a Nothing smartphone, buyers might expect those fun little lights on the back, which the company calls the Glyph Interface. Unfortunately, there’s no interface per se, just a single light in the bottom-right corner. It still supports features such as Flip to Glyph (to silence incoming notifications), Essential Notifications, and customizable light sequences for incoming messages.

Another thing that deserves your attention is how clicky the buttons on both sides of the phone are. The volume rockers (left), the power button, and the Essential Key (right) deliver a crisp, well-defined tactile feedback that feels both deliberate and premium; each button has a reassuring snap. At the bottom, you get a SIM tray (two SIMs or one SIM and one microSD card up to 2TB), the primary microphone, the USB-C port, and the single-speaker grill.

Finally, the phone has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating it is dust-protected and can withstand splashes of water from all directions. The phone will be available in three colors: White, Black, and Blue. Moreover, the Phone (3a) Lite manages to look both effortlessly modern and quietly distinctive, exuding a refined sense of minimalism that elevates its personality above other midrangers.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Display

The Phone (3a) Lite flaunts a familiar 6.77-inch AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution (2392 x 1080 pixels, 387 ppi), which appears crisp and sharp enough for a phone in this segment. Since it’s a 10-bit display, the overall color production is good, both indoors and outdoors. Before we dive into the technical details, the smartphone comes with a pre-applied screen protector (not tempered glass, though).

It’s a 120Hz display that offers three modes: Standard (60Hz), High (up to 120Hz), and Dynamic. On paper, refresh rate might sound like just another specification, but it makes all the difference in real-world usage. Everything from UI animations and scrolling through the settings menu or apps feels smooth and fluid.

The refresh rate, according to the Game Dashboard counter, ranges from around 30Hz to 120Hz, which is good. The handset also supports a touch sampling rate of up to 1000Hz (something that should help those who play video games on the device).

While the typical brightness is capped at 800 nits, the screen can reach 1300 nits in high-brightness mode, which is more than sufficient for indoor use (even in well-lit environments), but left me wanting more outdoors, especially under direct sunlight. Though viewing the phone under the shadow of my hand or a tree was fine. The local peak brightness, however, is rated at 3,000 nits.

Thanks to the flexible AMOLED screen that tucks in toward the bottom, the phone features symmetrical bezels around the display (though they are slightly thicker than one would expect). The company has also included support for HDR10 and HDR10+ content.

In the end, the display feels thoughtfully tuned for everyday use, from its smooth refresh rate to punchy color reproduction and clean, uniform borders. While the panel doesn’t quite muscle through India’s unforgiving midday sun as confidently, its overall refinement and responsiveness more than compensate.

The display sure is good, but the single-speaker setup doesn’t do it justice. The audio output is loud and full, but it lacks the depth and the stereo presence that come with a full-fledged dual-speaker setup (available on phones in the segment). While the speaker shouldn’t be a problem for casual scrolling or listening to songs, you might want to use a pair of earphones while watching videos, movies, or playing games.

The haptic feedback, especially at the High setting, is undeniably good. You get it while using the back gesture, opening the recent apps tray, unlocking the phone with the in-display fingerprint sensor (which works fine most of the time), using the pattern, or typing with the system keyboard.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Performance

Under its unique exterior, the Phone (3a) Lite features the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4nm), an old yet mighty chipset, well-optimized by Nothing to deliver the best possible CPU and GPU performance. To give you a quick recap, the processor’s octa-core CPU features 4 x 2.5GHz performance cores and 4 x 2.0GHz balanced cores, and it is paired with the Mali-G615 MC2 GPU.

Compared to the Phone (2a), the Phone 3a (Lite) provides 15% faster CPU performance, 20% higher FPS while playing games, and 20% higher energy efficiency. Furthermore, the NPU 665 is twice as fast as the NPU 650 on the Phone (2a), resulting in not just a spec-bump but a meaningful upgrade.

The Dimensity 7300 Pro is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM (plus 8GB of virtual RAM) and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage (expandable to 2TB via the microSD card slot). If you’re planning to hold on to the device for a longer time (let’s say, two to three years), I’d suggest you go with the 256GB version for added peace of mind.

Synthetic Benchmarks

Given that the Phone 3a (Lite) uses the same chipset as the CMF Phone 2 Pro, its synthetic benchmark scores are very similar to those of the other handset. However, despite the claimed improvements in the CPU, GPU, and NPU, the Dimensity 7300 Pro, with its 2.5GHz performance cores, can’t surpass the benchmark scores of the Dimensity 7200 Pro (with 2.8GHz performance cores).

Gaming Performance

As I mentioned earlier, the Dimensity 7300 Pro is a relatively old chipset, and Nothing has put its age to good use here. The Phone (3a) Lite is one of the few smartphones in the segment that can support 120 FPS gameplay in BGMI (Super Smooth + Ultra Extreme or Smooth + Ultra Extreme). Though the built-in FPS counter fluctuated between 105 and 110 over time, I’d say I still appreciate how smooth and responsive the game feels.

The maximum available graphics setting for combat is HDR + Ultra. After playing two Erangel sessions, I noticed the back panel got a little warm, but that’s completely normal. However, given that the ambient temperature in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, is below 20 °C these days, I wonder whether the phone could heat up more in the scorching north Indian summers.

Daily Performance

For your daily, run-of-the-mill tasks like browsing through Chrome, scrolling through Instagram, watching content on Netflix or YouTube, switching between multiple apps, attending video calls, or drafting a mail while listening to your favorite songs, the Phone (3a) Lite packs in enough punch. The RAM management is decent as well, though the phone struggles to keep more than three to four apps alive at a time.

There are a few scenarios where you might notice some jitters. For instance, when you capture a picture with the light source in the background and try to preview it, it takes the phone about half a second to a second to process the details, tone down the highlights, and apply the high-dynamic range look.

While it works fine most of the time, the UI animation lags three out of 10 times when opening the camera by double-pressing the side button. Apart from that, there are occasional jitters here and there, and the RAM management tends to get overly aggressive when running a game or using the camera. But moreover, the performance is quite good, barring the few fixable points mentioned above.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Operating System

Out of the box, the Phone (3a) Lite runs on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15 (with Nothing OS 4.0 update coming out in the first half of 2026). The user interface is quite minimal, as it always has been. It’s closer to stock Android than to a custom user interface, but Nothing has added its signature touch with the font, Nothing apps, widgets, and a couple of other intuitive features.

At the end of the setup process, you can choose between Nothing and the default Android visual style. To experience the operating system the way Nothing intends it to be, I went with the former. While the theme doesn’t let go of the app icons or the widgets, it adds a layer of monochrome design on top of everything.

The Nothing mode offers two options: light and dark. The most apparent difference between them is that the app icons are displayed in black on a white background in light mode, while the inverse is true in dark mode. As someone who uses the clear look on iOS 26 (which also uses different shades of gray to showcase the app icons), I kind of dig the Nothing mode.

On the other hand, my sister and my father disagree with me, arguing that it makes it difficult to differentiate between apps. Apart from that, the software is clean, mostly polished, and refined. I don’t have any complaints with the animations, the wallpaper glass effect, the spaced-out control center, and the app drawer (though I don’t like how the Smart App Drawer makes it difficult to find the required app).

Although Nothing OS boasted an absolutely bloatware-free experience, I don’t remember installing Facebook and Instagram on the smartphone. Anyway, most people use these apps, so it might not be an issue for them. Talking about the stock apps, there’s the Camera app with a proper manual mode, the Gallery app that shows photos, albums, and people, the Nothing X app that controls other Nothing devices, the Recorder for recording audio, and the Weather app that shows all the details in the company’s typography.

The handset also features the Essential Key, letting you save a screenshot with an audio or text note and store it in the Essential Space, where you can revisit ideas or reminders when needed. Of course, you can access Gemini and Google’s Circle to Search features on then device.

You get plenty of customization options, especially for the home screen. For instance, you can select a prevalent theme color (for the UI elements) that matches the wallpaper or a different color. You can also change the icon pack (download additional ones from the Play Store) and the home screen layout. On the lock screen, you can only add widgets, change shortcuts, and enable/disable Lock Glimpse and always-on display.

There’s also the AI Wallpaper Studio, which lets you mix and match themes and styles to create a custom wallpaper. Another touch that I really liked was Essential News. As a consumer tech journalist, I really appreciate how the feature dictates the news to me in the world of tech without having to read it or open a third-party app while I’m drafting an email or proofreading a published article of mine.

All in all, the Nothing OS 3.5 on the Phone (3a) Lite strikes a comfortable balance between minimalism and personality. It stays close to stock Android in spirit but layers on enough of Nothing’s identity, through typography, monochrome themes, widgets, and clever touches like the Essential Key, to feel distinctive without being overbearing. The interface is smooth, thoughtfully designed, and largely free from clutter, even if the presence of a few preloaded apps slightly breaks from Nothing’s earlier promises.

The company has promised to provide three years of major Android updates and six years of security updates with the handset. Perhaps Nothing could have launched the phone with Nothing OS 4.0 now that we have Android 16 on a significant number of phones? Well, that’s something the company could keep in mind for subsequent launches.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Cameras

The Phone (3a) Lite features a triple-rear camera system with a primary camera, an ultrawide camera, and a macro sensor.

• Primary Camera: 50MP (f/1.88) Samsung ISOCELL GN6, 1/1.57-inch, PDAF, EIS,
• Ultrawide Camera: 8MP (f/2.2) GalaxyCore GC08A8, 1/4-inch
• Macro Camera: 2MP (f/.4)
• Selfie Camera: 16MP (f/2.45), fixed focus, 1080p30/60
  

For regular users, the Phone (3a) Lite’s camera setup should be more than enough. You can capture high-resolution (50MP) pictures, use the dedicated pro mode to tweak the exposure, shutter, and focus distance, record 4K videos at 30 fps, 1080p videos at up to 60 fps, and leverage the photography features like the TrueLens Engine, Ultra XDR, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimizer, Motion Capture, and Night Mode.

Primary Camera

The 50MP primary camera captures pictures in 12MP by default, but you can access the full resolution. In broad daylight, it captures clear, well-focused images with decent colors. The background blur, especially for close-up shots of tiny objects like flowers or foliage, is quite pleasing. However, the camera isn’t as consistent with exposure or colors. The HDR is a bit hit-or-miss; it works fine most of the time, but when it doesn’t, you get a blown-out background (like the one in the attached sample) or a blacked-out foreground.

Low-light performance is above average but short of impressive. The lack of OIS also shows up in nighttime photos. On the positive side, the main camera offers lossless 2x zoom, letting you get closer to the subject without compromising much on quality. The portrait mode also does well in most lighting conditions.

Ultrawide Camera

The ultrawide camera does well in broad daylight, but struggles to maintain details in poorly-lit scenarios, even with the Night Mode enabled.

Macro Camera

The 2MP macro camera struggles to click decent images, primarily as it has fixed focus, a low resolution, and tends to oversharpen pictures.

Selfie Camera

The 16MP selfie camera mostly does fine, except for a few times when it left weird artifacts in pictures over my head (visible in the second picture), which are most likely caused by HDR stack failure. Anyway, the camera captures decent images in broad daylight, but it goes a little soft at night. When the HDR kicks in, it does an excellent job (as seen in the fourth picture, where the camera captures the tiny cloud behind my head).

In conclusion, the camera setup could benefit from improvements across the board. The lack of OIS is very evident while capturing pictures or recording videos (which are decent for the price). Though a macro camera could have been very useful, had it featured a higher-resolution sensor or autofocus. I sincerely hope that Nothing improves the overall performance of the cameras via OTA updates.

Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: Battery Life & Charging

The CMF Phone (3a) Lite features a 5,000 mAh battery, and while that might sound a bit too underwhelming at first, don’t make up your mind before going through the screenshots attached below. Thanks to superior optimization and Android’s Adaptive Battery, the phone has managed to deliver over 10 hours of screen-on time, with 20% battery to spare, no less.

Keep in mind that I’ve used the phone on dark mode the entire time, switching between 5G and Wi-Fi, and performing everything you could possibly do on a smartphone in a workday. This includes playing BGMI for around 50 minutes, watching Netflix for over two hours, using the Camera, chatting on WhatsApp, benchmarking the phone, downloading and installing apps via the Play Store, and so on.

Given that the phone supports 33W wired charging, you’d need about 2 hours to charge it from 0% to 100%. Furthermore, there’s no charger included. Finally, the phone also supports 5W reverse wireless charging.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite?

The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is a well-rounded midrange phone that gets the everyday basics right. You get a smooth 120Hz AMOLED screen, excellent battery life that easily lasts a full day, great haptics, and a clean, near-stock Android experience that feels polished. Nothing’s signature features, like the Essential Key and AI Wallpaper Studio, add personality without getting in the way.

The design is also a major highlight: distinctive, premium, and instantly recognizable. And while the Dimensity 7300 Pro isn’t the newest chipset around, it handles daily tasks, social apps, and even 120 FPS BGMI gaming without any issues. Altogether, it’s a phone that feels pleasant, fluid, and reliable for everyday use.

That said, you do need to consider the trade-offs. The camera setup is decent in good light but inconsistent when HDR kicks in, struggles at night, and lacks OIS. The single speaker limits the media experience, the display could be brighter outdoors, and aggressive RAM management sometimes pauses your multitasking flow. Charging is slower than many rivals, and the missing charger doesn’t help.

If you value clean software, great battery life, attractive design, and smooth performance, the Phone (3a) Lite is easy to recommend. But if cameras or multimedia are top priorities, you might want to explore other options.

Smartprix ⭐ Rating: 7.9/10

• Design and Build: 8.5/10
• Display: 8.2/10
• Speakers: 7.0/10
• Software: 8.0/10
• Haptics: 8.0/10
• Biometrics: 8.0/10
• Performance: 8.0/10
• Cameras: 7.0/10
• Battery Life & Charging: 8.5/10

First reviewed in November 2025.

---