Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review: All or nothing?

Despite UK-based brand Nothing declaring that it would have no flagship phone for 2026, one glance at the Phone (4a) Pro might have you thinking quite the opposite.

After all, this all-new design, with its unibody aluminium finish – and even a flourish of lush colour in the Pink version – looks more akin to a flagship handset than any of the phone-maker's previous mid-range models.

Indeed, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro obtains an updated version of the Phone (3)'s Glyph Matrix interface feature – the brand's signature, stand-apart rear lighting and visuals panel – and continues down the same line as its (3a) Pro predecessor in delivering a proper zoom camera, too.

That's important: the other best budget phones at this price point typically shy away from more comprehensive cameras, which, arguably, is this handset's biggest overall appeal. That's something you won't get from the Google Pixel 10a at the same price, for example, nor the Samsung Galaxy A56 or similar.

Nothing has already established itself as a contender in the big leagues, but can the Phone (4a) Pro – which launches mere weeks after the similar-yet-cheaper Phone (4a) went on sale – now make its mark as the ultimate mid-range model?

Price & Availability

I've included regional pricing in a table below, so you know what to expect for the 128GB storage and 8GB RAM variant.

Note, however, that there are different versions – in particular in India, where a larger battery capacity model is on sale, which isn't available anywhere else.

Discussing the UK pricing, as I'm reviewing Nothing's phone in the brand's home town of London, and the price jump from the previous (3a) Pro to this handset really isn't huge.

Sure, the £499 is an extra £50 compared to its £449 predecessor, but the latest model has gone all-out with aluminium and looks far better in my view. It's perfectly pitched against its direct competition, too, so is more than competitive.

Pre-orders ahead of the 27 March on-sale date will also net free Ear (3) earbuds, worth £149 – here's the direct link to Nothing's online store.

Phone (3a) Pro vs (4a) Pro: What's New?

• Marginally larger screen (6.83in, up from 6.77in)
• Repositioned Essential Space AI key
• New unibody aluminium design
• Adds Glyph Matrix interface
• More powerful hardware

While the Phone (4a) Pro certainly maintains Nothing's distinct design language, it also looks considerably different enough to anything else that the brand has produced – certainly the (3a) Pro.

The aluminium is one aspect of that; the acrylic-like raised camera panel – replete with transparent sections and layered components within – is the other core visual aspect. This is where that Glyph Matrix panel is present, which is all-new for this level of Nothing device.

Given Nothing's nimbleness as a brand, it's also great to see the (4a) Pro take on feedback and move the brand's 'Essential Key' – used for quick-access to its AI 'Essential Space' – from the right side (facing) to the left of the device. An essential move, if you'll pardon the pun, to avoid the non-stop accidental presses, per its predecessor.

The new phone is also larger than its predecessor, given the new display, but it's actually a mite thinner in this updated design format. It's not aiming to be the slimmest phone ever, mind, but it's decently proportioned.

Within the new handset is updated hardware, opting for a newer Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. While the generation-on-generation jump wouldn't typically be giant, the (4a) Pro doesn't use the lower-spec 'S' variant, per its predecessor, so it's a more notable boost.

Design & Display

• Finishes: Black, Silver, Pink
• 6.83-inch AMOLED display
  • Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection
  • 1260 x 2800 pixel resolution
  • 144Hz max refresh
  • 20:9 aspect ratio
• Aluminium unibody design
• IP65 water/dust protection
• Weight: 210g
• 8mm thick

Nothing's designs are always going to be divisive. I think that's half the point. But I also think there's an industrial elegance to the Phone (4a) Pro's looks. And since moving into it, its aluminium finish has felt high-end to me, too.

One thing I've found, however, is that I've just not really used Glyph Matrix as much as I expected. I could put that down to laziness, frankly, or that there aren't a giant swathe of apps compatible to work with it.

However, with its default notification flashes being initially distracting, I had to resist switching it off. Dig deeper into the Matrix app, though, and you'll find a variety of controls that allow this feature to spread its wings wider.

The whole Glyph idea is Nothing's calling card, so it has to be here. I like that it's different and can certainly see the potential. The illuminations progressing as your Uber is making its way to pick you up, for example, is one stand-out offering in its third-party associated arsenal.

The phone's display is well specified, resolute and bright enough – although it can be a little keen to automate brightness lower than I'd like at times – and delivers fast refresh rates for smooth playback too.

It's with the software integration that this higher frame-rate component of the feature set can come undone, however, with the Dynamic option permitting it to switch refresh rate as it deems fit – up to 144Hz.

For me, activating Dynamic created occasional stutters in seemingly simple scenarios, such as scrolling through comments on Facebook at a specific speed. That feels adverse to its goal, so I can only put it down to the software and not the panel itself.

Oh, and make sure you remove the factory-provided screen protector. It's very scratch-prone, so you ought to obtain something far better if you don't like to use an exposed display.

Performance & Battery

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor
• 8/128GB minimum – 12/256GB available
• 5080mAh battery, 50W wired

Generally speaking, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro performs really well. I've been able to load all kinds of games and apps and run them without issue. Most of the time anyway.

That's the thing: sometimes, like a reflection of that Dynamic refresh inconsistency, I've had minor hiccups in performance. Bluetooth cutting in and out when asking too much of the phone during a hotspotting session, for example.

At the time of review, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is seen as 'modded' by some apps and platforms, which, as one example, can deny Google Play integrity for specific games and banking apps. This ought to be solved when at full release, but I can only comment as reviewed.

The software is otherwise well-appointed and, in true Nothing style, distinctive in its take. You can apply the black-and-white aesthetic if you please, giving a look that's like, well, nothing else.

I'm super-pleased that the Essential Key to activate Nothing's Essential Space – mainly used for collated screengrabs and voice notes – has been moved to a more proactive placement that makes it easier to engage with.

That now makes Essential Space far better to use, which is Nothing's take on an artificial intelligence (AI) drop-zone for prompts and contextual assistance. A recent update has also seen Space redesigned into a new format that works nicely.

Essential Space will be very much down to personal preference in how much you entrust AI at the moment, though. Its ability to create reminders and prompts, quick-grab a screen (including cropping), and even produce 'Memories', will certainly have its place for some users.

As for battery life, the Phone (4a) Pro's 5,080mAh cell is on par with flagships today, marginally beating the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in terms of capacity, for example. It doesn't last quite as long in the hands of Nothing, though, perhaps down to the software and additional features discussed above.

I think it's a shame the 5,400mAh cell found in the Indian phone variant isn't just the international version, frankly, as I think that little extra boost would be ideal. As it stands, my review unit gets through a day without problems – but it'll certainly be into the red and close to done after 15 hours of use or so.

Cameras

• Triple rear camera:
  • Main (24mm): 50-megapixels, f/1.9 aperture, autofocus (AF), stabilisation (OIS)
  • 3.5x Zoom (80mm): 50MP, f/2.9, AF, OIS
  • Wide (16mm): 8MP, f/2.2
• Selfie: 32MP, f/2.2

Potentially the biggest reason you'd consider the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is its cameras, as there's a 3.5x optical zoom within its triple rear setup.

That said, if you want to spend even less, then the base Phone (4a) also has the very same zoom – in the Pro you're paying for the Glyph Matrix, higher-quality design and more power, ultimately.

How you'll find these cameras will depend somewhat on your expectations. I appreciate having that zoom, for sure, as it's lacking in so much of the competition. And it opens doors in what you're able to shoot.

Take a look at the stages of zoom in the gallery below, showing 0.6x wide, main camera, 3.5x (which is direct from the zoom), and a 7x digital offering (that's also directly available within the app):

Image 1 of 4

That said, I've found the Camera app can be a bit slow. There's shutter lag, especially in low-light conditions, and you might end up with blurry results if you're not fixed in position and extra patient.

You'll also need to do more creative adjustments than, say, you'd need to with a Google Pixel 10a, especially when it comes to manual exposure adjustment to avoid blown-out highlights.

One area where the (4a) Pro steps above and beyond its predecessor is in providing greater consistency between its cameras. Previously, the results might look different in terms of colour caste, but now the wide, main and zoom cameras seem far more coherent in their output.

That even applies to low-light shots, which do slide down the quality scale owing to increased processing, but still just about get away with it – despite a more subdued colour palette overall.

Image 1 of 10

As you can see in the variety of shots in the above gallery, the main camera is the hero of the setup. I wish I could say the same for the more extensive zoom offering, but the results – the 7x, in particular – do present rather over-processed results when inspected up close.

Like I say, expectation is key. This isn't a flagship-priced phone. But for a mid-range model, it offers far more camera specification than its key competitors. There's just a ceiling on how far such features can be pushed.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review: Verdict

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro delivers an aesthetic step up over its predecessor, with an upgraded aluminium unibody design that really pops.

Adding the Glyph Matrix squeezes this mid-range handset closer to the brand's flagship level Phone (3), although whether everyone will find this visual light-up rear interface actually useful is up for debate. You can't say it's not distinctive, though.

For many, the real reason to buy the Phone (4a) Pro – just like with the lower-spec Phone (4a) – is the inclusion of that 3.5x zoom lens, which the competition just can't compete against.

Sure, the camera app could be faster and more adaptive, but the core on offer is coherent across the zoom range and shows the brand's progress – just keep your expectations in check, as these aren't quite flagship grade.

Overall, Nothing continues to break the mould, stand apart from the core competition, while holding its own in the areas that matter. Some software hiccups and moderate rather than ace battery life are minor offsets against what's otherwise a certifiable merit of distinction.

Also Consider

If you're non-plussed about the aluminium body and want to save cash, then Nothing's step-down Phone (4a) is the more affordable plastic-backed option to go for – without needing to forego the zoom lens.

Otherwise, in this pricing ballpark, the Google Pixel 10a is an obvious competitor. Its camera setup is more 'computational photography', but that's generally better – save for the lack of a proper zoom lens, which is Nothing's counter strength.

Elsewhere, the Samsung Galaxy A56 is a pricier consideration, which you might just prefer for a preferable software experience. Or the OnePlus 15R, which costs more again, has a much meatier battery to last an age compared to the Nothing offering.