Nothing's new "pink metal" instantly becomes my favourite ever colourway

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro has a striking unconventional colour option

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)

After what seemed like non-stop teases and leaks, Nothing has officially revealed its latest devices – the budget Headphone (a), the expected Phone (4a), and the step-up Phone (4a) Pro.

It's the last of those products listed that I was most looking forward to seeing as part of Nothing's official launch event – which took place in London's Central Saint Martins college – and I've been left gobsmacked in the very best of ways.

Nothing doesn't overstate it, either. Pictured throughout this article is the Phone (4a) Pro in its agreeably named 'Pink'. Unlike its lower-spec Phone (4a) sibling, however, the Pro model's metal finish delivers a different, considerably subtler result.

Indeed, the aluminium frame gives a far more metallic, silver-like sheen than the 'Pink' would imply. There's a hint of rosiness, of course, just not from every angle when it's catching sunlight – as you can see from my TikTok post above.

I've received my own Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review sample, which I'm moving into as I type this very piece, but that model is the (frankly less exciting) 'Silver'. It's this 'Pink' version that's so undeniable that I simply had to cover it separately.

Check out my hands-on pictures in the gallery below to see the finer details of what the Phone (4a) Pro has to offer and how its rear camera enclosure and Glyph Matrix stand apart from the aluminium body in a seethrough section.

When Nothing set out on its mobile phone journey, the stand-apart design signature from the brand was always see-through, enabling some internal components to be visible.

The Phone (4a) Pro takes an element of that concept, but pares it back to minimal. That allows for a fully aluminium frame for the first time, in a device that I think looks and feels much more the flagship than some previous budget Nothing devices.

It's a key point of distinction that separates the Pro from its lower-spec Phone (4a) counterpart, too, which features a more plasticky and transparent-focused finish. Both are available in 'Pink', but the way that's delivered on metal is, for me, far preferable.

Interestingly, the (4a) series doesn't provide a huge leap between camera setups, like the previous (3a) and (3a) Pro models. Both feature a 3.5x optical zoom this time around, making the design materials a much bigger differentiator than previously.

I shan't dig deep into core specs here, as this is a focus on the Phone (4a) Pro's design and colour. But I'll find out when reviewing the phone in the coming weeks whether the upgraded spec will deliver a more viable experience.

After all, at £499 in the UK and $599 in the USA, this Nothing device is a direct competitor to the Google Pixel 10a, Apple iPhone 17e and a batch of the other best budget phones out there.

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is T3's Tech Editor. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 years and his beat covers phones – of which he's seen hundreds of handsets over the years – laptops, gaming, TV & audio, and more. There's little consumer tech he's not had a hand at trying, and with extensive commissioning and editing experience, he knows the industry inside out. As the former Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for 10 years where he furthered his knowledge and expertise, whilst writing about literally thousands of products, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.