Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review

Nothing phones distinguish themselves through a unique approach to both software and hardware. The design, which combines aluminum with a semi-transparent aesthetic, is, in my opinion, superb. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, for example, maintains a slender profile and incorporates an aluminum unibody chassis, complemented by a vapor cooling system. Despite its futuristic and potentially delicate appearance, it boasts an IP65 rating, with Nothing even claiming to have tested it in 25 cm of water. A customizable 'Essential' button is located on the side; personally, I found it useful for quick screenshots.

Enhancing its originality, the Pro features a Glyph interface comprising 137 pixels illuminated by 3,000-nit mini-LEDs. The concept is to provide contextual information even before you unlock your phone. It's an intriguing idea, especially when paired with Nothing OS 4.1, though its functionality remains somewhat limited. Knowing that most users will primarily use it for time updates, I view it more as a fun little feature rather than dwelling on its theoretically greater potential. Life's too short for such worries.

Nothing OS truly sets itself apart from anything else on the market, and I absolutely love it. While its interface is distinct, it's remarkably intuitive. I particularly appreciate the enhanced privacy options, including a separate password for a secure "vault" where sensitive data can be stored, offering flexibility akin to the dual-SIM feature—often found only in high-end phones.

The 6.83-inch AMOLED display boasts a 1.5K resolution and a 144 Hz refresh rate, framed by exceptionally thin bezels (just 1.82 mm). Its brightness reaches 1,500 nits during normal use and peaks at an astonishing 5,000 nits, making it, I'm almost certain, the brightest screen I've ever tested. For gamers, the 2,500 Hz touch sampling rate even surpasses that of dedicated gaming phones. In short, it's bright, fast, and fluid. The speakers are also excellent. Oh, and a transparent case is included in the box—a practice that should be standard for all smartphones.

Powering the device is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, offering respectable 8-core performance, though it lacks Wi-Fi 7 support. The 5,080 mAh battery comfortably lasts two days and charges at 50 Watts. However, due to its metallic body, the phone does not support wireless charging. While I'm aware it's technically feasible, it was likely deemed too expensive to implement. I personally charge with a cable, but for those who have transitioned to a wireless lifestyle, this could be a significant drawback.

Nothing tends to somewhat undervalue its brilliant triple camera setup, which leverages its proprietary TrueLens engine. It features a 50MP Sony IMX896 main sensor, an 8MP Sony ultra-wide, and a 50MP Samsung JN5 periscope lens delivering 3.5x optical, 7x 'lossless,' and 140x ultra-zoom. While a few other phones might offer slightly superior overall image quality, none in this price range can beat its noise reduction when heavily zoomed. I'm less impressed, however, by the color calibration; I feel the three cameras don't quite match the default color profile, and there's a distinct difference between optical and digital zoom, even if the digital zoom is better than average. I still recommend avoiding digital zoom and sticking to optical, a piece of advice that holds true here. Unfortunately, the use of 'Ultra Zoom' (140x) powered by generative AI is a serious concern. This means some pixels in your image aren't genuinely captured but rather generated, which, in my opinion, belongs to post-editing, not image capture.

While the zoom capability receives significant attention, I'm actually far more impressed by its night photography performance. These night shots exhibit perhaps the lowest image noise I've ever achieved with a phone, which is quite impressive for this price bracket. The phone accomplishes this by combining seven images into one, then using AI to reduce noise. This is exactly how AI should be implemented in products! Despite this extremely powerful photo feature, the phone only records 4K at 30 FPS and cannot offer 60 FPS, a capability that, in my opinion, is crucial for effectively competing with flagship models from other brands.

Pricing is straightforward: €429 for the 8GB + 128GB version and €499 for the 12GB + 256GB model. The latter configuration will undoubtedly provide the best experience. Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security updates.

My feelings are somewhat mixed. I appreciate the phone's metallic body and its feel in hand, but the semi-transparent, circuit board-like, futuristic aesthetic – what I love most about Nothing phones – is somewhat minimized here. The screen is superb and feels significantly more premium than what one would expect from a phone in this price range. I encountered no issues or lag while using it for gaming or intensive multitasking. Battery life is excellent, as is camera performance, at least when staying within the optical zoom limits.

It earns a solid 8/10. To elevate its standing, it would require 4K/60FPS video, Wi-Fi 7, improved optical zoom, and wireless charging. Still, I find myself somewhat in doubt, as I've fallen for its OS and the phone's overall aesthetic.