Nothing Unveils Phone (4a) Series and The Headphone (a)

Nothing has officially introduced its latest mid-range smartphone lineup, featuring the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, alongside new over-ear headphones dubbed The Headphone (a). These new devices bring updated specifications, refined designs, and varied pricing structures across international markets, signaling an imminent global rollout.

The new Nothing devices aim to enhance user experience with updated hardware, distinct design choices, and a strong commitment to software longevity.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro: Premium Design and Advanced Optics

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro emerges with a strong emphasis on design enhancements, improved durability, and significantly upgraded camera capabilities.

Design and Display

The Phone (4a) Pro boasts a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a fluid 144Hz refresh rate. It is designed for exceptional clarity, achieving a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits and offering a responsive 2,500Hz touch sampling rate, all protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. The device features an aluminum unibody design.

While some reports suggest a "full-metal phone" aesthetic, moving away from previous translucent backs, others indicate the retention of "retro-clear hardware design" or "some transparent elements" in specific areas like the camera plateau. The Phone (4a) Pro maintains a slim profile at 7.95mm thick and introduces a redesigned oblong camera unit.

A standout feature is the "Glyph Matrix" on its rear panel, a secondary display comprising 137 mini-LEDs. This Glyph Matrix supports customizable light patterns, animations, and widgets, and is notably brighter than its predecessor, reaching up to 3,000 nits. It lacks a dedicated Glyph Button, requiring users to access settings to switch modes. Color options include Black, Silver, and Pink, with the Pink variant often described as subtle and possibly restricted to higher storage configurations.

Performance and Battery

Powering the Phone (4a) Pro is a chipset reported variously as a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 or a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. This processor is claimed to deliver 30% improved graphics performance and 27% faster CPU speeds compared to its predecessor. It is paired with LPDDR5X memory, which is reportedly 100% faster than the memory found in the Phone (3a) Pro.

A robust 5,080 mAh rated battery supports the Phone (4a) Pro, with a typical capacity potentially ranging from 5,100 mAh to 5,200 mAh. It supports 50W wired fast charging, capable of reaching 0% to 60% in just 30 minutes. Wireless charging is not supported. The device is rated for over 63 hours of use by one source, while others report up to 17 hours of mixed use.

Camera System

The Phone (4a) Pro features a dual 50MP rear camera system. This includes a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700C main sensor with optical image stabilization, which is notably 24% larger than the 50MP sensor in the Phone (3a) Pro. It also incorporates a 3.5x periscopic telephoto camera, described as a 50MP zoom lens, capable of up to 140x hybrid zoom. Users should note that zoom effectiveness at higher ranges (70x and above) may be limited. The selfie camera is a sharp 32MP.

Camera enhancements include a new triple 12-bit Image Signal Processor (ISP) and faster autofocus speeds. Features such as super-slow 120fps video capture at full HD, Action Mode for shooting up to 30 Ultra XDR images (combining 13 RAW frames), and new camera presets and editing options are integrated. Both models also leverage Google Photos editing tools like AI Photo Eraser.

Durability, Pricing, and Availability

The Phone (4a) Pro offers improved durability with an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.

• Europe: Reported starting price of €479.
• United States: Starts at $499 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration, with a 12GB RAM/256GB storage model priced at $599. This is the only new Nothing phone launching in the US.
• Australia: Reported starting price of $949 for the 256GB model (inferred as AUD).

Global pre-orders began on March 13, with sales commencing on March 27. Australian availability also begins March 27.

Nothing Phone (4a): Signature Aesthetics with Enhanced Features

The Nothing Phone (4a) retains signature design elements while introducing new features and color options, offering a compelling mid-range package.

Design and Display

The Phone (4a) showcases a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with an adaptive refresh rate spanning from 30Hz to 120Hz. It provides a peak brightness of 4,500 nits and features a resolution of 2,720x1,225 pixels with a 440ppi pixel density. The display is fortified by Gorilla Glass 7i. Its design remains consistent with the previous Phone (3a), featuring a transparent aesthetic with exposed components.

An updated "Glyph Bar" is positioned next to the cameras, functioning as a notification system, battery meter, or camera flash. This Glyph Bar comprises 63 mini-LEDs across seven controllable square light zones and can reach up to 3,500 nits of illumination. Color options include Black, White, Blue, and Pink, with Blue and Pink potentially limited to the 12GB/256GB model.

Performance and Battery

The Phone (4a) is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, which reportedly provides a 7% speed gain over its predecessor.

It features the same robust 5,080 mAh battery as the Pro model, supporting 50W wired fast charging but lacking wireless charging capabilities. The battery is reported to offer up to 17 hours of mixed use.

Camera System

The Phone (4a) is equipped with a triple 50MP rear camera system. This includes a 50-megapixel wide lens that is reported to capture 64% more light. It also incorporates an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a new 50-megapixel tetraprism periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, 7x lossless zoom, and up to 70x ultra zoom. The selfie camera is 32MP. Integrated Google Photos editing tools, such as AI Photo Eraser, are also included.

Durability, Pricing, and Availability

The Phone (4a) features an IP64 water-resistance rating.

• Europe: Reported starting prices range from €349 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage to €389 for higher configurations. A 12GB RAM/256GB storage model is available for €429. Some reports indicate no 128GB model in Europe.
• United States: Starts at $349 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration.
• Australia: Reported starting price of $649 for the 128GB model (inferred as AUD).

Global pre-orders for the Phone (4a) have commenced, with Australian availability beginning March 13. The device is scheduled for a broader launch on March 5.

Shared Software Experience: Nothing OS 4.1

Both the Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro run Nothing OS 4.1, which is based on Android 16. Nothing is committed to providing three years of operating system upgrades and six years of security updates for both devices.

Software features include Essential Search for cross-app information lookup, personalized results from Essential Space 'Memories' (offering cloud access for voice notes, screengrabs, and text notes), and Nothing Playground for AI-powered custom widgets. The OS boasts refinements for improved multitasking, AI integration, and smoother animation transitions. Users can customize widget sizes on the home screen and utilize a new custom lock screen. Both phones are equipped with eSIM support.

The Headphone (a): Over-Ear Audio Experience

Nothing also announced The Headphone (a), a new pair of over-ear headphones priced at $329. These headphones reportedly share a design similar to The Headphone (1) and boast an impressive up to 135 hours of battery life without noise-cancelling, or 75 hours with it activated. Pre-orders for The Headphone (a) commenced on March 6, with a release date of March 13.