The Nothing Phone 3a has a unique design which sets it apart from any other smartphone at its price point. The phone’s rear panel is made of glass, which also allows for a better IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. The Glyph interface present on all Nothing phones remains the same as before in terms of form and function.

The Nothing Phone 3a, released on March 11, 2025, aims to deliver a unique design and a clean software experience at a competitive mid-range price. Here's what reviewers are highlighting as its best features:

Top Strengths:

• Distinctive and Refined Design: While keeping the semi-transparent aesthetic, the Phone 3a evolves the design of its predecessors with a cleaner look, a glass back, and a more integrated camera module. The blue color option is particularly praised. The Glyph Interface, while still somewhat of a novelty, offers customizable light patterns for notifications, music visualization, and more.
• Vibrant and Smooth Display: The 6.77-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate is lauded for its brightness (reaching up to 3000 nits peak), color accuracy, and smooth scrolling. The even bezels contribute to a premium feel.

• Clean and User-Friendly Software: Running on Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1, the software is consistently praised for its near-stock Android experience with thoughtful customizations and a lack of bloatware. It's considered a smooth and enjoyable user interface.
• Capable Camera System with Telephoto Lens: A key upgrade is the inclusion of a dedicated 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, adding versatility to the camera system alongside the 50MP main and 8MP ultrawide lenses. Daylight photos are generally crisp and punchy, and the telephoto lens improves portrait shots.
• Innovative "Essential Space" Feature: This new AI-powered feature aims to organize screenshots, voice memos, and potentially other content, offering smart descriptions and reminders. While still in its early stages, reviewers see its potential as a useful productivity tool.
• Solid Performance for the Price: Powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, the Phone 3a offers smooth performance for daily tasks, multitasking, and even gaming. While not flagship-level, it's considered a capable processor for its segment.
• Good Battery Life and Fast Charging: The 5000mAh battery provides all-day battery life for most users, and the 50W wired fast charging allows for quick top-ups.
• Competitive Pricing: Many reviews emphasize that the Nothing Phone 3a offers a compelling set of features and a unique design at a very competitive mid-range price point, especially in markets like the US.

In summary, the Nothing Phone 3a is being reviewed as a stylish and capable mid-range smartphone that stands out with its unique design, clean software, and the addition of a useful telephoto lens. The innovative "Essential Space" feature is also a promising addition. It offers a good balance of features and performance for its price.