Nothing Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Pro Review
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a fun, stylish mid-ranger with a great software experience, but its average display and lack of 5G keep it from being a true contender.
The 30-Second Version
Buy it for the transparent back and clean software, not the specs. At its best price, it's a fun alternative in a sea of sameness, but its middling display and lack of 5G hold it back.
Overview
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is a solid mid-range phone that tries to punch above its weight, but it's not the knockout contender Nothing wants you to think it is. The one thing you need to know is this: you're buying it for the unique transparent design and a clean software experience, not for top-tier specs or battery life. It's a good phone, but our data shows it's firmly in the 'above average but not great' category across the board.
Performance
What surprised us was how middle-of-the-pack the performance really is. It's powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset with 12GB of RAM, which sounds decent on paper. In our benchmarks, it landed in the 70th percentile, meaning it's fast enough for most daily tasks and gaming, but it's not going to blow you away or keep up with the true flagships. It's a competent performer, not a standout.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- That signature transparent design is still a head-turner and a great conversation starter. 84th
- Nothing OS 4.1 is clean, bloat-free, and a joy to use if you hate manufacturer skins. 70th
- The 50MP triple-camera with periscope zoom is a solid setup for the price, scoring in the 70th percentile. 70th
- Strong social proof score suggests people who buy it really like it.
Cons
- The display quality is a weak spot, ranking in the bottom third of all phones we track. 29th
- Battery and connectivity performance are disappointing, both landing in the bottom 40%. 33th
- It's only 4G in a world of 5G phones, which is a major limitation for future-proofing.
- Build quality is just average, and it's definitively not a rugged device.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Performance
| RAM | 12 MB |
Camera
| Front Camera | 32 |
Design & Build
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.5 lbs |
| OS | Nothing OS 4.1 |
Value & Pricing
Worth it? Only if you find it on the lower end of its insane price range. Our database shows vendors listing this from $599 all the way up to a laughable $12,392. At around $600, it's a fair deal for the design and clean software. At anything close to a grand, it's a terrible value. Shop around hard.
vs Competition
This phone lives in a crowded space. The Google Pixel 10 Pro will run circles around it in camera quality and software updates. The OnePlus 15 likely offers better performance and faster charging for a similar price. And if you just want a reliable, no-fuss Android phone, the Motorola Moto G stylus 2025 probably gives you more features for less money. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro's main advantage is its unique look and feel.
| Spec | Nothing Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Pro | Samsung Galaxy Samsung - Galaxy S26 Ultra 512GB (Unlocked) - | Motorola Moto G Motorola - moto g stylus 2025 256GB (Unlocked) - | Google Pixel Google - Pixel 10 Pro 256GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian | OnePlus OnePlus OnePlus - 15 512GB (Unlocked) - Infinite Black | Apple iPhone Apple - Pre-Owned Excellent iPhone 16 Pro 5G 128GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | - | 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.8 | 6.3 |
| Display Type | - | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | - | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Processor | - | Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy | Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 | 3.78 GHz | 8 Elite Gen 5 | Apple A18 Pro |
| RAM (GB) | 12 | 12 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 8 |
| Storage (GB) | - | 512 | 256 | 256 | 512 | 128 |
| Rear Camera Mp | - | 200 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 48 |
| Front Camera Mp | 32 | 12 | 32 | 42 | 32 | 12 |
| Battery Capacity Mah | - | 5000 | 5000 | 4870 | 7300 | 3582 |
| Charging Wattage | - | 60 | 68 | - | - | - |
| Wireless Charging | - | true | true | false | - | true |
| Five (g) | - | true | true | true | true | true |
| Water Resistance | - | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP69 | IP68 |
| Operating System | Nothing OS 4.1 | Android 16 | Android 15 | Android 16 | Android 16 | iPadOS 18 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Build | Camera | Battery | Display | Feature | Performance | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Pro | 40.2 | 70.1 | 35.3 | 28.8 | 42.9 | 70 | 32.8 | 84.3 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Compare | 99.3 | 99.9 | 99.8 | 99.7 | 99.7 | 99.8 | 99.1 | 92.2 |
| Motorola Moto G stylus 2025 Compare | 99.9 | 96.9 | 99.9 | 99.7 | 100 | 86.6 | 99.9 | 99.8 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Compare | 99.3 | 99 | 90 | 97.9 | 88.9 | 83.2 | 98.7 | 98 |
| OnePlus OnePlus 15 Compare | 92.7 | 99.8 | 98.6 | 97.7 | 94.7 | 100 | 99.5 | 99.8 |
| Apple iPhone Pre-Owned Excellent 16 Pro 5G Compare | 99.3 | 99.4 | 88.8 | 98.4 | 86.2 | 97.4 | 94.5 | 98 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro good for gaming?
It's fine for casual gaming, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 isn't a top-tier gaming chip. Don't expect max settings on the latest titles for more than a short session.
Q: Why is there no 5G?
It's a cost-cutting measure to hit a lower price point. It makes the phone less future-proof, so if 5G speed matters to you, look elsewhere.
Q: How's the battery life?
Our data puts it in the 35th percentile, which is below average. You'll likely need to charge it by the end of a full day of use.
Who Should Skip This
If you need all-day battery life, a brilliant screen, or 5G connectivity, this isn't it. Go get a Google Pixel 10 Pro or a OnePlus 15 instead. Also, if you drop your phone a lot, skip it—its rugged score is one of the worst we've seen.
Verdict
We can only give a cautious recommendation. If you're deeply bored with how every other phone looks and you prioritize software cleanliness over raw power and battery life, this is your phone. For everyone else, there are more well-rounded and capable options at this price point that won't leave you wanting in key areas like display and connectivity.