Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: A Detailed Overview
Introduction
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite marks a significant addition to the manufacturer’s product line, introducing a “Lite” variant and presenting a fresh perspective on the CMF Phone 2 Pro design. While “a” models were previously associated with budget-focused devices, the Phone (3a) Lite expands the series’ offerings with a distinct feature set.
[Image of Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, external view]
The Phone (3a) Lite showcases an all-glass construction, consistent with other Nothing devices, featuring a semi-transparent back panel and a simplified Glyph interface. A key differentiating factor is the back panel, diverging from the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which offers interchangeable back panels and lacks the Glyph interface.
The device incorporates a 6.7-inch 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, supporting 10-bit color depth and HDR10. It is powered by the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset, coupled with 8GB of RAM.
[Image of Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, back view]
The rear camera system comprises a 50MP primary camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The CMF Phone 2 Pro, by comparison, incorporates a 50MP 2x telephoto lens instead of the macro lens, while omitting OIS on its primary camera.
The Phone (3a) Lite is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery supporting 33W fast charging. It operates on Android 15, customized with Nothing OS 3.5, and is slated to receive three major Android updates.
Key Specifications:
- Body: Dimensions: 164.0×78.0x8.3mm, Weight: 199g; Front: Panda Glass, Frame: Plastic, Back: Panda Glass; IP54 dust and water resistance (water splashes).
- Display: 6.77″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak), 1080x2392px resolution, 19.93:9 aspect ratio, 388ppi; Ultra HDR image support.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4 nm): Octa-core (4×2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G615 MC2 GPU.
- Memory: 128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM; microSDXC support.
- Operating System: Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.5.
- Rear Camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm, 1/1.57″, 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP.
- Front Camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide).
- Video Recording: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 33W wired charging, 50% in 20 min, 5W reverse wired charging.
- Connectivity: 5G; Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC.
- Additional Features: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical).
The device features an IP54 ingress protection rating, offering a degree of dust and water resistance, although some competitors offer superior protection at comparable price points.
Unboxing Experience
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite arrives in a signature Nothing-branded box, characterized by a glossy finish and distinctive design elements, including a specific message on the internal packaging.
[Image of Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, unboxing]
The retail package includes the phone, a USB cable, and a SIM ejection tool.
A basic silicone case is also included within the packaging.
