Nothing Phone 4a Pro hands-on: A premium design with a price to match the Pixel 10a

Source: Engadget

Design and Build

• Materials: Aluminum unibody with the brand’s retro‑clear hardware touches.
• Camera housing: The protruding circular module from the Phone 3a Pro is replaced by an oblong enclosure that holds a triple‑camera array and a tweaked Glyph Matrix, similar to the one on the Nothing Phone 3.
• Feel: The device feels “incredibly premium,” even more so than the company’s flagship phones.

Despite the premium feel, the Phone 4a Pro is positioned as a balance between affordability and wow factor, priced at $499, slightly higher than the standard 4a.

Glyph Matrix

• LED count: 137 mini‑LEDs (fewer than the Phone 3, but 100 % brighter at ~3000 nits).
• Brightness: Up to 3000 nits, making the display noticeably easier to read in bright conditions.
• Functionality: Supports most of the Glyph “toys” from the previous flagship, though it lacks a dedicated Glyph Button. Users must access Glyph settings via the main Settings menu.

A circular metal detail on the lower left corner resembles a button but is non‑functional.

Display

• Size: 6.83 inches, slightly larger than both the predecessor and the standard 4a.
• Refresh rate: Up to 144 Hz.
• Peak brightness: 5,000 nits with HDR content, about 66 % brighter than the previous model.

Camera System

• Sensors:
  • Telephoto sensor carried over from the flagship Phone 3.
  • New 50 MP Sony LYT‑700C sensor, 24 % larger than the 50 MP unit in the 3a Pro.
• Image Signal Processor: Triple 12‑bit ISP enabling up to 140× ultra‑zoom (comparable to recent Galaxy phones).
• Video: 120 fps full‑HD slow‑motion capture.
• Action Mode: Built‑in to shoot up to 30 Ultra XDR images in a row (13 RAW frames combined for high dynamic range).
• Presets & Filters: Seven new editing options, plus the ability to create and save custom B&W filters.

Performance

• CPU & GPU: Claims of 30 % improved graphics performance and 27 % faster CPU speeds, powered by “flagship” LPDDR5X memory—advertised as 100 % faster than the 3a Pro.
• Real‑world impact: Improvements were not immediately noticeable during initial testing.

Software

• OS skin: Continued refinement of Nothing’s custom Android skin, with an option to revert to a more stock look.
• Home screen & lock screen: New widget size options and a custom lock screen.
• Animations: Smoother transitions when opening, switching, or swiping between apps, likely aided by the more powerful processor.
• AI features:
  • Essential Search – a system‑wide search that scans the device for information, images, documents, apps, etc.
  • Essential Space – cloud access for voice notes, screenshots, text notes, and more, marking the first Nothing devices to include this capability.

Availability and Pricing

• Price: $499 (same as the Pixel 10a).
• Release date: Sales begin March 27.
• Pre‑orders: Open now at nothing.tech and other retailers.

A full review is expected in the coming weeks.