GadgetByte Nepal

Guys, if your budget is around NPR 50,000, I’d say go for the Nothing Phone (3a) (review). It’s easily one of the best smartphones available in Nepal right now. But if you can stretch that budget by just ten thousand more, the Pro model steps in like the older sibling who just gets things done better. In this review, I’ll walk you through why that extra bit of cash on Nothing Phone (3a) Pro might be totally worth it.

But before that, let’s have a quick specification rundown, shall we?

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review: Specifications

• Design and Build: 163.52 x 77.5 x 8.39 mm, 211 gm, IP64 rating
• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED panel, FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G (4nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage (non-expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 on top
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP 3x periscope telephoto)
• Front Camera: 50MP sensor (hole-punch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (optical in-display)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, NFC, 5G
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Gyroscope, Proximity
• Battery: 5,000 mAh with 50W fast charging (no power adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 58,999 (8/256GB) | NPR 62,999 (12/256GB)
• Check the full specifications of Nothing Phone (3a) Pro here

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review:

Design and build

• 163.52 x 77.5 x 8.39 mm, 211 gm
• Glass front/back, plastic frames
• IP64 dust/splash resistant

For me, the design of Nothing phones has always stood out. Especially with that transparent back. While the Phone (3a) looks a lot like last year’s Nothing Phone (2a) (review), the Pro version feels different in its own way.

At the back, the camera module almost looks like there’s another phone stuck inside… kind of like a phone within a phone. You’ll also see Nothing’s signature Glyph lights on the back. It lights up when you get calls or notifications. Now, I get that some people might find it a bit too flashy or even unnecessary after a while. But honestly, I like it. It’s different, and it adds a bit of fun.

Display

• 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel
• Panda Glass protection, 120Hz refresh rate
• 1,300 nits (HBM) / 3,000 nits brightness (HDR) brightness

The display on the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is solid. It comes with a 120Hz AMOLED panel that feels smooth and responsive. With 1,300 nits in high brightness mode and up to 3,000 nits peak in HDR, this thing can get really bright. It also supports 10-bit colors and HDR10+, which helps everything look more vibrant.

I was watching some HDR videos the other day, and it felt like I was holding a mini theater in my hand (hehe… I like to exaggerate things sometimes). Honestly, watching “Interstellar” on this screen almost made me feel like I was floating through space with Cooper, minus the whole time dilation, of course. Even outdoors in bright sunlight, I had no problem seeing the screen clearly.

Performance

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm)
• 8/12GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (non-expandable)

Alright, let’s talk about performance because this part kinda made me scratch my head. Nothing went with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 for both the regular and Pro models. And honestly that felt like a bit of a letdown. I mean, if I’m spending ten thousand rupees more, I expect at least some noticeable upgrade, right?

At the very least, they could’ve given us the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 or even the standard Snapdragon 7 Gen 3.

Now, don’t get me wrong the phone isn’t slow. Day-to-day stuff like browsing, social media, and switching between apps is fine. Nothing has done a good job with optimization, so it runs smoothly. But it’s not fast in the way you’d expect a “Pro” phone to be. You’ll notice the difference if you’ve used a higher-end chipset before.

One thing that bugged me even more was the storage. They used UFS 2.2 instead of UFS 3.1 and that’s a weird choice for a phone in this price range. It’s something you’d usually see in phones that cost way less, and yeah it shows. App loading times and file transfers feel a bit slower than they should.

As for gaming, it’s decent. I played PUBG at 90 fps and it held up well. The gameplay was smooth, but the phone did get warm after a while. Not hot enough to burn your hand, but warm enough to notice. So, casual gaming? Totally fine. But if you’re really into gaming and want something snappier, I’d say take a look at the OnePlus 13R (review). For the same money, you’re getting more firepower.

Software

• Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 on top
• 3 years of OS and 6 years of security updates

When it comes to software, I have to give credit where it’s due. Nothing really nails it here! For me, after Samsung’s One UI, Nothing OS is easily my second favorite. It’s super clean, has no unnecessary bloatware, and just feels satisfying to use. Everything looks neat, and those minimal widgets actually make using the phone kind of fun.

Plus, Nothing is promising 3 years of OS updates and 6 years of security updates, which I think is a good commitment.

But yeah, I do have one big complaint. There are zero AI features here. In 2025, that feels like a missed opportunity, especially when even mid-range phones from Samsung and other Chinese brands are throwing in all sorts of AI tools from smart photo editing to voice-based automation. I get that Nothing wants to keep things simple, but a little smart magic would’ve been nice.

Yes… I know the Phone (3a) Pro has that “Essential Space” thing like the regular Phone (3a). It lets me organize my screenshots and take voice memos so that Nothing’s AI can swoop in to generate some sort of useful action points. But right now, it simply doesn’t feel that intelligent or useful to me.

Battery and charging

• 5,000 mAh battery (50W wired charging)
• No power adapter inside the box

Now on to the battery. The Phone (3a) Pro’s 5,000 mAh battery has been holding up really well for me. It easily gets me through a full day of use. And with the 50W wired charging, I was able to get from 0 to 50% in just 19 minutes, and a full charge took about 56 minutes.

Not the fastest on the market, but still quick enough that I didn’t feel stuck waiting. And no, you don’t need get a power brick inside the box, by the way.

Cameras

• Triple camera setup at the back
• (50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP periscope zoom)
• 50MP selfie camera (hole-punch cutout)

Finally, I wanna talk about my favorite part of this phone.

It’s only been about a month since the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro launched, and it has already received two updates focused just on the camera. And let me tell you, under NPR 60,00, I don’t think there’s a better camera phone in Nepal right now.

Daytime photos

In good lighting, the camera is super consistent. It honestly reminded me a bit of the Pixel phones with its natural tones and clean processing.

Daytime photos

1 of 5

You won’t get those overly vibrant or punchy colors like on a Samsung or Vivo phones, and the dynamic range, contrast, and highlight control are really well balanced. I used to consider the Realme 14 Pro+ (review) as the best in this price segment, but after using this one yeah, I’ve changed my mind.

Portraits

This phone nails portraits as well. The skin tones look natural, and the background blur feels just right, not too much, not too soft.

Portraits

1 of 5

What I really love is how these photos are basically ready for Instagram straight out of the camera. The 3x zoom camera also surprised me, it’s sharp, and you can even shoot 4K videos with it. It gives a really clean perspective especially for close-up shots.

Ultrawide photos

But here’s where I have a small complaint.

Ultrawide photos

1 of 4

The ultrawide camera on the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is only an 8MP one. It’s decent, wide enough for most shots but the detail just isn’t there. A 13MP or even a 50MP sensor would’ve made a huge difference. So yeah, it’s definitely not on the same level as the main or the 3x zoom camera.

Videos

Moving on, the videography side of things on the (3a) Pro was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I usually shoot at 4K 30 fps and while the main and 3x cameras handle that really well and even let you switch between them, that ultrawide camera is limited to Full HD videos only.

That kind of limitation is a bit annoying, especially when you’re trying to get creative with your shots.

Selfies

What about selfies? Well, they’re pretty solid.

Selfie

1 of 4

The skin tones come out nice, and the overall quality is good. I was honestly happy with the results. Definitely one of the better selfie cameras I’ve used in this price range.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro review: Conclusion

So to wrap up this review, I think the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a stylish, well-balanced phone with a clean software experience, solid camera performance, and a unique design that stands out.

I’m definitely not saying that it’s picture perfect — because the choice of chipset and its ultrawide camera could have been better — but for the price, it delivers a lot. And if you want something different from the usual crowd and don’t mind skipping on some raw power, the Phone (3a) Pro is definitely worth a look.

• Our video review of Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is coming up soon

Nothing Phone (3a) review: Pros and Cons