The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is another addition to the line of popular and relatively affordable smartphones that have gained attention not only for their performance, but also for their distinctive design. What can you expect from it when it comes to photography?

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – Positioning and Target Audience

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro sits firmly in the crucial mid-range segment, aimed at users who don’t want or need the extreme performance of the most expensive flagship models, but still expect solid specs and reliable results in photography.

In this sense, it competes with phones such as the Xiaomi 15T (read the review here), the Xiaomi 15T Pro (review), or the Samsung Galaxy A56, although the latter technically falls a bit lower in terms of camera specs.

I’ll admit that this was my first time testing a Nothing Phone. I borrowed the device and decided to give it a proper try. I tested it over several days, both during summer and later in wintertime Prague, resulting in an interesting mix of photographic conditions.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – Camera specs

Let’s first take a look at the camera setup itself.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – Camera Specifications
Main camera	50 MP, 24 mm, f/1.88, 1/1.56″ sensor, 84.5° FOV, OIS & EIS, auto focus, dual pixel PDAF
Periscope camera	50 MP, 70 mm, f/2.55, 1/1.95″ sensor, 33.6° FOV, OIS & EIS, autofocus, 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, 60x ultra zoom
Ultra-wide camera	8 MP, 15 mm, f/2.2, 1/4″ sensor, 120° FOV
Front camera	50 MP, 24 mm, f/2.2, 1/2.76″ sensor, 81.2° FOV

The key role is played by the main 50 MP camera, which, as the sample images show, delivers very solid results. A significant contribution comes from Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor.

Special attention should be paid to the telephoto camera. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a 50 MP sensor with a 3× optical zoom equivalent to 70 mm, as well as what the specifications describe as a 6× in-sensor zoom – a crop-based zoom using part of the sensor. The sensor itself measures 1/1.95″.

The third camera is an ultra-wide-angle lens, which is a very welcome addition. Personally, I’m a big fan of ultra-wide lenses and use them frequently. However, it’s important to note that this one only has 8 MP, which is relatively low compared to the other two cameras. This can occasionally be noticeable in the results, though it’s not a major issue.

And yes, there is also a selfie camera. It also offers 50 MP, but with a smaller 1/2.76″ sensor, placing it among the smaller sensor sizes. In everyday shooting, however, this is not a real problem.

Naturally, the phone includes a wide range of additional shooting modes, including Pro mode, Portrait, Macro, and everything we’ve come to expect from devices in this category.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – What I Liked

Overall, I really like the design and construction philosophy of the Nothing Phone. It’s definitely not for everyone, but for fans of bold and original design solutions, it’s a great choice. Attention from people around you is guaranteed.

What can you expect from it in terms of photography? Once again, the key point is that it delivers very decent results within its price and performance category. Given the hardware, it’s unrealistic to expect flagship-level performance from the very top tier. Still, combined with the distinctive design, it’s a fairly attractive package.

The main sensor delivers the best results overall – which is exactly how it should be. During my testing, it was the primary camera I relied on most often. As the sample images on this page demonstrate, it’s a camera you can trust.

The optical zoom is 3×, but it’s also possible to use what the manufacturer calls the 6× in-sensor zoom. Yes, this is essentially a digital zoom and somewhat of a marketing term, but it still produces respectable results. For everyday photography, most users will be satisfied.

The ultra-wide camera also deserves cautious praise. As mentioned earlier, its 8 MP resolution can be a limitation for more demanding photography. However, for casual shooting, it’s perfectly usable and delivers solid results.

Another pleasant surprise was night photography. The night shots from this model are genuinely good, which is clearly visible in the sample photos in the gallery. If you own this phone, night photography is definitely worth trying.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – What to Watch Out For

Image processing can occasionally be inconsistent. In various situations, I noticed a certain instability and imbalance in the final output. Sometimes colors felt slightly off, other times the overall result wasn’t entirely convincing. These are mostly minor issues, and there’s no need for concern, but they are worth mentioning.

Portrait mode sometimes struggles with background blur. In more complex scenes, the algorithms didn’t always manage a clean separation between the subject and the background. Again, nothing dramatic, but it’s something to be aware of.

Competition in this segment is extremely strong. From a photography standpoint, the conclusion of my testing is fairly straightforward. If you fall in love with the Nothing Phone and its design, there’s no reason to worry – you’ll get a great-looking phone and solid photos.

However, if camera quality is a decisive factor in your purchase decision, competitors often offer more consistent performance at a similar or even lower price. This includes models like the Xiaomi 15T or even the Xiaomi 15T Pro, which can sometimes be found at promotional prices not far from this model – and offers noticeably more. Potential buyers will also likely consider cheaper but still very capable phones such as the Samsung Galaxy A56.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – Summary

Like its predecessors, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a highly appealing design and interesting features. In terms of photography, it sits closer to the average of the lower and mid-range classes. For everyday use, it won’t disappoint, but more demanding photographers will likely get better results from competing devices at a similar price point.

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro – sample photos

Review Summary