Nothing Phone (4a) review: a budget phone that stands out from the crowd

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Nothing Phone (4a): two-minute review

If there’s one phone brand that’s got an instantly recognisable aesthetic, it’s certainly Nothing. The UK electronics company has built a unique, attention-grabbing brand over the years, and its latest device, the Nothing Phone (4a) fully mirrors that.

In my view, this is one of the best-looking budget phones on the market, with a see-through shell, piercing red details, and an array of appealing colour options. The inclusion of a new and improved Glyph Bar – which flashes differently depending on the notification you receive – is also a fun inclusion, even if some may perceive it as gimmicky.

best phones, the (4a) runs Android 16 out of the box, which powers the Nothing OS 4.1. Also, you can choose between a more traditional Android experience, or one that’s centred around the Nothing aesthetic. I went with the latter, and found the UI to be stylish and super easy to use.

It’s not all about style with this phone, though. It also has a lot of good stuff going on under the hood, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset keeping things moving nicely. I experienced very little in the way of delay or performance hiccups during my time with the (4a), and it coped with multi-tasking, video streaming, and most gaming activity without fault.

OK, if you want the best performance around and ultra-smooth framerates for the most demanding games, you may want to opt for the Nothing Phone (3) or a real powerhouse like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but otherwise the (4a)’s chip will handle your day-to-day use without a hitch. You can also purchase the phone with 12GB of RAM, rather than 8GB, if you want the best user experience possible.

Another thing that impressed me about this model was its display. It uses a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and supports HDR, meaning you’ll be treated to punchy colours with solid contrast, and relatively detailed on-screen images. The 120Hz refresh rate is also good to see, and will no doubt be a big plus for gamers. The resolution also got a bump from the (3a) to 2720 x 1224, which is a nice improvement over the predecessor’s Full HD+ quality.

To be honest, I was very satisfied with the vast majority of what the Nothing Phone (4a) had to offer. There’s a pretty much bloat-free, well streamlined software experience. AI isn’t thrown in your face constantly, although there are a few useful integrations. And even the battery life is good – you’re getting a 5,080mAh capacity with support for 50W wired charging. Unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging here, though.

The only aspect of the phone that I didn’t love was its camera quality. Nothing has clearly poured effort into the cameras on this model, with an upgraded periscopic lens, a 50MP wide camera from Samsung, and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor from Sony. However, the results just didn’t impress me all too much during testing. A lot of photos lacked detail, or looked a little washed out – something I’m not used to from my mid-range Samsung phone.

Still, that’s not to say that the cameras here are bad. You still get decently clear snaps, with 3.5x optical zoom and 4K 30fps video helping to keep things interesting. Plus, this is the only area that didn’t score at least four stars out of five when I came to decide the phone’s final rating, which is impressive in itself.

Before I wrap up, it’s worth touching on price. Now, it may be true that this model is more expensive than the Nothing Phone (3a), but not by much at all. I’d also argue that the upgrades, from resolution through to design, make the (4a) well worth picking over its predecessor. Nothing’s new phone is also priced very competitively against budget rivals from the likes of Google and Motorola, giving it a real fighting chance in a tough market.

Ultimately, the Nothing Phone (4a) is a great budget-friendly phone. It’s oozing with style, it performs commendably, and it offers a streamlined user experience. Could the camera be better? Sure, but at the end of the day, I’d sacrifice better photos for all of the good stuff you get from this stand-out device.

Volume and power buttons on the Nothing Phone (4a)

(Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: price and availability

8GB RAM & 128GB storage: £349 / AU$649
8GB RAM & 256GB storage: £379 / AU$749
12GB RAM & 256GB storage: £399 / AU$849

The Nothing Phone (4a) launched in early March 2026, a year after its predecessor the Nothing Phone (3a). It’s available from as little as £349 / AU$649, but you can get a model with extra storage for £379 / AU$749, or a variant with another 4GB of RAM as well for £399 / AU$849. This represents a slight bump up in price over the (3a), which went on sale for as little as £329 / AU$599 when it was released in March 2025.

Nothing Phone (4a) review: specs

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Dimensions	164 x 77.6 x 8.6mm
Weight	204.5g
Screen	6.78-inch LTPS flexible AMOLED
Resolution	2720 x 1224
Refresh rate	120Hz
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4
RAM	8GB / 12GB
Storage	128GB / 256GB
OS	Android 16, Nothing OS 4.1
Rear cameras	50MP f/1.88 main, 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 50MP f/2.88 periscope
Front camera	32MP f/2.2
Battery	5,080mAh
Charging	50W fast charging, no wireless charging

Man holding the Nothing Phone (4a) — (Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: design

Beautiful build with hi-tech design
New Glyph Bar may be gimmicky, but I love it
Gorgeous colour options

Over the last few years, I’ve often seen people describe Nothing devices having ‘divisive’ designs, that will be loved by many, but loathed by others. Well, I’ll put my cards on the table right now. I think the Nothing (4a) is an absolutely stunning smartphone.

I love tech that stands out, and this phone does just that – everything from its transparent shell through to its red details make it a joy to behold. On top of that, each and every colour variant you can purchase looks sensational – I like the traditional white, which makes that splash of red even more impactful, but the blue, pink, and black alternatives are striking too.

Another aspect that makes the (4a) stand out is its new Glyph Bar. This is a rectangular strip of 63 mini-LEDs in seven squares, and flashes variably depending on the kind of notification you receive. Nothing claims that this is an extension of its philosophy “to reduce the distractions that take you out of your world and onto your screen”.

I’ll admit, it is a little bit of a gimmick. But still, the Glyph Bar undoubtedly functions really well, and it’s just another thing that helps the Phone (4a) to stand out in a highly convoluted market.

It’s not only a pretty face, though. The Nothing Phone (4a) is decently durable, and uses Gorilla Glass 7i to resist scratches and drops. Nothing also claims that it souped up the mobile’s bend resistance by 34%, compared to the (3a) – something I couldn’t quite verify myself, although it didn’t bend at all when I applied some pressure.

This phone’s protection against the elements also piqued my interest. See, on the face of it, the (4a) has an IP64 rating. That means that it’s fully dustproof, and protected from multi-directional water splashes. However, Nothing also claims that this model can be submerged under 25cm of water for as long as 20 minutes. As a result, you won’t need to worry if it gets a little wet.

Nothing Phone (4a) laying flat — (Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: display

6.8-inch AMOLED display
120Hz refresh rate
Very solid 4,500 peak brightness

The Nothing Phone (4a) has a neat AMOLED display, which measures just below 6.8 inches, meaning it’s plenty large enough to enjoy movies or games on the go, but not exactly the largest device out there. A happy medium, if you will.

In terms of resolution, you’re getting 2720 x 1224, which is an improvement over the (3a)’s Full HD+ output. The result? Surprisingly detailed, colour-rich images that appear far more intricate than you’d expect from a phone in this price range. This device also supports HDR, meaning you can unlock commendable contrast, and generally vibrant-looking visuals.

Motorola Edge 70 – so it’s vivid and easy to use when in outdoor spaces.

Look, overall, you’re not going to get the detail levels and refinement of the fancier phones out there, like the iPhone 17 Pro, for instance, but the (4a) does do itself justice. Its 120Hz display makes it a nice pick for gamers, it’s 23% brighter than its predecessor, and its improved resolution is a big plus.

Display on the Nothing Phone (4a)

(Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: software

Android 16 out of the box, with Nothing OS 4.1
Three years of OS updates, six years of security updates
Some AI functions are useful, others less so

The Nothing Phone (4a) runs Android 16 out of the box, which powers the Nothing OS 4.1. Nothing is promising three years worth of OS updates, alongside six years of security updates – nothing amazing, but better than what some rivals can offer.

When you fire the phone up initially, you can opt for a more traditional Android experience, or go for the Nothing UI. I went for the latter option, and found it to be great – I loved its visual style, felt it was easy to navigate, and appreciated the little quirks that my Samsung phone leaves out.

I’ve reviewed quite a few phones here at TechRadar, and something that often bothers me is the sheer volume of bloatware Android phones subject me to. I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve set up a new phone, gone to open up an app, and been greeted with a screen filled with Temu and unwanted mobile games. But the Nothing Phone (4a) bucks that trend. It’s basically bloatware-free, which is a huge plus in my book.

Elsewhere, this model is pretty solid in the software department. Like just about every other manufacturer, a lot of focus has been channeled into AI functionality. At the heart of this, you’ll find the Essential Key – a button positioned on the left edge of the phone. You can use this to make an audio recording with AI transcription, or to analyse notes you’ve taken.

The Essential Key works pretty well, although some of the features – like the aforementioned transcription function – don’t work perfectly. I wasn’t loving stuff like AI generated wallpapers, and I don’t use ChatGPT or Gemini, meaning those integrations failed to interest me. But AI isn’t shoved down your throat constantly like it is on some rival devices, and is kept pretty streamlined, ensuring it doesn’t get in the way of Nothing’s solid performance in the software area.

Essential Key on the Nothing Phone (4a) — (Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: cameras

50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope
AI stabilisation and 4K video capturing
Performance is just OK

The Nothing Phone (4a) has an upgraded three camera system, with a 50MP wide camera from Samsung, an 8MP ultra-wide Sony sensor, and a new 50MP tetraprism periscopic photo lens, which also comes from Samsung. There’s also a 32MP front-facing camera for taking selfies or video calls.

But in spite of all that fancy tech, I’d actually argue that the Phone (4a)’s camera quality is one of its biggest drawbacks. Photo quality is by no means bad, especially for a budget device, but when I compared images to those taken on my older Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, the Nothing Phone really struggled to compete.

When taking images outside in natural light, details on trees and buildings looked pretty unrefined, and some darker shades looked a little flushed out. Still, images didn’t appear blurry or anything, and the intense yellow of daffodils was captured with decent accuracy.

3.5x optical zoom is effective on the (4a), and when I tried to snap a squirrel across the road, I was fairly happy with the results. Was it the clearest, sharpest looking photo ever? Well no, but it was certainly fine for a budget-friendly phone. You can also access 7x lossless zoom and up to 70x ultra zoom on the Nothing Phone (4a), although you won’t get particularly clear results when homing in from super-long distances.

Photos taken inside under artificial light didn’t always have the most true-to-life colour replication, and sometimes kept the finer details concealed but, again, images looked defined enough. It was the same case in low-light conditions too, making for basic albeit effective camera performance.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.

Anyway, it’s worth flagging the video capturing capabilities of the Nothing Phone (4a). You can record in 4K at 30fps, and even take slow-motion 120fps content. You also get image stabilisation and AI-powered anti-shake tech, ensuring you get smooth motion.

Cameras on the Nothing Phone (4a)

(Image credit: Future)

Nothing Phone (4a) review: performance

Smooth user experience
8GB or 12GB RAM versions available
Support for aptX, but no Dolby Atmos

The Nothing Phone (4a) is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and offers great performance for a phone in its price bracket. Whether I was surfing the net with multiple tabs open, using productivity applications for work, or playing games, the (4a) kept things moving nicely.

OK, it’s not the almighty device that the more committed mobile gamers may wish for – I couldn’t quite squeeze 60fps out of Genshin Impact, for instance. But its 120Hz refresh rate and solid processing power means it’s certainly good enough for casual players. And if you’re less of a gamer and more interested in streaming video content, using social media, and surfing the net, the (4a) will have more than enough power for you.

Full disclosure here, I used the version of the (4a) with 12GB of RAM, so performance may vary if you go for the 8GB alternative, but my user experience was smooth, hassle-free, and well tuned for a multitasker.

Another part of performance I want to touch on is the (4a)’s audio capabilities. The built-in stereo speakers aren’t anything special, and won’t wow with massively powerful or clear audio, but that’s pretty common for a cheap phone.

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen or headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2. It’s worth noting that there’s no Dolby Atmos support, though, which is a little bit of a shame.

Display on the Nothing Phone (4a)

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. I found that the phone easily lasted me a day, even when intensely testing, downloading apps, and playing games. Nothing states that the device is good for 17 hours of combined usage, so you won’t need to charge it all too often.

Speaking of, you’re getting 50W wired charging here, which means that you can juice your mobile up pretty quickly. Nothing says that the device can go from 1% to 50% in 22 minutes, and I found that to be accurate in my testing. Sure, some rivals can charge closer to the 100W mark now, but the (4a) can be revived plenty fast enough for my money.

One thing that may disappoint some users, though, is the lack of wireless charging. Sure, it’s something that’s typically associated with more premium models, but I would’ve loved to have seen it here.

Finally, you can uncover plenty of battery customization options through system settings. Here, you can alter battery health options, adaptive battery settings, activate battery saver mode, and more.

USB-C port on the Nothing Phone (4a)

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Nothing Phone (4a)?

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Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Stunning stand-out look, durable build, and fun Glyph Bar.	5/5
Display	Strong display for the price with good peak brightness and improved resolution.	4/5
Software	Bloat-free, neat UI, well streamlined, some may wish for more OS upgrades.	4/5
Cameras	New upgraded system feels a bit disappointing, photos lack details and punch of some rivals.	3/5
Performance	Admirable processing power for a phone in this category, built-in speakers could be better.	4/5
Battery life	Good battery life with 50W wired charging, but you can’t juice the device up wirelessly.	4/5

Nothing Phone (4a) review: also consider

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Header Cell – Column 0	Nothing Phone (4a)	Google Pixel 10a	Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
Price	From £349 / AU$649	From £490 / AU$849	From £649 / AU$1,099
Dimensions	164 x 77.6 x 8.6mm	153.9 x 73 x 9mm	161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4mm
Weight	204.5g	183g	190g
Cameras	50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope	48MP main, 13MP ultra-wide	50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto
Battery	5,080mAh	5,100mAh	4,900mAh

How I tested Nothing Phone (4a)

Reverse side of the Nothing Phone (4a) — (Image credit: Future)

Tested intensively across multiple days
Used for work, gaming, and general productivity
Exhausted the phone’s various features and camera settings

I spent multiple days testing the Nothing Phone (4a), during which time I essentially used it as my main mobile device. I tried out just about every feature it had to offer, took a whole host of photos, and used it for gaming.

On top of this, I made sure to compare the (4a) against my mid-range Samsung phone, to assess the quality of photos and videos, and compare general performance.

When taking photos, I made sure to capture objects and environments in a wide array of conditions, including natural, artificial, and low-light settings. Where possible, I used the 50MP setting on the main camera, although I took a few shots in 12MP for 16:9 images.

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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)