Nothing Launches the Phone (3a) Lite: A Boldly Affordable Gateway to the Nothing Ecosystem

Nothing’s newest budget smartphone, the Phone (3a) Lite, starts at £249 (roughly $300, depending on current exchange rates)—and it’s all about making the brand’s signature style and software accessible to more people.

The company is expanding its lineup yet again, but this time, the focus is laser-sharp: bringing Nothing’s one-of-a-kind design language and playful software experience to a price tag that won’t break the bank. The Phone (3a) Lite doesn’t water down what makes Nothing unique—no skimping on personality or long-term polish here. At £249/€249, it sends a clear message: innovation and style don’t have to be reserved for expensive flagships.

Design & Display

Nothing isn’t straying from its roots with the Phone (3a) Lite. It reimagines the brand’s iconic transparent look, leaning into subtlety while still being instantly recognizable as a Nothing device. Available in White and Black, it feels thoughtfully designed rather than mass-produced—thanks to glass surfaces, intricate texturing, and that classic minimalist edge the brand is known for.

It’s not just a pretty face, either: IP54 dust and water resistance and an internal aluminum battery frame mean it’s built to handle daily wear and tear, not just sit on a shelf.

Up front, the 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED screen is a standout for the price, with specs that punch above its budget:

• Peak HDR brightness of 3000 nits (great for outdoor visibility)
• FHD+ resolution (387 pixels per inch) for sharp details
• 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (smooth scrolling and app navigation)
• 2160Hz PWM dimming (easier on the eyes during long use)

In short? It’s smooth, bright, and way more premium than you’d expect for a phone at this price.

Performance & Software

Under the hood, the Phone (3a) Lite runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro— a chip made with a 4nm process that balances efficiency and everyday performance perfectly. It’s paired with:

• 8GB of physical RAM, plus up to 8GB of virtual RAM (totaling 16GB for multitasking)
• MicroSD support (expandable storage up to 2TB)
• Dual 5G, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 (fast, reliable connectivity)

On the software side, you get the full-featured Nothing OS experience:

• Nothing OS 3.5, based on Android 15
• Convenience tools like Smart Drawer, Private Space, and App Locker
• Essential Search and Essential Key for on-device AI help
• 3 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches (rarely seen in budget phones)

And looking ahead, Nothing OS 4.0 is set to roll out in early 2026—so this phone will stay up-to-date for years. Longevity is clearly a priority here.

Camera

Despite its budget price, the Phone (3a) Lite packs a camera system that takes cues from flagship devices:

• 50MP main sensor (from Samsung, with a 1/1.57-inch image sensor for better light capture)
• TrueLens Engine 4.0 (the same imaging pipeline used in the higher-end Phone (3))
• Shooting modes like Ultra XDR, Night Mode, Portrait, Macro, and Motion Capture
• Video capabilities: 4K at 30fps, plus 1080p slow-mo at 120fps
• 16MP front-facing camera for selfies

It’s more than capable of taking clear, vibrant photos—especially for social media content. For anyone who wants a budget phone that doesn’t compromise on camera quality, this delivers.

Glyph Light — Evolved (But Simplified)

Instead of the full Glyph Interface from Nothing’s pricier phones, the Phone (3a) Lite gets Glyph Light: a streamlined take on notification lighting that’s familiar but fresh. It includes:

• Flip to Glyph (trigger lights by flipping the phone)
• Essential Notifications (custom alerts for calls, texts, etc.)
• Camera Countdown (lights that signal when a photo will snap)
• Customizable light sequences and Nothing-style tones

It’s a nice nod to classic notification LEDs, updated with Nothing’s playful twist. But let’s be real: it’s basically a simple LED that blinks on and off. Nothing could’ve easily called it “Glyph Lite”—and it would’ve fit perfectly.

Battery & Charging

Nothing says the Phone (3a) Lite can last nearly two days of mixed use (browsing, texting, streaming) thanks to:

• A 5000mAh battery
• 33W fast charging (charges to 50% in roughly 20 minutes)
• 5W reverse wired charging (top up small devices like earbuds)

The 4nm chip and lightweight Nothing OS help boost efficiency—something Nothing has always excelled at. It’s solid for a budget phone, but as we near the end of 2025, we were hoping for a slightly larger battery to keep up with heavier usage.

Price & Availability

Here’s how the Phone (3a) Lite stacks up in terms of pricing:

Model	Price
8GB + 128GB	£249 / €249 ($300 / $300)
8GB + 256GB	£279 / €279 ($340 / $340)

Sales kick off on Wednesday, October 29, exclusively on nothing.tech in select regions.

Early Verdict

The Phone (3a) Lite is pure Nothing: sleek, expressive, and just unique enough to stand out—now at a price that lets way more people join the ecosystem. Its display, long-term software support, build quality, and camera system are all aimed at anyone tired of boring, “good enough” budget phones.

If you’ve loved Nothing’s aesthetic but didn’t want to spend flagship money, this is the sweet spot you’ve been waiting for. It’s a budget phone that doesn’t feel like a compromise—and that’s exactly what makes it special.