London-based technology brand Nothing has announced the launch of the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite in India on November 27th. The device made its debut globally in October as the company’s first-ever ‘Lite’ model and is its most affordable phone outside the CMF lineup. The Nothing Phone (3a) launch in India would bring the company’s distinct design language and software experience to a wider audience at a more accessible price point. The phone is confirmed to launch in black and white colour options and could come with bundled offers.
The Phone (3a) Lite was launched in the UK at GBP 249 (approximately Rs 28,000). Considering the fact that the regular Nothing Phone (3a) sells for Rs 24,999 in India, the Phone (3a) Lite should arrive somewhere around Rs 20,000 – Rs 22,000. At this price, it will directly rival the iQOO Z-series, Realme P-series, and Vivo T-series – all lineups that carry feature-rich devices with competitive pricing. However, Nothing seems to focus on differentiators like design, software, and long-term support rather than raw specifications.
One of the notable shifts, however, is the inclusion of preloaded apps such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, the latter of which won’t be available in India. This is a departure from Nothing’s earlier approach of bloat-free devices, hinting at a more youth-centric approach. While these apps can be uninstalled, their inclusion suggests that Nothing is tuning the Lite model for users whose use-case mainly remains social media.
Design-wise, the Phone (3a) Lite retains Nothing’s signature aesthetic, but simplified. Gone is the full Glyph Interface of higher-end models, with the Phone (3a) Lite sporting a single Glyph Light in the bottom corner of the glass back panel. It retains the glass back and symmetrical frame that gives the phone a premium feel despite its expected lower price. This design helps Nothing maintain brand consistency across price segments but with its visual identity intact, which is one of its strongest differentiators.
In terms of hardware, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite ships with a 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, HDR10+, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits with Panda Glass protection. Under the hood, it comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset coupled with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage expandable via microSD. The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging. This is a bit slower than some competitors, but acceptable keeping in mind the price.
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary shooter with EIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The front camera is 16MP and is capable of 4K video at 30fps with 10x digital zoom. Software-wise, the device ships with Android 15-based Nothing OS 3.5, and is confirmed for an update to Android 16 with Nothing OS 4.0 in early 2026. The company has committed to three years of OS updates and six years of security patches.
If Nothing prices the Phone (3a) Lite under Rs 22,000, this could be a very strong proposition for buyers looking for a clean, visually different smartphone with reliable software support in the long run. The compromises, in the form of slower charging, along with the reduced setup of the Glyph, do appear reasonable trade-offs for a device positioned to bring the Nothing experience to the budget-conscious crowd.
Nothing Phone 3a Lite Images
