Nothing managed to keep a tight lid on it, but the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is finally official. Unveiled alongside the standard Phone (4a) (review), the handset brings a different design authority to the lineup – something that is very unlike Nothing. The Phone (4a) Pro forgoes the trademark transparent back panel in favour of a full aluminium chassis. I had the opportunity to spend a brief time with the smartphone at the launch event in London, UK. While a full analysis will follow in our Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review, here are my initial impressions and what stood out during my early hands-on time.
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It starts with the price…
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is priced in India starting at Rs 39,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The phone also comes in 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage configurations, which will set you back by Rs 42,999 and Rs 45,999, respectively. It’s a substantial jump from the Phone (3a) Pro pricing, though it is understandable given the current market scenario, with component shortages driven by rising demand from AI-focused companies. Carl Pei has already warned of the price hike of the new smartphones earlier this year.
Now the new colour
Nothing has introduced a Pink colourway to the Phone (4a) series, and it had everyone going for it – at least here at the launch event. However, the Phone (4a) Pro’s Pink shade looks noticeably more muted than that of the standard Phone (4a). In fact, in slightly dim lighting, it barely appeared pink at all. You can judge for yourself in the comparison image below.
Besides Pink, the Phone (4a) Pro continues to be available in the standard Silver and Black shades. No white and blue shades yet.
New design language, but still very Nothing-like
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is the first smartphone from the brand to feature an aluminium unibody design. Instead of a full transparent rear, the glass has now been confined, if I may call it that, to the raised camera plateau. The result is a cleaner, more restrained aesthetic that feels markedly different from previous Nothing devices. The in-hand feel is slightly better than the Nothing Phone (4a), which I’ve been using as my primary device and has a relatively slippery glass back.
That said, the company hasn’t abandoned thoughtful detailing. A small dimple in the bottom-left corner, which apparently makes it easier to pull the phone out of tight pockets or snug spaces using your forefinger and thumb. We will be testing how useful it is in review, so stay tuned for that.
Moreover, the bottom edge of the phone also has the antenna lines and text etched, which adds to the aesthetics. These elements feel understated, especially when contrasted with the large camera module positioned at the top. It’s a major centre of attraction on the smartphone, which appears to have drawn inspiration from the flagship Phone (3), adopting a circular Glyph Matrix display.
Unlike before, it is no longer paired with a physical button for interacting with games or controls. However, the display is slightly larger this time and supports the usual Glyph Interface features. It can also be used as a camera preview when capturing images with the rear cameras.
The Phone (4a) Pro features a triple rear camera system. One sensor is housed within a circular ring, while the other two sit inside a horizontally aligned, pill-shaped module embedded within the raised plateau. The entire plateau is covered with a transparent glass layer, revealing Nothing’s signature industrial-style detailing beneath it, alongside a square LED light, the flash module, and a microphone.
Nothing may have strayed from its traditional design language with the Phone (4a) Pro, but I appreciate the brand’s commitment to introducing something different each time. In fact, no two models in the company’s current lineup look entirely alike.
Specs at a glance
Since I didn’t thoroughly test the device at the event, there isn’t much I can say, except for its spec sheet. The handset boasts a 6.83-inch 1.5K Flexible AMOLED 144Hz refresh-rate display, making it slightly larger in form factor than the standard Phone (4a). The smartphone is also expected to be more competent than its younger sibling in terms of performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC ticking at its core.
Based on my initial impressions, if your current phone is several generations old and you prioritise design, this could be an interesting option, but hold off on pre-ordering until we can assess performance and camera quality. For existing Nothing users, the design shift is significant, but the core experience might feel familiar; consider if the new materials and telephoto lens justify the upgrade.
Disclosure: The writer is attending the Nothing Phone (4a) Series launch in London on Nothing India’s invitation.
