Phone (3a) vs Phone (4a)
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 3 points overall, so it depends on you: keep phones for years → Phone (4a) (supported until Mar 2032); want maximum speed → Phone (3a) (Snapdragon 7s Gen 3).
Value Score: Phone (3a) 75 · Phone (4a) 72 — methodology
Who should pick which
Beyond the scores — our take on each phone and the buyer it actually suits.
A genuinely distinctive budget phone that adds a real telephoto camera and long security support to Nothing's signature transparent design.
Pick it if
- ✓ Budget buyers who want a phone that looks unlike anything else
- ✓ People who want optical zoom without spending flagship money
- ✓ Users who keep phones long and value 6 years of patches
Skip it if
- ✗ You need wireless charging or top-end gaming performance
- ✗ You want full official US retail availability and warranty
A stylish global mid-ranger that punches above its price with a 3.5x periscope zoom and six years of security updates, if you can live with importing it to the US.
Pick it if
- ✓ Design-conscious buyers outside the US who want a zoom lens on a budget
- ✓ Long-term keepers who want six years of patches for around $400
- ✓ Fans of clean, uncluttered Android software
Skip it if
- ✗ You need an official US model or strong water resistance
- ✗ You want the metal build and better ultrawide of the Pro
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
Both displays are effectively the same class.
The Phone (3a)'s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is simply the faster chip.
Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.
Battery capacities are close enough not to decide this.
The Phone (4a) is supported until Mar 2032 — 12 months longer than the Phone (3a).
Pound for pound, these two are equally good deals.
Frequently asked
Does the Nothing Phone (3a) have a telephoto camera?
Yes. It includes a 50MP 2x telephoto lens in addition to the 50MP main and 8MP ultra-wide cameras, which is unusual at its price point.
How long is the Nothing Phone (3a) supported?
Nothing provides 3 major Android upgrades and 6 years of security updates, so security patches should continue until around March 2031.
When does the Nothing Phone (4a) stop getting updates?
Nothing commits to three major Android upgrades and six years of security patches from the March 2026 launch, so security fixes continue to roughly March 2032. That is a long window for a phone in this price bracket and matches the more expensive Phone (4a) Pro.
Is the Nothing Phone (4a) worth buying in 2026?
For buyers in markets where it is sold, it is strong value: about £349/€349 with six years of remaining security support is close to $5-6 per month of safe use. The 3.5x periscope and bright screen are standouts. US shoppers have to import it, so many will prefer the US-sold Phone (4a) Pro instead.
Full spec table
| Spec | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $349 | $419 |
| Display | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 1224×2720 (FHD+), 120Hz, HDR10+, 4500 nits peak, Gorilla Glass 7i |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh | 5,080 mAh |
| Charging | 50W wired, no wireless | 50W wired, no wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 50MP telephoto 2x, 8MP ultra-wide | 50MP main, 50MP telephoto 3.5x, 8MP ultra-wide |
| Dimensions | 163.52 × 77.50 × 8.35 mm | 164.0 × 77.6 × 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 201 g | 205 g |
| Water resistance | IP64 | IP64 |
| Supported until | Mar 2031 | Mar 2032 |
More comparisons
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.