Nothing Phone (3a)
How long will it last?
Official promiseSupported until March 2031 · Buy-by March 2029
Nothing promises 6 years of updates for this phone, so it's supported until March 2031 — buying it today still gets you about 4.7 years of safe use.
Source: Nothing's official policy · last verified 2026-06-11 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
51% cheaper than the $300–600 median ($12.54/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
A genuinely distinctive budget phone that adds a real telephoto camera and long security support to Nothing's signature transparent design.
Pros
- Rare-at-this-price 50MP 2x telephoto camera alongside the main sensor
- Eye-catching transparent design with the Glyph interface
- Long 6 years of security patches for a budget device
- Large 5000mAh battery with 50W wired charging
- Bright 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED reaching 3000 nits peak
Cons
- Only 3 Android version upgrades despite 6 years of security
- No wireless charging
- Mid-tier Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is fine but not fast for heavy gaming
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 50MP |
| telephoto 2x | 50MP |
| ultra-wide | 8MP |
| front | 32MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 50W wired, no wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 163.52 × 77.50 × 8.35 mm |
| Weight | 201 g |
| Materials | Plastic frame, Gorilla Glass front, transparent Glyph back |
| Water resistance | IP64 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 15 with Nothing OS 3.1 at launch |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, USB-C |
| Update policy | 3 OS upgrades · 6 years of security updates (official promise) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Can you buy the Nothing Phone (3a) in the US?
Yes, but availability is through Nothing's US program rather than wide carrier retail, so it is somewhat limited compared with mainstream brands.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-11.