I reviewed Nothing's new budget phone, and it's a sleek, steady performer
that impressed me so much that I might not go back to my Samsung

Date:
Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Description:
Nothing's new budget-friendly mobile wowed me with its stand-out design and impressive performance, making it easy to recommend.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Nothing Phone (4a): two-minute review If theres one phone brand thats got an
instantly recognisable aesthetic, its certainly Nothing. The UK electronics company has built a unique, attention-grabbing brand over the years, and its latest device, the Nothing Phone (4a) fully mirrors that.

In my view, this is one of the best-looking budget phones on the market, with a see-through shell, piercing red details, and an array of appealing colour options. The inclusion of a new and improved Glyph Bar which flashes differently depending on the notification you receive is also a fun inclusion, even if some may perceive it as gimmicky. Like a lot of the best phones , the (4a) runs Android 16 out of the box, which powers the Nothing OS 4.1. Also, you can choose between a more traditional Android experience, or one thats centred around the Nothing aesthetic. I went with the latter, and found the UI to be stylish and super easy to use.

Its not all about style with this phone, though. It also has a lot of good stuff going on under the hood, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset keeping things moving nicely. I experienced very little in the way of delay
or performance hiccups during my time with the (4a), and it coped with multi-tasking, video streaming, and most gaming activity without fault.

OK, if you want the best performance around and ultra-smooth framerates for the most demanding games, you may want to opt for the Nothing Phone (3) or a real powerhouse like the iPhone 17 Pro Max , but otherwise the (4a)s chip
will handle your day-to-day use without a hitch. You can also purchase the phone with 12GB of RAM, rather than 8GB, if you want the best user experience possible.

Another thing that impressed me about this model was its display. It uses a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and supports HDR , meaning youll be treated to punchy colours with solid contrast, and relatively detailed on-screen images. The 120Hz refresh rate is also good to see, and will no doubt be a big plus for gamers. The resolution also got a bump from the (3a) to 2720 x 1224, which is a nice improvement over the predecessors Full HD+ quality.

To be honest, I was very satisfied with the vast majority of what the Nothing Phone (4a) had to offer. Theres a pretty much bloat-free, well streamlined software experience. AI isnt thrown in your face constantly, although there are a few useful integrations. And even the battery life is good youre getting a 5,080mAh capacity with support for 50W wired charging. Unfortunately, theres no wireless charging here, though. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The only aspect of the phone that I didnt love was its camera quality.
Nothing has clearly poured effort into the cameras on this model, with an upgraded periscopic lens, a 50MP wide camera from Samsung , and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor from Sony . However, the results just didnt impress me all too much during testing. A lot of photos lacked detail, or looked a little washed out something Im not used to from my mid-range Samsung phone.

Still, thats not to say that the cameras here are bad. You still get decently clear snaps, with 3.5x optical zoom and 4K 30fps video helping to keep things interesting. Plus, this is the only area that didnt score at least four stars out of five when I came to decide the phones final rating, which is
impressive in itself.

Before I wrap up, its worth touching on price. Now, it may be true that this model is more expensive than the Nothing Phone (3a), but not by much at all. Id also argue that the upgrades, from resolution through to design, make the (4a) well worth picking over its predecessor. Nothings new phone is also priced very competitively against budget rivals from the likes of Google and Motorola, giving it a real fighting chance in a tough market.

Ultimately, the Nothing Phone (4a) is a great budget-friendly phone. It's oozing with style, it performs commendably, and it offers a streamlined user experience. Could the camera be better? Sure, but at the end of the day, Id sacrifice better photos for all of the good stuff you get from this stand-out device. (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: price and availability 8GB RAM & 128GB storage: 349 / AU$649 8GB RAM & 256GB storage: 379 / AU$749 12GB RAM & 256GB storage: 399 / AU$849 The Nothing Phone (4a) launched in early March 2026, a year after its predecessor the Nothing Phone (3a). It's available from as little as 349 / AU$649, but you can get a model with extra storage for 379 / AU$749, or a variant with another 4GB of RAM as well for 399 / AU$849. This represents a slight bump up in price over the (3a), which went on sale for as little as 329 / AU$599 when it was released
in March 2025. Nothing Phone (4a) review: specs Swipe to scroll horizontally

Dimensions

164 x 77.6 x 8.6mm

Weight

204.5g

Screen

6.78-inch LTPS flexible AMOLED

Resolution

2720 x 1224

Refresh rate

120Hz

Chipset

Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4

RAM

8GB / 12GB

Storage

128GB / 256GB

OS

Android 16, Nothing OS 4.1

Rear cameras

50MP f/1.88 main, 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, 50MP f/2.88 periscope

Front camera

32MP f/2.2

Battery

5,080mAh

Charging

50W fast charging, no wireless charging (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: design Beautiful build with hi-tech design New Glyph Bar may be gimmicky, but I love it Gorgeous colour options Over the last few years, Ive often seen people describe Nothing devices having divisive designs, that will be loved by many, but loathed by others. Well, Ill put my cards on the table right now. I think the Nothing (4a) is an absolutely stunning smartphone.

I love tech that stands out, and this phone does just that everything from its transparent shell through to its red details make it a joy to behold. On top of that, each and every colour variant you can purchase looks sensational
I like the traditional white, which makes that splash of red even more impactful, but the blue, pink, and black alternatives are striking too.

Another aspect that makes the (4a) stand out is its new Glyph Bar. This is a rectangular strip of 63 mini-LEDs in seven squares, and flashes variably depending on the kind of notification you receive. Nothing claims that this
is an extension of its philosophy to reduce the distractions that take you
out of your world and onto your screen.

Ill admit, it is a little bit of a gimmick. But still, the Glyph Bar undoubtedly functions really well, and its just another thing that helps the Phone (4a) to stand out in a highly convoluted market.

Its not only a pretty face, though. The Nothing Phone (4a) is decently durable, and uses Gorilla Glass 7i to resist scratches and drops. Nothing
also claims that it souped up the mobiles bend resistance by 34%, compared to the (3a) something I couldnt quite verify myself, although it didnt bend at all when I applied some pressure.

This phones protection against the elements also piqued my interest. See, on the face of it, the (4a) has an IP64 rating. That means that it's fully dustproof, and protected from multi-directional water splashes. However, Nothing also claims that this model can be submerged under 25cm of water for as long as 20 minutes. As a result, you wont need to worry if it gets a
little wet. Design score: 5/5 (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: display 6.8-inch AMOLED display 120Hz refresh rate Very solid 4,500 peak brightness The Nothing Phone (4a) has a neat AMOLED display, which measures just below 6.8 inches, meaning its plenty large enough to enjoy movies or games on the go, but not exactly the largest device out there. A happy medium, if you will.

In terms of resolution, youre getting 2720 x 1224, which is an improvement over the (3a)s Full HD+ output. The result? Surprisingly detailed,
colour-rich images that appear far more intricate than youd expect from a phone in this price range. This device also supports HDR, meaning you can unlock commendable contrast, and generally vibrant-looking visuals.

Something else I appreciated about the (4a) was its brightness. This model
has a peak brightness of 4,500 nits the same as pricier models like the Motorola Edge 70 so its vivid and easy to use when in outdoor spaces.

Look, overall, youre not going to get the detail levels and refinement of the fancier phones out there, like the iPhone 17 Pro , for instance, but the (4a) does do itself justice. Its 120Hz display makes it a nice pick for gamers,
its 23% brighter than its predecessor, and its improved resolution is a big plus. Display score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: software Android 16 out of the box, with Nothing OS 4.1 Three years of OS updates, six years of security updates Some AI functions are useful, others less so The Nothing Phone (4a) runs Android 16 out of the box, which powers the Nothing OS 4.1. Nothing is promising three years worth of OS updates, alongside six years of security updates nothing amazing, but better than
what some rivals can offer.

When you fire the phone up initially, you can opt for a more traditional Android experience, or go for the Nothing UI. I went for the latter option, and found it to be great I loved its visual style, felt it was easy to navigate, and appreciated the little quirks that my Samsung phone leaves out.

Ive reviewed quite a few phones here at TechRadar, and something that often bothers me is the sheer volume of bloatware Android phones subject me to. I cant even count the amount of times Ive set up a new phone, gone to open up
an app, and been greeted with a screen filled with Temu and unwanted mobile games. But the Nothing Phone (4a) bucks that trend. Its basically bloatware-free, which is a huge plus in my book.

Elsewhere, this model is pretty solid in the software department. Like just about every other manufacturer, a lot of focus has been channeled into AI functionality. At the heart of this, youll find the Essential Key a button positioned on the left edge of the phone. You can use this to make an audio recording with AI transcription, or to analyse notes youve taken.

The Essential Key works pretty well, although some of the features like the aforementioned transcription function dont work perfectly. I wasnt loving stuff like AI generated wallpapers, and I dont use ChatGPT or Gemini, meaning those integrations failed to interest me. But AI isnt shoved down your throat constantly like it is on some rival devices, and is kept pretty streamlined, ensuring it doesnt get in the way of Nothings solid performance in the software area. Software score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: cameras 50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope AI stabilisation
and 4K video capturing Performance is just OK The Nothing Phone (4a) has an upgraded three camera system, with a 50MP wide camera from Samsung, an 8MP ultra-wide Sony sensor, and a new 50MP tetraprism periscopic photo lens,
which also comes from Samsung. Theres also a 32MP front-facing camera for taking selfies or video calls.

But in spite of all that fancy tech, Id actually argue that the Phone (4a)s camera quality is one of its biggest drawbacks. Photo quality is by no means bad, especially for a budget device, but when I compared images to those
taken on my older Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, the Nothing Phone really struggled
to compete.

When taking images outside in natural light, details on trees and buildings looked pretty unrefined, and some darker shades looked a little flushed out. Still, images didnt appear blurry or anything, and the intense yellow of daffodils was captured with decent accuracy.

3.5x optical zoom is effective on the (4a), and when I tried to snap a squirrel across the road, I was fairly happy with the results. Was it the clearest, sharpest looking photo ever? Well no, but it was certainly fine for a budget-friendly phone. You can also access 7x lossless zoom and up to 70x ultra zoom on the Nothing Phone (4a), although you wont get particularly
clear results when homing in from super-long distances.

Photos taken inside under artificial light didnt always have the most true-to-life colour replication, and sometimes kept the finer details concealed but, again, images looked defined enough. It was the same case in low-light conditions too, making for basic albeit effective camera performance.

One thing I encountered during testing is that 50MP photos can only be taken in the 4:3 aspect ratio, which is a bit restrictive, and something Im not
used to on my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE .

Anyway, its worth flagging the video capturing capabilities of the Nothing Phone (4a). You can record in 4K at 30fps, and even take slow-motion 120fps content. You also get image stabilisation and AI-powered anti-shake tech, ensuring you get smooth motion. Camera score: 3/5 (Image credit: Future) Nothing Phone (4a) review: performance Smooth user experience 8GB or 12GB RAM versions available Support for aptX, but no Dolby Atmos The Nothing Phone
(4a) is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and offers great performance for a phone in its price bracket. Whether I was surfing the net with multiple tabs open, using productivity applications for work, or playing games, the (4a) kept things moving nicely.

OK, its not the almighty device that the more committed mobile gamers may
wish for I couldnt quite squeeze 60fps out of Genshin Impact, for instance. But its 120Hz refresh rate and solid processing power means its certainly
good enough for casual players. And if youre less of a gamer and more interested in streaming video content, using social media, and surfing the net, the (4a) will have more than enough power for you.

Full disclosure here, I used the version of the (4a) with 12GB of RAM, so performance may vary if you go for the 8GB alternative, but my user
experience was smooth, hassle-free, and well tuned for a multitasker.

Another part of performance I want to touch on is the (4a)s audio capabilities. The built-in stereo speakers arent anything special, and wont wow with massively powerful or clear audio, but thats pretty common for a cheap phone.

Under the hood, things are a bit more interesting. This device supports some higher-res codecs like aptX Adaptive, meaning you can enjoy more detailed, revealing audio if youve got a compatible speaker like the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen or headphones like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Gen 2 . Its worth noting that theres no Dolby Atmos support, though, which is a little bit of a shame. Performance score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future)
Nothing Phone (4a) review: battery life Very decent 5,080mAh battery capacity 50W wired charging is plenty good enough But theres no wireless charging support The Nothing Phone (4a) has a 5,080mAh battery, which is the largest battery on any of Nothings (a) series products.

That battery is comparable to other budget-friendly models like the Google Pixel 10a, and superior to some pricier rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE . I found that the phone easily lasted me a day, even when intensely testing, downloading apps, and playing games. Nothing states that the device is good for 17 hours of combined usage, so you wont need to charge it all too often.

Speaking of, youre getting 50W wired charging here, which means that you can juice your mobile up pretty quickly. Nothing says that the device can go from 1% to 50% in 22 minutes, and I found that to be accurate in my testing. Sure, some rivals can charge closer to the 100W mark now, but the (4a) can be revived plenty fast enough for my money.

One thing that may disappoint some users, though, is the lack of wireless charging. Sure, its something thats typically associated with more premium models, but I wouldve loved to have seen it here.

Finally, you can uncover plenty of battery customization options through system settings. Here, you can alter battery health options, adaptive battery settings, activate battery saver mode, and more. Battery life score: 4/5 (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Nothing Phone (4a)? Swipe to scroll horizontally

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Stunning stand-out look, durable build, and fun Glyph Bar.

5/5

Display

Strong display for the price with good peak brightness and improved resolution.

4/5

Software

Bloat-free, neat UI, well streamlined, some may wish for more OS upgrades.

4/5

Cameras

New upgraded system feels a bit disappointing, photos lack details and punch of some rivals.

3/5

Performance

Admirable processing power for a phone in this category, built-in speakers could be better.

4/5

Battery life

Good battery life with 50W wired charging, but you cant juice the device up wirelessly.

4/5 Buy it if Youre looking for a phone that stands out from the crowd My favourite thing about the Nothing Phone (4a) is the way that it looks. Its
got an instantly recognisable aesthetic, with a see-through outer shell and attention-grabbing red details that hit all of the right notes. You want a budget phone that doesnt sacrifice on quality Sure, you can grab the (4a)
from as little as 349 / AU$649, but dont be fooled this model doesnt skimp
on quality. It performs really steadily, offers plenty of battery life, and delivers a bloat-free software experience. Dont buy it if You want primo camera quality The only thing that I was slightly disappointed by was the Nothing Phone (4a)s camera quality. Your photos will look relatively clear, but they wont be particularly detailed or amazingly colour accurate. Youre looking for peak performance Although the Nothing Phone (4a) performs nicely for a budget device, courtesy of its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, it wont offer the peak performance that some users may crave. For instance, more demanding games may not run at high framerates unless you lower graphical fidelity. If you want a bit more power, it could be a good idea to go for the flagship Nothing Phone 3 . Nothing Phone (4a) review: also consider Swipe to scroll horizontally Header Cell - Column 0

Nothing Phone (4a)

Google Pixel 10a

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

Price

From 349 / AU$649

From 490 / AU$849

From 649 / AU$1,099

Dimensions

164 x 77.6 x 8.6mm

153.9 x 73 x 9mm

161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4mm

Weight

204.5g

183g

190g

Cameras

50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 50MP periscope

48MP main, 13MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto

Battery

5,080mAh

5,100mAh

4,900mAh Google Pixel 10a The Pixel 10a may not have the sheer power of the Google Pixel 10 Pro , but it still has a lot to offer. It's lightweight, eye-catching, and even has an IP68 dust and waterproof rating. Its impressive battery capacity, camera capabilities, and wireless charging support are also pretty enticing. Read our full feature on the Google Pixel 10a . Samsung Galaxy S25 FE I use this models predecessor, the S24 FE day-to-day, and have found it to be incredibly reliable, with a great display, impressive camera quality, and commendable durability. So it only seems right to give a shout out to its successor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, which provides an upgrade on its predecessor across battery life, charging performance, and processing power. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review . How I tested Nothing
Phone (4a) (Image credit: Future) Tested intensively across multiple days
Used for work, gaming, and general productivity Exhausted the phones various features and camera settings I spent multiple days testing the Nothing Phone (4a), during which time I essentially used it as my main mobile device. I tried out just about every feature it had to offer, took a whole host of photos, and used it for gaming.

On top of this, I made sure to compare the (4a) against my mid-range Samsung phone, to assess the quality of photos and videos, and compare general performance.

When taking photos, I made sure to capture objects and environments in a wide array of conditions, including natural, artificial, and low-light settings. Where possible, I used the 50MP setting on the main camera, although I took a few shots in 12MP for 16:9 images.

More generally, Ive tested a ton of phones here at TechRadar, including budget-friendly models like the Motorola Moto G06 Power and alternatives like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE . Read more about how we test First reviewed: March 2026



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