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Nothing Phone (3a) Lite Review: Design and Display
Here’s what you get inside the Phone (3a) Lite’s retail box:- Smartphone
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- Clear plastic cover
- SIM ejector
- Safety booklet
The plastic frame houses the side button and the Essential key on its right edge. The volume rocker is placed on the opposite edge. At the bottom lies the hybrid SIM tray (with microSD support, primary microphone, USB-C port, and speaker grille. The noise-cancelling microphone is placed up top. The device is rated IP54 for protection against dust and water splashes.
The 6.77-inch AMOLED display on this device is identical to the one on its CMF cousin. This 120Hz panel can reach 1,300 nits in High Brightness Mode. While playing HDR content, it can hit a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It is able to overcome bright outdoor conditions to maintain legibility. The touch response on offer here is very smooth. The optical fingerprint sensor under the display is fast and snappy. The even bezels around the screen lend it a premium look.
During the review period, we used the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite as our primary media streaming device. We used it to watch TV and movie titles across OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHotstar. The AMOLED display produced brilliant visuals packed with vibrant colours and exemplary dynamic range. However, the audio output from the lone bottom-firing speaker is a bit boxy. A stereo speaker setup would’ve been ideal.
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite Review: Performance and Cameras
The Phone (3a) Lite is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset. This is the same SoC that lies at the core of the CMF Phone 2 Pro. There are 2 storage variants on offer, both rocking 8GB RAM:- 128GB: Rs 20,999
- 256GB: Rs 22,999
- Geekbench 6: 998 (single-core) | 2,928 (multi-core)
- AnTuTu 3D: 923,576
The Phone (3a) Lite makes light work of routine tasks like calling, instant messaging, web browsing, media streaming, navigation, and more. Browsing the phone feels fast, seamless, and snappy. Apps don’t take much time to load, and the smartphone does a brilliant job of juggling multiple tasks without throwing a stutter or lag. During our week with the device, we did not come across a single performance-related issue. The wonderfully tuned haptic motor ties the entire experience together. Like its CMF counterpart, this smartphone’s vibrational feedback is the best in the segment.
While Nothing’s entry-level offering isn’t marketed as a gaming phone, it does a good job of handling titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile. We were able to enjoy a consistent and lag-free gaming experience at medium graphics and a 60fps frame rate. There were no frame drops to be seen. The internal temperature of the device started rising once we pushed beyond the 30-minute mark.
Over the years, we’ve come to expect a clean and smooth software experience from Nothing. We’re happy to report that this experience is extended to its most affordable phone on the market as well. There are a couple of bloatware apps on this device – something we can look past because of the affordable price tag. However, Nothing has not cut back any of the aesthetic elements. You get access to the full range of widgets, alongside lockscreen customisations, and the signature dot-matrix font. The Essential Key, which records information and tucks it away in the Essential Space, is also present on this device.
The highlight of the Android 16-based Nothing OS 3.5 is how light and airy it feels. The subtle animations and effects play into the ‘snappy’ feeling. Everything feels well optimised. The LED light at the back can be customised to display essential notifications. You can assign different ringtones and lighting patterns to your favourite contacts. ‘Flip to Glyph’ silences the phone and alerts you about the incoming calls and notifications through the LED light. Due to the form factor limitations, you can track orders or create new tones on the new Glyph interface. When it comes to software support, Nothing has promised 3 major OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches for this device.
The Phone (3a) Lite packs a 5,000mAh battery under its hood. It offers a standard 1-day battery life on a full charge. On days with 5-6 hours of screen time, we were left with almost 15% charge in the tank. If you’re more conservative with your usage, you can extend the battery life to 1.5 days. The smartphone supports 33W wired charging. It takes up to 90 minutes to reach a full charge.
The rear camera array comprises a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. Unlike its CMF cousin, it does not carry a telephoto lens. A 16MP front-facing camera is positioned in a punch-hole cutout on the display.
The 50MP primary shooter captures good pictures in outdoor daylight conditions. The images showcase balanced colours with natural tuning. We like that it doesn’t artificially boost the colours to appear more vibrant. The contrast and dynamic range are satisfactory. In limited lighting conditions, the Night Mode does a good job of lighting up the shot and getting rid of the grain.
The 8MP ultrawide lens takes notably softer images, but that is something to be expected from most devices in this price bracket. What this lens lacks in detail, it tries to make up for in colour. The real surprise was its performance in limited lighting conditions, where it produced largely grain-free and well-lit shots.
Verdict
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is meant for users who are impressed by CMF Phone 2’s specs, but are put off by its modular design. Nothing’s entry-level offering demands a premium of Rs 2,000 over its CMF counterpart, while missing out on the telephoto lens. This is a worthwhile trade-off in our books, as the glass back panel and Nothing’s iconic see-through design language bring much-needed flair to the device. The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro at the heart of this device is a reliable processor that won’t leave you hanging for power in everyday use. Nothing’s software experience and coverage are still the best in this segment. For folks who like a rock-solid performance served with a side of personality, this device is a great buy under Rs 25,000. Buy on Amazon for Rs 20,045Pros
- Great design
- Smooth display
- Reliable processor
- Amazing haptic feedback
Cons
- Lacks a secondary speaker
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