Nothing Phone (4a) Series Debuts With New Glyph Design And Full Metal Build

Nothing has unveiled the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, updating its mid-range lineup with notable design changes, improved displays, and upgraded chipsets. While last year’s (3a) series was primarily separated by camera hardware, this year the Pro model differentiates itself further with a larger screen, stronger processor, enhanced materials, and a new Glyph Matrix interface inspired by the flagship Phone (3).

Design and Display

The Phone (4a) Pro replaces the plastic frame used previously with a metal unibody construction. It measures 7.95mm thick, down from 8.4mm, while maintaining the same weight despite the metal switch. The device carries an IP65 rating. Although it does not meet IP67 standards, Nothing states it can survive submersion up to 25cm for 20 minutes.

The standard Phone (4a) retains a plastic build and measures 8.55mm thick. It has an IP64 rating but shares the same 25cm for 20 minutes submersion claim.

The Pro model features a 6.83-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1,260 × 2,800 pixels and a 144Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness reaches 5,000 nits and is controlled with 2,160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i. The Phone (4a) Pro comes in Black, Silver, and Pink.

The Phone (4a) uses a 6.78-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1,224 × 2,720 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Brightness can reach 4,500 nits. It also uses Gorilla Glass 7i, which offers double the scratch resistance compared to last year’s Panda Glass. The Nothing Phone (4a) is available in Black, White, Blue, and Pink.

On the rear, the Pro introduces a circular Glyph Matrix made up of 137 LEDs. Although this is fewer than the 489 LEDs found on the Phone (3), the circle is 57 percent larger and twice as bright, reaching 3,000 nits. The brightness level allows it to function effectively as a flashlight.

The Phone (4a) instead adopts a redesigned Glyph Bar. The LEDs are arranged in six segments with a red recording indicator below them, totaling 63 LEDs. The interface reaches up to 3,500 nits of brightness, making it 40 percent brighter than the previous (3a) Glyph Interface.

Internals and Software

The Phone (4a) Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. Compared to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 used in the (3a) series, it delivers a 27 percent increase in CPU performance, a 30 percent improvement in graphics performance, and a 65 percent boost in AI performance. It comes with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The new storage provides up to 147 percent faster read speeds than the previous UFS 2.2. A 5,300mm² vapor chamber helps maintain sustained performance.

The standard Phone (4a) uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset. This processor brings a 7 percent increase in CPU and GPU performance, along with 10 percent better efficiency compared to its predecessor. It is paired with 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Unlike the Pro model, it does not include a vapor chamber for cooling.

Both devices ship with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16. Nothing has committed to providing three major Android updates and six years of security patches, matching the support policy of the previous generation.

Cameras

The Phone (4a) Pro features a triple rear camera setup. The main camera uses a 50MP Sony Lytia 700c sensor measuring 1/1.56 inches with an f/1.88 lens and optical image stabilization. It supports 4K 30fps Ultra XDR video recording. The telephoto camera uses a 50MP Samsung JN5 sensor measuring 1/2.75 inches with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS, extendable to 7x through in-sensor zoom. The ultra-wide camera remains a 120-degree 8MP unit with a Sony IMX355 sensor. The front camera now features a 32MP 1/3.42-inch sensor, reduced from the 50MP module used in the (3a) Pro.

The Phone (4a) uses a 50MP Samsung GN9 1/1.57-inch sensor for its main camera with an f/1.88 OIS lens instead of the Sony sensor found in the Pro. It shares the same 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 32MP front camera hardware as the Pro model. The standard version can record 4K 30fps video but limits Ultra XDR recording to 1080p at 30fps.

Battery and Pricing

Both phones are equipped with a 5,080mAh battery, slightly larger than the 5,000mAh capacity of their predecessors. Units sold in India will feature a 5,400mAh battery. Charging remains limited to 50W wired charging. Nothing claims the battery will retain at least 90 percent of its original capacity after 1,200 charge cycles.

The Nothing Phone (4a) is priced at about $406 for the 8GB and 128GB versions. The 8GB and 256GB model costs $452, while the 12GB and 256GB version is priced at $499. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro starts at $500 for the 8GB and 128GB models. The 12GB and 256GB version is priced at $600. The Pro model is the first A-series device to launch officially in the United States, while the standard Phone (4a) will not be available there.

Nothing Phone (4a) Series Specifications