a premium Android gaming titan to dethrone Apple

Three years ago, Nothing broke into the smartphone market with the Nothing Phone (1). Although it had some teething issues, its successors worked out the major kinks, setting the stage for the new Nothing Phone (3a) and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro to truly elevate the brand’s smartphone game. After spending a month with the former, there’s a key element that the company isn’t highlighting: the Nothing Phone (3a) is a true contender for our list of the best gaming phones.

Price and availability

Specs

Performance and gaming

Using the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 5G chip to handle gaming and other hefty tasks, this 8-core GPU is more than capable of handling some of the more demanding free mobile games such as Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Delta Force, and gacha game sensation Zenless Zone Zero. As I’m primarily an FPS game fiend, I put the Nothing Phone (3a) through its paces, downloading all the optional high-resolution texture packs for Warzone Mobile and its shooter cousin, Call of Duty: Mobile. Initial games stuttered briefly while compiling shaders, but even with settings on high and performance optimized for framerate, Nothing’s device didn’t break a sweat – literally.

Gaming on smartphones can be a catalyst for heat to increase rapidly, ranging from a mild warmth on the rear of the handset to a slightly worrying result. Aided by a 4,500mm² steel vapor chamber, heat dissipation is noticeably reduced. That isn’t to say the Nothing Phone (3a) doesn’t completely avoid heat, but it doesn’t match the likes of the Nubia Z60S, Nubia Z70 Ultra, or  Honor Magic 7 Pro when it comes to hotness.

I grinded Delta Force for two hours in one session, getting annihilated by pesky snipers and tanks. There’s a lot happening at any time in Team Jade’s shooter, emulating the chaotic nature of Battlefield games, but it didn’t throw a spanner in the works performance-wise. While the 12 GB of RAM isn’t quite on par with something like the Xiaomi 15, it’s still more than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, and it makes all the difference. Battery life doesn’t take a huge hit, with around 6-8% of power lost for each hour of gaming. Of course, the brightness of your screen, volume output, and number of background apps could alter your experience.

Outside of gaming, though, is oddly where the Nothing Phone (3a) can run into some minor obstacles. Although the general usage of everyday apps is mostly a breeze, on a few occasions, I had to reload apps or wait through prolonged load states. This was more common with social media platforms like X or Facebook, although others like Letterboxd stuttered infrequently. Since downloading the first major patch for the device, performance in this regard has improved but isn’t completely out of the woodwork.

Features and software

I’m pleased to say that Nothing OS is a silky experience for all, choosing to focus on ease of access rather than completely overhauling Android 15. With barely any bloatware in sight, Nothing coats apps in its icon pack, dressing them in a minimalist monochromatic design. It won’t be for everyone as it lacks vibrancy, but for someone looking to keep things simple, it ties in perfectly with the same design sensibility seen in the CMF Watch Pro and CMF Watch Pro 2. On that same penchant, Nothing’s Essential Space is ideal for capturing ideas or quick thoughts on whatever is currently on the display.

Long pressing the Essential Space button on the right side of the phone enters a creative space, recording a voice memo alongside anything on screen. The device then stores this in the Essential Space app, where you can sort everything into categories, and all of your voice recordings are handily transcribed for you. More features are set to arrive in the future, but for now, this is an interactive way to brainstorm what’s on your mind.

Design

Bundled in straightforward packaging adorned with the handset’s vibrant visage, the unboxing experience is less interested in showboating like your typical Apple phone. Instead, Nothing’s latest Android device sits comfortably, sliding out from the box ready and raring to go. The Nothing Phone (3a) can seem quite cumbersome at first, cutting a taller shadow over smartphones such as the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25. Its rounded corners and relatively slim profile make it comfortable in my hand, making it easy to adjust. Where it comes alive is Nothing’s modular aesthetic, as the rear of the phone ebbs and flows between connecting lines, exposed screws, and sweeping splashes of color.

It’s all protected by a layer of tempered glass, allowing me to peer somewhat into the phone’s inner workings. I almost exclusively use any phone I have in a protective case, but if you’re brave enough to handle the device without one, then Nothing has coated the sides in a ceramic-like finish. That’s bolstered by IP64 protection from moisture and dust, as Nothing takes things up a notch from the IP54 protection on the Nothing Phone (2a). However, if you’re going to be near water a lot, you might want to consider the Pixel Pro 9 XL or our picks for the best Google Pixel phones.

It is a genuinely gorgeous device, though, and it makes me wish that more brands were more adventurous with their design ethos. The protruding camera leans into the focus on refined photography and casts my mind to cameras like the Leica Retro M6 Classic or the Nikon FM3A.

Display

Gaming is already a dream thanks to the phone’s performance, but scrolling through apps and streaming movies and TV shows (sorry, David Lynch) looks impeccable. Colors pop effortlessly, whether I’m watching the demolition of maps in a The Finals Twitch stream or posts of mouthwatering food on Instagram. The display is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor, which proved to be a little fiddly to set up. However, once I got past the setup stage, opening up the phone was hassle-free.

Nothing Phone (3a) cameras

The centerpiece here is the improved camera, sporting a trio of lenses. Capturing the perfect Instagram photo or scenic landscape is easy, thanks to the 3a’s 50MP OIS main camera, 50MP telephoto camera, and 8MP ultra-wide camera. To get across the full gamut of any photo needs, the lenses start from a 15mm focal length and max out at 50mm. Conversely, the front-facing 32 MP selfie camera serves as a real highlight, too. In our reviews of the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a), we cited the cameras as real highlights. I can say the same thing here, with results far more pleasing than some premium Android phones currently available.

There’s the option to manually adjust your settings in a DSLR-style fashion, but using the assisted modes should be enough to satisfy most. Images are sharp, with shadows faithfully reproduced and colors having enough depth without feeling overprocessed. Both 50MP cameras are the titans here, handling varying lighting scenarios strongly while retaining a pleasing amount of detail.

The telephoto camera is a knockout, eclipsing my iPhone 15 Pro on this front. Sadly, it’s the ultra-wide camera that lets down the trio. This is the case with most cameras belonging to phones in this price range, and the Nothing Phone (3a) doesn’t do much to escape the criticism. The results aren’t awful by any means, but they’re certainly nothing to celebrate either.

On the video side, 1080p 60 FPS and 4K 30 FPS are the two options available. It’s a little disappointing to see 4K 60 FPS out of the equation, but it isn’t a dealbreaker, considering the increased file size. For many, the default setting of 1080p 60 FPS is just right, although you can change it to 30 FPS if you’d prefer.

Battery

Should you buy the Nothing Phone (3a)?

It’s an absolute yes. The Nothing Phone (3a) steps up to rival expensive competitors, undercutting them with a premium-quality camera, a best-in-class display, and awesome charging speeds. Its secret weapon is ultimately giving the slickest gaming phones a run for their money, with near-perfect performance that comes in cheaper than something like the RedMagic 10 Pro. Nothing’s no-nonsense vision for tech continues to shine, firmly planting itself as a leader in the Android market rather than a follower.

Alternatives

The Xiaomi 15 firmly claimed a spot in our best Xiaomi phones list, and deservedly so. However, it is considerably more expensive than the Nothing Phone (3a), coming in at $899/£899. However, if you’ve got the budget to jump up a few notches, then you should find something to enjoy in its Leica-designed camera, crisp display, and incredible performance. With a better screen than the iPhone 16 and faster charging speeds than the Samsung Galaxy S25, this is an elite-tier option to check out. For more on this one, check out our Xiaomi 15 review.

Samsung Galaxy S25

This Samsung handset offers some true gaming greatness in a nice compact form factor, too. For the Samsung Galaxy S25, there are more RAM and storage options on offer, alongside ultra-quick speeds while using it. That’s because of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which gives this phone a boost for gaming on the go. We wish the charging speeds were better, and a lot of its features are similar to its predecessor, but this is a powerful flagship from one of the industry’s most reliable brands. To get the full lowdown, see our Samsung Galaxy S25 review.