Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review

On paper the Phone (4a) Pro has the most hardware for the money on this list. Nothing pairs a 4 nm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage, and the 6.83-inch AMOLED runs at up to 144Hz with a 5000-nit peak. The camera is the reason to pick it: alongside a 50 MP main sensor with OIS, there is a 50 MP periscope lens with 3.5x optical zoom, something no other phone here offers, and Nothing advertises up to 140x ultra zoom. The 5,080 mAh battery charges at 50W, and the box includes a case and a pre-applied screen protector. The compromises are about the long term. Nothing promises 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches, so it will stop getting new Android versions well before the Pixel 9a or Galaxy A37. It is rated IP65 rather than IP68, and its Glyph Interface and Nothing OS take some getting used to.

Who it is for

Buyers who want the best zoom camera and the fastest screen under $500 and are happy with fewer Android upgrades.

Price

From $499 for 8GB with 128GB at Nothing's US store when checked.

Phone (4a) Pro $499
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 on a 4 nm process, with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 3.1 storage
• 50 MP periscope camera with 3.5x optical zoom, plus a 50 MP main camera with OIS
• 6.83-inch flexible AMOLED at up to 144Hz and 5000 nits peak brightness
• 5,080 mAh battery with 50W charging and 7.5W reverse wired charging
• 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: The only phone here with an optical telephoto lens
• Strength: Case and pre-applied screen protector included in the box
• Strength: Fast 50W charging and an LPDDR5X and UFS 3.1 memory setup
• Weakness: Only 3 years of Android updates, versus 6 or 7 on Samsung and Google
• Weakness: IP65 is a lower water rating than the Pixel 9a and Galaxy A37
• Weakness: Check your carrier's bands against the 4G and 5G band list on Nothing's spec sheet before buying

Key facts

• Price: From $499
• Display: 6.83-inch AMOLED, up to 144Hz
• Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
• Memory and storage: 8 GB with 128 or 256 GB, or 12 GB with 256 GB
• Updates: 3 years of Android updates, 6 years of security patches
• Water and dust: IP65

Where it ranks

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is No. 2 in our Best Budget Smartphones verdict.