Nothing has once again shaken up the mobile phone market. If we thought Carl Pei's brand had settled into its design language, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro It arrives to demonstrate that evolution can be radical without losing its essence.
This is not a simple component update; this is a structural change which redefines what we expect from a device of the brand, opting for premium materials and a light interface that comes to life like never before.
A groundbreaking design: from plastic to aerospace aluminum
The first thing that catches the eye, and the touch, is the turn towards the aircraft-grade aluminum. Nothing has abandoned previous designs in favor of a unibody construction that not only feels more premium but also improves flexural strength by a mere 42 %. It is also the thinnest metal-bodied phone on the market, weighing in at just 7.95 mm in thickness. It will surely appeal to a more casual audience, precisely those who found Nothing's previous designs too risky.
Personally, I think the greatest aesthetic success lies in how they've integrated their DNA. Although the body is metallic, they maintain a «transparent design "window" through nanometer-level injection molding in the camera area. This allows for the observation of internal mechanical structures while maintaining its characteristic industrial appearance. It is also available in three metallic finishes: Silver, black, and a surprising pink..
Larger Glyph Matrix but with fewer pixels
If there's one thing that defines Nothing, it's its light interface, but with the Glyph Matrix They've moved to the next level. It's no longer just about decorative flickering. Now, the Matrix allows a progress tracking in real time. This means you can see how your food order is progressing or how long your Uber is taking just by looking at the back of your phone, without turning on the screen.
Integration with applications like Google Maps or Zomato is a step forward in the real-world usefulness of this technology. Furthermore, Essential Notifications They allow you to assign discreet icons to specific contacts. It's a smart way to reduce screen time: you only answer your phone if the Matrix tells you it's truly important. It even works as a selfie mirror or visual timer.
Display and performance: extreme brightness and a Qualcomm heart
The screen is, quite simply, the best they've ever put on. We're talking about a panel 6.83-inch flexible AMOLED with a 1.5K resolution and an adaptive refresh rate of 144 Hz. But what's truly impressive is its maximum brilliance of 5000 nits. It's an extremely high figure that guarantees total visibility under the most intense sunlight and a cinematic HDR (Ultra XDR) experience.
Inside, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 The 4nm process is responsible for powering the system. It doesn't come alone, as it's supported by a 5300 mm² vapor cooling system which, together with the aluminum chassis, dissipates heat much more efficiently than in previous models.
- Memory: 8GB or 12GB RAM versions (LPDDR5x).
- Storage: 128GB or 256GB (UFS 3.1).
- Battery: 5,080 mAh with 50W charging and 7.5W reverse charging.
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A competitive offer starting from €479
The most disruptive aspect, beyond the metal and the lights, is its market positioning. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro goes on sale with a starting price of 479€ for its configuration of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This is an extremely aggressive figure considering that we are dealing with a device with high-end finishes and software support that lasts for up to 6 years. Few brands today offer this combination of designer style and premium materials for under the €500 mark.
Professional-grade photography with long-term support
The photographic section is not far behind, notably including a 50MP periscope camera with 3.5x optical zoom and up to 140x digital zoom. The main camera, also 50MP, features OIS and EIS stabilization. The major software innovation is the AI draft in the gallery, which processes images directly on the device for greater privacy.
Nothing reinforces its commitment to durability. The device is certified. IP65 (resistant to water jets and light immersion) and Gorilla Glass 7i. As for the software, it comes with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, promising up to 6 years of security patches, ensuring the phone ages as well as its metallic design.
Eric Roda
Personally, I liked Nothing from the start for its blend of industrial aesthetics and minimalism. That's why, design-wise, I prefer the 4a, although this year's Pro has definitely made a leap in specifications to more clearly differentiate itself from its little brother.
Perhaps with time and offers I will be more convinced.
ruudhesp
I feel the same way; I prefer the (4a), but I don't dislike the Pro, though it's missing "something" in my opinion. I think it's a good strategy to have two such different models to reach an even wider market. Besides, the Pro isn't as flashy a phone, and perhaps new users will start to become interested in it.