Today, Nothing has unveiled its newest mid-range smartphones, the 4A and 4A Pro. These two devices exhibit strikingly distinct appearances, boasting diverse designs and Glyph Light systems. The Pro model, in particular, stands out significantly, being the inaugural Nothing handset to nearly completely forsake the brand’s signature translucent aesthetic.
Presently, I am attending Nothing’s unveiling event in London, poised to experience the 4A Pro firsthand; therefore, anticipate hands-on evaluations arriving soon.
Slated for release in the US later this month, the 4A Pro incorporates a metal unibody construction, diverging from the customary clear plastic. According to a company press release, the device maintains a “refined transparent design,” yet this characteristic is exclusively visible within the camera module, which also accommodates an enlarged iteration of the Glyph Matrix display first seen in last year’s Phone 3 flagship. The remaining sections of the phone are encased in solid aluminum, offered in shades of black, silver, or a delicate pink.
This alteration from the brand arrives somewhat unexpectedly; however, following my initial astonishment, I believe the aesthetic largely succeeds, and perhaps its arrival was foreshadowed by the simplified appearance of the 3A Lite. Undoubtedly, numerous users will lament the absence of Nothing’s vintage transparent finish, which offered glimpses into, but never fully exposed, the device’s internal mechanisms. Nevertheless, I anticipate this particular design will garner greater favor than the controversial Phone 3’s clumsy, asymmetrical style.
Furthermore, for those completely committed to translucency, the 4A remains an option. I have possessed the 4A for approximately a week, and it both appears and performs more akin to Nothing’s earlier devices, save for the integration of the novel Glyph Bar illumination – a slender row of LEDs employed for Nothing’s typical assortment of personalized notifications, alarms, and interactive functionalities. Moreover, the 4A is presented in a splendid spectrum of hues, with the standard white and black augmented by an exceptionally fine pink (surpassing both the Pro’s and the recent iPhone 17E’s) and my preferred choice, a lively blue.
However, by opting for this, one foregoes several specifications. The 4A Pro boasts a screen that is marginally larger, more luminous, and swifter than the 4A’s, while its metallic construction contributes to a slimmer profile. Its Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor outperforms the 4A’s 7s Gen 4, it offers enhanced water resistance with an IP65 certification, and features an upgraded primary camera – despite the telephoto, ultrawide, and selfie cameras remaining the same. (Almost, that is: solely the Pro model supports “140x ultra zoom,” but given that both devices utilize identical telephoto camera components, this capability likely stems from either a software restriction or a constraint of the 4A’s chipset). Both handsets incorporate an identical 5,080mAh power cell (expanded to 5,400mAh for units retailed in India) and are promised three Android OS updates along with six years of security fixes.
Your geographic location might, in any case, dictate your selection options. Although both 4A handsets are launching across the UK, Europe, and India, merely the Pro variant will be available for purchase in the US. The standard 4A will commence retailing at £349 / €349 (approximately $400-450), with advance orders opening today, prior to its formal debut on March 13th. The Pro is priced at $499 / £499 / €479, with advance purchases commencing on March 13th, preceding its general availability on the 27th.
Accompanying these two phones is the Headphone A, an over-ear successor to last year’s Headphone 1, which reduces the cost by $100, primarily achieved by sacrificing call fidelity and omitting the travel case. Furthermore, it mirrors the 4A Pro by adopting a less translucent appearance, possibly indicating Nothing’s genuine readiness to move away from its transparent design philosophy.
Nonetheless, it could be some time until we observe if this approach applies to Nothing’s premium models. The firm has stated it will not unveil a top-tier Phone 4 this year, suggesting the 4A Pro is anticipated to be the peak performance mobile device from the company in 2026.
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