Nothing has officially introduced two new mid-range smartphones — the Nothing Phone (4a) and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. Both devices were announced on March 5, 2026, and they share many similarities such as the same software experience, camera setup, and fast charging. However, there are also several key differences that separate the Pro model from the standard version.
If you’re planning to buy one of these phones, understanding how they compare in terms of design, performance, display, camera, and pricing can help you decide which one offers better value for your needs.
Design and Build Quality
The Nothing Phone (4a) comes with a glass front protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, a plastic frame, and a glass back. It measures 164 x 77.6 x 8.6 mm and weighs 204.5 grams. The device is rated IP64 for dust protection and resistance against water splashes.
On the other hand, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro offers a more premium construction. It features Gorilla Glass 7i on the front but uses an aircraft-grade aluminum unibody with an aluminum frame and back. The phone is slightly slimmer at 8 mm and weighs around 210 grams. It also has a better IP65 rating, meaning it can handle low-pressure water jets more effectively.
Another visual difference lies in the LED interface. The standard model includes 63 mini-LEDs across six zones, while the Pro version significantly upgrades this with 137 individually addressable mini-LEDs, making its lighting effects more customizable.
Display Comparison
Both smartphones feature AMOLED displays with HDR10+ support and ultra-HDR image capability, but the Pro model pushes things a little further.
The Nothing Phone (4a) has a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 1224 x 2720 pixels. The display supports up to 4500 nits peak brightness, making it easy to view even under strong sunlight.
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, however, comes with a larger 6.83-inch AMOLED display and a faster 144Hz refresh rate. It also reaches a higher peak brightness of 5000 nits and has a slightly higher resolution of 1260 x 2800 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio is also noticeably higher, giving it a more immersive viewing experience.
Performance and Hardware
Performance is another area where the Pro model takes a small lead.
The Nothing Phone (4a) is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset built on a 4 nm process. It features an octa-core CPU configuration with Cortex-A720 performance cores and an Adreno 810 GPU.
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro runs on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, which is slightly more powerful and includes a faster primary core clocked at 2.8 GHz along with the Adreno 722 GPU.
Both phones offer identical memory configurations:
- 128GB storage with 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage with 8GB RAM
- 256GB storage with 12GB RAM
They also use UFS 3.1 storage for fast data access and app loading.
Camera Setup
Interestingly, both smartphones share the exact same camera hardware, which means there is very little difference in photography capabilities.
The triple rear camera system includes:
- 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization
- 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom
- 8MP ultrawide camera with a 120-degree field of view
These cameras support features like Ultra XDR imaging, LED flash, and panorama mode.
For video recording, both phones support 4K at 30fps and 1080p recording up to 120fps with gyro-EIS and OIS stabilization. Dolby Vision HDR video is also supported.
On the front, both devices feature a 32MP selfie camera capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps.
Battery and Charging
Battery capacity is the same on both phones.
- 5080 mAh for the international version
- 5400 mAh for the India variant
Both models support 50W wired charging, which can charge the battery to 50 percent in around 22 minutes and reach full charge in about 64 minutes.
However, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro includes an additional feature — 7.5W reverse wired charging, allowing the phone to charge other devices like earbuds or another smartphone.
Connectivity and Features
Connectivity options remain identical across both devices. They support 5G networks along with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and USB Type-C with OTG support.
Both phones include an in-display optical fingerprint scanner and standard sensors such as accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass.
Price in India
The price difference between the two devices reflects their hardware differences.
The Nothing Phone (4a) starts at Rs. 31,999 in India and is available in Pink, White, Black, and Blue color options.
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro starts at Rs. 39,999 and comes in Black, Silver, and Pink colors.
Should You Buy the Nothing Phone (4a) or the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro?
If you want the best balance of performance, design, and price, the Nothing Phone (4a) already delivers a very solid experience. It offers the same cameras, battery capacity, charging speed, and software support as the Pro model while costing significantly less.
However, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is worth considering if you prefer a more premium build, a larger and smoother 144Hz display, better LED lighting customization, and slightly stronger performance.
Final Thoughts
Both the Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4a) Pro represent strong mid-range smartphones with distinctive design and powerful cameras. The standard model focuses on delivering great value, while the Pro version enhances the experience with a premium build and improved display performance.
For most users, the Nothing Phone (4a) will be more than enough. But if you want the best version of what Nothing has to offer in this series, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro provides those extra refinements that make it feel more premium.
