Smart Phones
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: A Budget Entry with Transparent Design and Controversial Compromises
Nothing has officially launched its most affordable smartphone yet, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, marking the brand’s first true entry-level device. The phone debuted at €249 (approximately $270 USD or £249) for the base model with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, positioning it as the fourth addition to the company’s 2025 Phone lineup.
Design and Display
The Phone (3a) Lite features a glass back that showcases Nothing’s most subtle design to date, departing from the colorful plastic shells of the CMF series. However, the signature Glyph lighting system has been significantly pared down — most of the Glyph Lights from the Phone (3a) have been replaced by a single LED at the bottom right corner.
The device sports a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2392), a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and peak brightness reaching 3,000 nits. The screen supports 10-bit color depth and includes 2160Hz PWM dimming to reduce eye strain during prolonged use.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Phone (3a) Lite runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset paired with 8GB of RAM. Power comes from a substantial 5,000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, reaching 50 percent charge in about 20 minutes. Nothing advertises up to 22 hours of YouTube playback or 9.5 hours of gaming on a single charge.
Camera System
The triple rear camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with a 1/1.57-inch Samsung sensor featuring OIS and EIS, accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a macro shooter. The front-facing camera is 16MP, capable of 4K video recording at 30fps.
Software and Updates
The phone runs Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, with the company promising three years of major Android updates and six years of security patches. An Android 16 update is expected to arrive early next year.
The Controversy: Pre-installed Apps and Lock Screen Ads
The Phone (3a) Lite marks a significant departure from Nothing’s traditionally clean software approach. This is Nothing’s first smartphone to include pre-installed third-party apps, specifically TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
More controversially, the device launches with “Lock Glimpse” enabled by default, a service that displays ads on the lockscreen in the form of automatically changing wallpapers with links to online articles. While the feature can be disabled in settings, its default activation represents a clear shift in Nothing’s monetization strategy for budget devices.
Market Strategy
Interestingly, the Phone (3a) Lite appears to be essentially a rehash of the CMF Phone 2 Pro that launched earlier this year, sharing the same chipset, display, RAM, battery, and camera array. The primary differences lie in the redesigned glass back and the minimal Glyph lighting system.
Availability
The Phone (3a) Lite is available in the EU, UK, MEA, East Asia, and South East Asia, but won’t be sold in the US in any capacity. The 256GB storage variant is priced at €279 (EU) or £279 (UK). The device comes in black and white color options.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite represents both an opportunity and a compromise — it brings Nothing’s distinctive transparent design philosophy to a more accessible price point, but introduces monetization tactics that may alienate fans who appreciated the brand’s previously clean software experience.
