Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is official and offers power to "find the difference"

Nothing has just added another device to its growing lineup: the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite. Yes, apparently the phone (3a) was not “light” enough, so here comes an even lighter version at the end of the line.

The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite: what’s really lighter?

After teasing it earlier this week, Carl Pei’s company made it official, and the first thing many of us probably asked ourselves is: how much lighter can you make a phone that was already a simplified version of another phone? Because remember, the (3a) itself was already the most affordable version of the phone (3). Anyway, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite packs a 6.77-inch AMOLED display that hits up to 3,000 nits of brightness and supports a smooth 120Hz refresh rate – not bad for an entry-level model. The phone maintains the same aesthetic that Nothing became known for and comes in just two colors:

Phone (3a) Lite. | Image credit: nothing

The construction is a mix of high-quality tempered glass and precision-machined aluminum, giving it a clean, premium look. It’s rated IP54, so it’s splash and dust resistant, but not exactly waterproof – fair enough for the price. On the back, the Nothing signature is still seen, but this time it is a unique and simple Glyph light. You can customize it for different notifications or assign it to specific contacts, and it even works as a countdown timer when you take photos.

The (3a) Lite phone is signed Nothing. | Image credit: nothing

When it comes to cameras, Nothing kept things modest:

50 megapixel main camera
8 MP ultra wide angle camera
2 MP macro camera
16 MP selfie camera

Pretty basic, but for a basic device, it should work fine.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G, not particularly exciting, but solid enough. Think something similar to Samsung’s Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A26: maybe a little faster, but not by much.

You get 8GB of RAM and can choose between 128GB or 256GB of storage, plus a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging support.

Software-wise, the Phone (3a) Lite runs Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, right out of the box. Nothing also promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which honestly isn’t bad for a phone in this price range. And speaking of price, the Phone (3a) Lite starts at £249 (around $329 when converted directly) for the 128GB model and £279 (around $368 when converted directly) for the 256GB version. For now, it’s not available in the US, but I guess if you really want one, you can always import it.

Does it look familiar to you? That’s because in a way it is

A collage of two images of the Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Lite.

Phone (3a) Lite (left) next to CMF Phone 2 Pro (right). | Collage by PhoneArena

If you’ve been keeping up with mobile technology lately, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite may seem like déjà vu. This is because it’s basically a remix of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which the Nothing sub-brand launched earlier this year.

Most of the hardware is almost identical. The camera settings? Same. Show specifications? Same. Chipset? The same thing again. Battery and storage options? You guessed it, also the same.

The main differences come down to aesthetics and branding. The Phone (3a) Lite has Glyph Light and a glass finish that makes it feel a little more premium. But when you look at the numbers, the CMF Phone 2 Pro still costs less ($280 for the 256GB model) and that’s double the storage compared to most of its competitors.

So in the end, the Phone (3a) Lite should perform almost exactly like the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which means smooth daily use, but nothing fancy.

So who is the Phone (3a) Lite really for?

Now here’s where I’m a little puzzled. The Phone (3a) Lite looks great, in my opinion, but who exactly is it intended for?

Because Nothing already sells the CMF Phone 2 Pro, which basically offers the same hardware for less money. And then there’s the phone (3a), priced at $379 for the 12GB + 256GB version, which offers a faster chip, better cameras, and faster charging.

So, yes, the new Lite looks great and brings that signature Nothing vibe, but in terms of value, it’s in a strange place. Unless you’re specifically looking for the Nothing design (the minimalism, the Glyph Light), the cheaper CMF model or the Phone (3a) simply make more sense.