Learn how the brand new NOTHING Phone (4a) Pro and NOTHING Headphone (a) both shake up the mid-range tech market.
If there’s one tech company that constantly feels as though it swings for the fences, it’s Nothing. A relative newcomer on our shores, Nothing has built a reputation based on intuitive product design and reasonable prices. The company’s latest two offerings – the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and Headphone (a) – continue that trend, and after spending some time with both devices it’s clear that both are exceptional mid-range devices.
First up is the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, and straight out of the box it’s an absolute stunner. With a fresh aluminium unibody shell, the sleek looking device is arguably Nothing’s most stylish yet. Most interesting though is the fact that the company’s signature transparent design has been relegated to the (4a) Pro’s top camera bar – strikingly similar to the iPhone 17 Pro. Fans of the transparent finish will likely be a little disappointed at the choice, but its placement allows for a more sophisticated look – even more so than last year’s premium Nothing Phone (3).
Speaking of cameras, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro utilises a triple camera system comprising of a 50MP main, 50MP periscope and 8MP ultrawide. In execution that allows for some very respectable shots when lighting is on your side, just don’t expect the same performance in less ideal conditions – the sensors understandably offering noisier snaps that are unable to compete with more common flagship devices from Google or Apple.
Where the (4a) Pro really makes its mark though is the reintroduction of the Glyph Matrix, first introduced in last year’s Nothing Phone (3). The Matrix is designed to effectively reduce screen time by programming context specific notifications when the phone is placed down on a surface. It’s able to achieve this thanks to 137 mini-LEDs – 57% times bigger than the (3) at the expense of resolution.
While some will lament that lack of detail, I actually preferred the larger formfactor. It not only pairs much nicer with the design language of the camera bar, but the notifications themselves provide more of a statement, especially at a quick glance. Whether you’re waiting for a message from a loved one or an urgent phone call, you can set specific symbols to the Matrix so that you can be notified while still avoiding the hustle and bustle of daily interruptions. Even when you’re not that popular, you can still customise the Matrix to be a permanent fixture like a clock face to help you keep track of time.
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It’s an intriguing system, especially given that it’s open to third-party support. For the moment the support has leaned more towards gimmickry like a coin flip or spin the bottle, but it’s easy to imagine some truly useful additions to pop up after a bit more time and effort.
In a similar vein behind the scenes is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 and while it’s a respectable chipset, you shouldn’t go expecting best in class performance. Similarly simple mobile gaming was perfectly fine, as are highly optimised titles like Call of Duty Mobile, but jump onto anything too intensive and you can expect to see the device start to stutter and the cracks of the less powerful chipset start to appear. That said, Nothing are not claiming the phone to be a gaming machine, so know what you’re signing up for.
Outside of gaming, for average day-to-day usage the performance of the 4(a) Pro will do exactly as you need to. Navigating the app drawer or moving between apps is simple and seamless thanks to a refresh rate that can hit up to 144Hz.
And it’s this experience that carries across much of the Nothing Phone 4(a) Pro experience. From an attractive formfactor to a streamlined and impressive custom UI it’s a nice device to main. The chipset and camera system may disappoint some, but considering the $949 asking price, it’s certainly packing a competitive punch that should absolutely be considered.
Nothing’s Headphone (a) is no slouch either. An iteration of last year’s Headphone (1) this new release actually looks slightly more traditional. The same squared headcup design remains, but the transparent finish has been flipped – this time showing the internals along the outer rim of the ear cup while the inner section focuses on a serious pop of colour.
I tested the pink model (though the Headphone (a) is also available in white, black and a special edition yellow) and it does exceptionally well to deliver a bit of flair with a respectable amount of subtlety, meaning you can wear the Nothing Headphone (a) out and about without turning too many heads in the process. Thats a good thing because you’ll want to be wearing these plenty thanks to an incredibly well-rounded sound profile. From lower mids to heavy bass (which can be helped along by an optional bass boost), it never feels as though the Headphone (a) is making a significant compromise to the soundstage. From a range of music to the odd spot of Netflix or mobile gaming, Nothing delivered very solid bang for buck.
Much like the Nothing Headphone (1), Nothing’s unique button layout has been retained. That means the unconventional roller and padel remain, the former smoothly handling volume control while the latter will allow you to change tracks, but the headphones are all the better for it. More competitors should think outside the box like Nothing has because they’re both satisfying and initiative to use. Nothing has been smart with controls across the board, even hiding a Bluetooth button in the top corner.
The biggest win of the Headphone (a) though is its battery. Nothing promises a truly ridiculous 135 hours of power or 75 hours with ANC turned on, and while that’s a difficult figure to properly test, it’s a good indication that the unit never needed a recharge during testing. It’s a truly nutty battery for a pair of headphones at this price point.
Speaking of price, at $329, the Nothing Headphone(a) is a pretty remarkable deal. They pack a premium build, respectable sound profile and eye-catching design that do well to compete with many competitors beyond its price point. If you’re looking for a more budget friendly set of cans, then these are well worth a look. and NOTHING Headphone (a) both shake up the mid-range tech market.
