First Impressions: Nothing Phone (4a) Pro aims for the Czech market and is completely different from its predecessors

Nothing is taking a different approach this year. While previous A-series phones relied on semi-transparent backs and playful design, the Phone 4a Pro looks like it was designed by a completely different team. An aluminum unibody construction, a minimalist silhouette, and a camera concentrated into a single elongated module — this is a recipe that sounds familiar. We had the opportunity to get our hands on the silver variant, and here are our first impressions.

Aluminum instead of plastic and the end of transparent backs

When you pick up the Phone 4a Pro, you immediately feel that this is no plastic toy. The all-metal body is only 7.95 mm thick, making it the thinnest Nothing phone in history. While the weight of 210 grams is not negligible, the weight distribution is pleasant, and the phone sits naturally in the palm. The surface of the silver variant is matte, subtle, and resistant to fingerprints — unlike the glossy finishes of some competitors, you won’t be wiping it a hundred times a day.

However, the transparent design has not completely disappeared. Nothing has moved it exclusively to the camera module area, where a transparent cover reveals hints of the internal structure. In a sea of identical smartphones, it is still a distinctive differentiating element. The rest of the back is purely metal, without any decorations. Those who loved the old Nothing design might have to get used to it for a while. Those who considered it kitsch will be delighted.

Durability is at IP65 level, meaning protection against dust and splashing water. It’s not IP68, but it’s sufficient for everyday life — the phone can handle rain and rinsing under the tap. The display is covered by Gorilla Glass 7i.

Glyph Matrix: bigger and brighter

The light element on the back has undergone a significant transformation. Instead of the Glyph Bar found on the cheaper Phone 4a, the Pro model received a full-fledged Glyph Matrix with 137 mini LED diodes. Compared to the flagship Phone 3, it is 57% larger and shines twice as brightly — up to around 3,000 nits. It can display contact symbols, notification progress, function as an always-on time indicator, and, of course, flash to the rhythm of ringtones.

On the left side, the physical Essential Key button remains for quick access to Essential Space, but you cannot control the Glyph from it. This is a shame, as there is a metal ring on the bottom that looks exactly like a place for such a button.

A display that overshadows its own flagship

The Phone 4a Pro features a 6.83-inch flexible AMOLED with a resolution of 2,800 × 1,260 pixels (1.5K, 450 ppi density). The refresh rate reaches 144 Hz, and the peak brightness is 5,000 nits for HDR content. For context: the flagship Nothing Phone 3 offers a 6.67″ display with 120 Hz and a maximum of 4,500 nits. The mid-range has thus simply surpassed its own flagship in display parameters.

Upon first power-on, the remarkably thin bezels stand out — Nothing states 1.85 mm, which is 21% less than on the base Phone 4a. Colors are vibrant, viewing angles are wide, and combined with PWM dimming at 2,160 Hz, the display should be gentle on the eyes even during night reading. The touch sampling rate of 2,500 Hz will especially please gamers.

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 and decent, not stunning, equipment

Inside, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 ticks with an Adreno 722 GPU and LPDDR5x memory, which is a slight but noticeable step up from the cheaper Phone 4a (Snapdragon 7s Gen 4). Nothing promises 27% higher CPU performance and 30% better graphics compared to last year’s Phone 3a Pro. The GeekBench 6 benchmark shows a score of 1319 for single-core performance and 4163 points in the multi-core test. Subjectively, the system responded swiftly, animations were smooth, and applications opened without delay.

There are two configurations to choose from: 8/128 GB and 12/256 GB. The storage is UFS 3.1 type, not the latest standard, but it is fully sufficient for everyday use. The cooling area of 5,300 mm² (vapor chamber) should ensure that the phone does not overheat under load — but this will only be proven by longer testing.

Triple camera with periscope and 140× zoom

The camera setup of the Phone 4a Pro looks very interesting on paper. The main sensor is a new 50Mpx Sony LYT-700C with a chip 24% larger than its predecessor, complemented by optical stabilization. Next to it is a 50Mpx periscopic telephoto lens with 3.5× optical zoom and OIS — the same sensor used by the flagship Phone 3. The trio is completed by an 8Mpx wide-angle lens with a 120° field of view. At the front, there’s a 32Mpx selfie camera.

Nothing boasts support for up to 140× digital zoom, but initial experience confirms what we know from elsewhere — extreme magnification works acceptably for buildings and patterns, but it is practically unusable for regular photography. Realistically, the zoom is usable up to about 10×. More interesting, however, is the new triple 12-bit ISP and the Ultra XDR feature, which combines 13 RAW images into a single HDR result. However, we will have to wait for the review to assess the camera quality.

Battery for a day, charging in half an hour

The battery capacity is 5,080 mAh, which is identical to the base Phone 4a. Nothing promises approximately 17 hours of typical use. The 50 W charging power is solid for a mid-range phone and significantly surpasses, for example, the Pixel 10a, which has to settle for 23 W. Wireless charging, however, is missing — and for a phone costing over 12 thousand crowns, this is something that some customers will not overlook.

NothingOS 4.1: clean Android with a touch of personality

The phone runs on Android 16 with the NothingOS 4.1 overlay. If you’ve held any previous Nothing phone, you’ll feel right at home — minimalist widgets, a clear app drawer, almost no bloatware, and the ability to switch between Nothing’s monochrome icons and Google’s colorful default icons. Newly added are Essential Search for searching across the entire phone and cloud access to Essential Space, i.e., notes, screenshots, and voice recordings.

Among the AI features, the integration of ChatGPT and Google Gemini is worth mentioning, plus the AI Eraser in the gallery, which runs directly on the device. Nothing promises 3 generations of Android updates and 6 years of security patches. Three years of OS updates are not dazzling in 2026 — both Samsung and Xiaomi offer more — but six years of security patches is at least a decent anchor point.

Czech prices and availability

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is sold in the Czech Republic in silver, black, and pink at the following prices:

• 8/128 GB: 12,199 Kč
• 12/256 GB: 13,999 Kč

Pre-orders run from March 13 on nothing.tech and at selected partners, with official sales starting on March 27. For comparison: the base Phone 4a starts at 9,199 Kč and has been on sale since March 13.

First Impressions: Nothing has matured, but at what cost?

The Phone 4a Pro is undoubtedly the most sophisticated mid-range device Nothing has ever produced. The aluminum body gives the phone weight and dignity, the display is exceptional for its category, and the triple camera with a periscope promises more than the usual equipment in this category. The Glyph Matrix adds personality, even if the absence of a button for its control is disappointing.

The question remains, however, whether Nothing has priced itself too high. For 12,199 Kč, you are already in territory where Chinese alternatives with almost flagship chipsets compete, as well as discounted last year’s flagships. Three years of OS updates will also not impress anyone in 2026. On the other hand — if you are looking for a phone that simply looks and feels different from everything else on the market, Nothing still holds this position. Even if this time in a significantly more conservative package.

Are you interested in the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, or would you prefer the cheaper Phone 4a?