Hardwired
In Hardwired, AC Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda delves into all issues {hardware}, together with telephones, audio merchandise, storage servers, and networking gear.
After I reviewed the Telephone 2a final yr, I referred to as it the most effective finances telephone of the yr. In 2025, the Telephone 3a Professional is carrying that mantle. Nothing’s newest telephone retains an identical basis as its predecessor, so that you get an fascinating design on the again, clear software program with helpful extras, good customizability, well timed software program updates, and nice cameras.
Apparently, the 3a Professional will get a 50MP telephoto lens, giving it a definite benefit over the 2a. Nothing converted to Qualcomm silicon as soon as once more, and that is a great factor — the telephone has significantly better efficiency in gaming and every day use versus the 2a and 2a Plus.
I used the Telephone 3a Professional for simply over every week now, and I am satisfied that that is the one finances telephone price shopping for in India. I just like the POCO X7 Professional as nicely, however the software program on that machine is not anyplace pretty much as good, and it would not fairly have the identical design aptitude.
A design that shines — actually
The Telephone 3a Professional’s design is divisive — Nothing admitted as a lot in the course of the briefing. The telephone nonetheless has a singular see-through sample on the again, however the digital camera island has a rounded design and is considerably larger than final yr.
That is all the way down to the inclusion of the brand new tele lens, and whereas there are detractors to the design, I prefer it; the economic design makes the telephone stand out, and whereas the digital camera island may have appeared higher, it’s quirky — and I take pleasure in that in a telephone. The digital camera island juts out significantly, however as a result of it is stretched throughout almost your entire width on the again, there is no wobble when utilizing the Telephone 3a Professional on a desk.
Nothing went with a glass again this time, noting that whereas the plastic again on the Telephone 2a made the machine lighter, it was vulnerable to scratching. Nothing says its userbase needed a glass again, so it catered to that demand. The glass is protected by a customized resolution, and it’s efficient towards tumbles.
Additionally, the Telephone 3a Professional seems significantly better in actual life than the product renders would counsel, so for those who’re not sure in regards to the machine solely based mostly on the design, I might advocate going to a retailer and making an attempt it out; Nothing sells the machine through choose huge model retail shops in India.
In fact, the LEDs on the again proceed to be a serious differentiator, and I like how this characteristic has advanced over the past two years. The three lighting zones do not cowl a lot space — not like the Telephone 2 — however they’re simply as customizable. I am utilizing the gray shade variant of the machine, and whereas it is not fairly as hanging because the blue mannequin, it does a superb job accentuating the design.
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What I like in regards to the Telephone 3a Professional is that it has an aluminum mid-frame with matte sides. This makes holding and utilizing the telephone that a lot simpler, and it creates a significantly better in-hand really feel. I am nonetheless not a fan of the flat sides although, however Nothing is at the least constant on this regard. The telephone has IP64 ingress safety, and Nothing says whereas it did not get the Telephone 3a Professional examined for IP65 or IP67, it ought to climate immersion in water — however with out a ranking, you lose any guarantee as a result of water injury for those who attempt.
All of the {hardware} you want
The Telephone 3a Professional has a 6.77-inch AMOLED panel, and similar to its predecessor, it has ultra-thin bezels on all sides. This can be a minor level, however it’s one more space the place Nothing’s consideration to element makes the machine stand out, and it is good to see the model offering the identical high quality on its finances telephones as its flagship.
Anyway, the panel has good colours and distinction, and the notable change this yr is that it will get a lot brighter than the Telephone 2a — this was instantly evident when utilizing the machine open air. I did not see any points whereas gaming or streaming media, and though the Telephone 3a Professional would not fairly have the identical stage of efficiency as a high-end machine, it holds up extremely nicely contemplating it is a finances telephone. Thermals are dealt with significantly better, and it makes a noticeable distinction in prolonged gaming periods.
The remainder of the {hardware} is fairly normal; there’s good connectivity, an honest vibration motor, and due to a 5000mAh battery, the telephone lasts a day with none points in any respect. The 50W charging tech means it takes simply an hour to cost the Telephone 3a Professional, and whereas it is annoying that you simply nonetheless do not get a charger within the field, it depends on the USB PD protocol, so you need to use any charger with the machine.
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I loved utilizing the cameras on the Telephone 2a final yr, and that is an space the place the Telephone 3a Professional brings appreciable upgrades. The 50MP Samsung GNJ principal digital camera takes higher pictures in low-light conditions, and the brand new 50MP Sony LYT-600 tele lens is unbelievable; it takes clear pictures at 3x, and also you get usable pictures at as much as 10x. Annoyingly, video is restricted to 4K30, and you aren’t getting 4K60 recording on the machine. Video recording itself is fairly common, however that is the case with most finances units.
Important software program
An enormous a part of the attract with Nothing’s telephones is the software program. There simply aren’t sufficient finances telephones with clear software program, so Nothing’s focus on this space is refreshing. The interface continues to be simply as clear as earlier years, and Nothing OS 3.1 has loads of customizability. Nothing has a slate of unique widgets on its units, they usually mix nice design with usability.
The Android 15-based interface is fluid, and I take pleasure in utilizing it fairly a bit. Whereas it is not what I might name vanilla Android, there is a distinct visible type, and in contrast to most different skins, the design would not really feel cumbersome within the least. It is simply gratifying to make use of, and Nothing OS 3.1 continues to me one in every of my favourite Android interfaces.
An fascinating addition this yr is a button beneath the ability button. That is to invoke Important Area, a shelf that organizes all of your screenshots, to-do lists, notes, voice memos, pictures, and extra. A single press of the button permits you to jot down a be aware, an extended press permits you to dictate a voice memo, and a double press launches the shelf. It is among the finest options on the Telephone 3a Professional, and whereas it is nonetheless in its infancy — Nothing has bold plans for the characteristic — it is clear that it has nice potential.
Nothing says Important Area can be a differentiator on the Telephone 3 that is slated to launch someday later this yr, however it did not wish to restrict the mode to its flagship, so its debuting on the Telephone 3a and 3a Professional. That is nice to see, and actually, it makes me query why different Android manufacturers did not provide you with one thing comparable till now.
Nothing comes shut
The Telephone 3a Professional prices ₹30,999 ($356) in India for the 8GB/128GB version, and I do know calling it a finances telephone is doubtful, however that is the place the business is headed. Telephone costs are steadily on the rise, and first rate finances telephones value almost double what they used to only a few years in the past.
That stated, these telephones have higher {hardware}, elegant designs, and considerably higher cameras. The Telephone 3a Professional specifically proves that finances telephones could be cool too, and the mixture of distinctive design, clear software program, and nice cameras on the again make it the only option on this class. There is not one other machine that provides you fairly as many options, and it is no surprise that Nothing is aggressively promoting the Telephone 3a Professional in India — it is aware of it is onto one thing nice.
With an fascinating design, nice cameras, clear software program, and a great general worth, the Telephone 3a Professional is the most effective finances telephone you should purchase at this time.
