Nothing Phone (4a) review: Is this 2026's best value device?

Nothing gets me more excited than phone reviews. Between the countless mobile devices I've tested over the past year, one brand always sticks in my mind: Nothing.

They are back stronger after the controversial launch of the Phone (3), having stated they won't be launching yearly flagships just for the sake of it. A fantastic decision, if you ask me.

The Nothing Phone (4a) represents an extremely mature design for 2026, and realistically competing with Samsung's FE series and other mid-range phones at a budget price point.

Despite the price tag, I found I treated it like a flagship at heart thanks to a few clever quirks. After 48 hours with the phone, here are my honest first impressions of what I liked and what could be improved.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

Nothing Phone (4a) at a glance

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What is it: Nothing's latest next-generation entry-level phone.

Price: $649 for 8GB ram and 128GB storage, $749 for 8+256GB and $849 for 12+256GB

Pros: Great hardware and software for its price, mature design, new Glyph Bar, triple-camera set-up with new telephoto lens.

Considerations: Noticeable bezels, plastic frame, loss of Glyph Lights and no wireless charging.

First impressions: A mature design

When you first unbox a Nothing phone, you're always greeted by a charming message: "Welcome to Nothing. Well, isn't this exciting?" The phone arrives neatly packed inside this box with a pre-applied screen protector, a case, a charging cable included and a user manual.

Once you pull the phone out, you're met with the iconic Nothing aesthetic in one of four colours of choice: white, black, blue and an all-new pink! The big redesign of the year comes in the form of the new Glyph Bar, which replaces the Phone (3a)'s Glyph Lights.

Set-up is always easy, whether you're coming from Android or Apple, and while the 6.78-inch display feels a bit large for my personal preference, it's bright and snappy. The phone also comes upgraded with Gorilla Glass 7i finish for better scratch protection, and IP64 for dust and water resistance.

Moreover, another functional change in the design is that the Essential Key has swapped to the left side of the phone, and the volume buttons and power button are now on the right side – meaning you're less likely to fumble the wrong buttons.

What I liked

The new Glyph Bar

Nothing is continuing to evolve its distraction-free philosophy with the new Glyph Bar. Rather than an array of lights on the back, they've become a rectangle of 63 mini-LEDS across seven squares – being brighter than last year's by 40 per cent.

They're like this to serve as a more uniform visual hub on the back of the phone. Thanks to Android 16, you can see real-time progress for apps like Uber, Google Maps and Google Calendar using the Glyph bar.

In my testing, I found the lights particularly useful for notifications from texts and calls (which you can customise) and as a Glyph Timer that fills up over time. I'm sure when the Nothing community gets their hands on this, they'll be more creative – but this is all I need as an average phone user.

The phone also features the same red recording lights found on the flagship Phone (3), which acts as a helpful indicator to signal to others you're recording. It always flashes red when using the Essential Recording, with the Glyph Bar reacting to audio inputs too.

Look, I'll conclude this section this way: you're not going to please everyone. Some people might miss the futuristic lights across the whole back of the phone, but in my eyes, this new bar feels significantly more mature and purposeful for the average user.

A camera that punches above its weight

Listen up if you like taking photos. I'm going to talk about the specs purely on paper for a moment. The Phone (4a) has a triple-camera system with the inclusion of a 50MP tetraprism periscope lens. What the hell does that even mean?

Nothing has managed to squeeze a 3.5x optical lens without having an incredibly bulky camera bump. If you like zooming in, this is a major win with up to 7x lossless zoom and up to 70x ultra zoom. FYI, these periscopes lenses are usually found in flagship phones, with mid-range phones often opting for a telephoto lens instead.

Moreover, the upgraded 50MP Samsung main lens and the 8MP Sony ultrawide serve their purpose well and are complemented by the range of new camera editing presets and tools. Plus, you get a 32MP front camera for capturing selfies and video calls.

In my limited testing of the camera, I generally found the system to hold out pretty well. The zoom lens is pretty crisp, and the overall main camera has good quality with some fun presets to use. While I did test it on a glarey day, Nothing's base cameras do feel a bit washed, though.

Overall, I'd conclude that the camera will satisfy anyone looking to upgrade their older phone to one with a modern triple-camera system.

Smooth performance and quality of life upgrades

The 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a snappy 120hz speed, 1.5K resolution and 4500 nits peak brightness. Anyone coming from an older iPhone will immediately appreciate the display.

Under the hood, the phone is upgraded to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, giving better performance, and UFS3.1 storage – making it easier to transfer photos and data. Overall, there's nothing much more for me to comment on as I'm not an intensive mobile gamer either.

The software itself, Nothing OS 4.1, brings a few refinements I appreciate. Most notably, the cloud sync for the Essential Space (don't know what that is? Click here).

The phone itself has an upgraded 5080mAh battery, making it a reliable phone that lasts me across two days of simple use. Plus, Nothing will support the Phone (4a) with three years of Android updates and six years of security updates.

What could be improved?

While I'd argue the Nothing Phone (4a) offers fantastic value, there are some clear compromises made to keep it at this budget/mid-range price point.

You will notice bezels are slightly prominent compared to flagship models, and the frame is made from plastic. Moreover, there is no wireless charging support at all, which is a feature that I've come to love and miss here.

Finally, whether or not it's what could be improved, a con, or a key consideration, the fact is: the Phone (4a) has lost its signature Glyph Lights. The real discourse here is that it seems Nothing is moving from a niche enthusiast brand towards trying to frame itself as a broader, consumer-friendly brand. Only time will tell if they will be able to pull it off.

Final verdict: Best value so far

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Arguably, the Nothing Phone (4a) is one of the best value smartphones I've tested this year so far, thanks to a few key upgrades.

Overall, its standout software, reasonable price tag and playful, yet mature design all make it a choice to recommend for Aussies looking to buy a budget-friendly, mid-range phone.

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READ MORE: Could the Nothing Phone (3) be the most unconventional smartphone on the market?