Nothing Phone 3a Challengers: It's Much Ado About Nothing time in the Indian smartphone market. Nothing, the brand which has been making waves with its innovatively designed devices, has come out with two new phones, the Nothing Phone 3a at Rs 24,999 onwards and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro at Rs 29,999.


Both of them look broadly similar and come with LEDs on a transparent back that are a hallmark of Nothing Phones, but it is the Phone 3a Pro that has been grabbing more attention. That's because it not only has a more distinct design, thanks to a larger and more protruding camera unit, but also boasts better cameras - a 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS, a 50 megapixel periscope telephoto with 3x optical zoom (as compared to a normal telephoto on the Phone 3a, and an 8 megapixel ultrawide, as well as a 50 megapixel selfie camera (32 megapixel on the 3a). 



That apart, it comes with impressive specs for its price - a 6.77 inch AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2932 x 1080, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, RAM and storage options going up to 12 GB/ 256 GB and a large 5000 mAh battery with support for 50W charging. 


Top all of that with Nothing's clean interface, and the Phone 3a Pro seems a formidable offering. However, it is not all hunky dory - there's no charger in the box, which can be a deal-breaker for many, and good though it is, the Phone 3a Pro does face competitors who offer as much or more in some departments. 


So if you are considering picking up the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, we would suggest taking a look at these five phones first, as they can give it a run for its money: 


OnePlus Nord 4: Got The Looks (& The Chip)



Price: Rs 28,999 onwards


It is ironic (or perhaps just fateful) that one of the biggest obstructions in the path of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro comes from Nothing co-founder Carl Pei's previous company, OnePlus. The OnePlus Nord 4 has been in the market for a while now and has emerged as one of the best phones that you can get for about Rs 30,000. 


One of its USPs is its metallic back, a rarity these days, which makes it a head-turner. Then there is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3  chip, which gives it some good gaming muscle, and a brilliant 6.74-inch AMOLED display with 2772 x 1240 resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. 


Its camera game does not seem in the same league as the Phone 3a Pro, with its 50-megapixel main sensor, 8-megapixel ultrawide and 16-megapixel selfie, but you get a larger 5500 mAh battery with support for 100W charging and a charger in the box as well. The phone comes with a much-improved OxygenOS and a number of AI tools as well. All of which make it something for Nothing to worry about.


Vivo V50: The Other Camera Specialist



Price: Rs 34,999 onwards


It might come with a higher price tag than the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, but the Vivo V50 is actually one of its biggest challengers because its USPs are also a set of great cameras and a very eye-catching design. The phone comes with an impressively sleek and slim (7.6 mm) design, with its red and blue shades being particularly head-turning, and also has a bright 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. 


However, its real stars are the dual 50 megapixel cameras on the back (one main, one ultrawide) and segment-topping 50 megapixel selfie camera with autofocus, all made in collaboration with the legendary camera brand Zeiss, which deliver some fantastic photographs. 


There are several special shooting modes (including some designed for Indian weddings) that let you do much more with the cameras, and the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip does a decent job of delivering a good performance, although it is no gaming beast. Not everyone will love the FunTouchOS running on Android 15 on the device, but it is feature-rich once you get the hang of it. 


The phone also has a much bigger 6,000 mAh battery which comes with support for impressive 90W fast charging and with a charger bundled in the box with it.


Samsung Galaxy A36: Bringing Some AI To The Mix



Price: Rs 32,999 onwards


Samsung's latest set of A series phones aim to bring the goodness of Galaxy Ai to the mid-segment and the Galaxy A36 is entrusted with the Rs 30,000 - Rs 35,000 price zone, which puts it in the sights of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. 


It comes with a sleek, slim design and features a brilliant 6.7 inch AMOLED FHD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate, stereo speakers and a superb 50 megapixel main sensor with OIS, supported by an 8 megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5 megapixel macro, with a 12 megapixel camera handling selfies. 


Some might not be too impressed by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chip running this Galaxy show, but it has been known to be an efficient performer. The phone boasts a 5000 mAh battery with support for 45W charging but comes with no charger in the box. The phone's greatest strength is its handling of Galaxy AI, which is an integral part of One UI 7 on top of Android 15, with an assured six years of updates. 


It might not match the camera might of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, but its sleek design and AI muscle make this a real challenger.


Poco X7 Pro: Every Mid-Segment Phone's Nightmare



Price: Rs 27,999 onwards 


The Poco X7 Pro's blend of flagship specs at a super competitive price make it a headache for every phone below Rs 30,000 and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is not exempted from its flagship-killing intentions. 


What makes the Poco X7 Pro such a threat is its near flagship level Dimensity 8400 Ultra processor, which with its combination of speedy RAM and storage (which the Phone 3a Pro lacks) and a brilliant 6.67 inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712 x 1220 and 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as stereo speakers make it a gaming and multimedia beast. 


The phone's cameras (50 megapixel main with OIS and 8 megapixel ultrawide, with a 20 megapixel selfie camera) are not in the same class as the ones on the Phone 3a Pro, but comes with a massive 6550 mAh battery with support for 90W charging, as well as a charger in the box. 


Round that off with HyperOS on top of Android 15 and you have a contender.


Redmi Note 14 Pro+: A Note-able Adversary



Price: Rs 30,999 onwards


There was a time when the Redmi Note would be the default choice for anyone seeking a phone below Rs 15,000. While the series has not been able to dominate higher price segments in the same manner, the Redmi Note remains a competitor for any device in its zone, which is why the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has to contend with the Redmi Note 14 Pro+. 


The Note has the same chip as the Phone 3a Pro and has a slightly smaller but higher resolution 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and packs in a massive 6200 mAh battery with support for 90W charging and a charger in the box as well. 


You also get a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS and a 50-megapixel telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom, although the 8-megapixel ultrawide and 20-megapixel selfie camera are a little underwhelming. Xiaomi's HyperOS is not as clean as Nothing's interface, and the fact that the Note 14 Pro+ comes with Android 14 out of the box is a downer, but you get rock-solid Note performance and durability (thanks to IP68 dust and water resistance).