In fact, for under $500, this is arguably the best phone available, especially for those who value a unique design, a capable camera setup, and a clean software experience. If you want a well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a strong contender.

With their sub-$500 prices, I pit the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Pixel 8a in a 10-round photo shootout to see which is the better camera phone on a budget.

London-based tech firm Nothing has delighted us before with its light-up Android phones that provide some much-needed frivolity in a world full of plain, gray smartphones that take themselves too seriously.

The burgeoning tech brand has built its name by pushing an aesthetic beyond the stagnant four corners of smartphone design – and, in that respect, its new phones deliver.

Nothing's Phone 3a Pro doesn't have iOS, but it does have a great camera and design — it also comes at a price that Apple's iPhone 16e can't beat.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro isn't all that different from the Nothing Phone 3a. Here are some real-world differences we observed.

The Phone Battle 2025 Begins

Despite is affordable cost, the Nothing Phoner 3a Pro has a camera performance that rivals some of the best phones, so I tried astrophotography on it.