Now that we have gotten the “regular” (4a) out of the way, let’s talk about the higher-spec model of the two, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. Not counting CMF by Nothing, this is the first Nothing phone with a back cover that is not completely transparent. The transparent element is now limited to the upper one-third of the device. Still very Nothing, just… a little more dressed up.
Glyph is in order, but this time, Nothing brings back the Glyph Matrix, first seen on the Phone (3), to its A series. The idea remains the same: reduce distraction while keeping you informed of what matters. But as far as distraction goes, it is less subtle than the Glyph Bar.
The circular Glyph Matrix, powered by 137 precision mini-LEDs, is 57% larger and twice as bright as the Phone (3). It highlights key alerts at a glance while also pulling double duty as a functional display. You get essentials like a digital clock, battery status, and even solar-style indicators, effectively turning it into an always-on Glyph Toy. It can also act as a timer, and yes, even a handy mirror for selfies.
Notifications are handled through Essential Notifications, where you can assign discreet icons to contacts or keywords. Think secret codes you used to share as a kid, except now your best friend is your phone. The Glyph Matrix also supports progress-based notifications, synced with the display for tracking rides, deliveries, and timers through motion and light cues.
If the (4a) was already serious about cameras, the Pro goes even harder. It runs on TrueLens Engine 4, combining multi-frame RAW processing with 12-layer AI segmentation to deliver more accurate colours, better subject separation, and more natural-looking images.
The main camera is a 50 MP sensor (f/1.88, 1/1.56″) with OIS and EIS, capable of pulling in more light for cleaner shots, especially in low light. Then there is the star of the show: a 50 MP periscope camera offering 3.5x optical zoom, 7x in-sensor zoom, and up to 140x ultra zoom. Yes, 140x. You probably will not use all of it, but it is there when you want to check what is happening three buildings away.
Rounding things out is an ultra-wide camera with a 120° field of view, and a 32 MP front camera for group shots that do not require everyone to squeeze in like it is a family portrait from 2003.
On the video side, it supports 4K Ultra XDR recording, along with slow motion and time-lapse options. Ultra XDR photos capture 13 RAW frames at varying exposures, merging them into a single image with boosted brightness and detail. Motion Photos are here too, capturing a few seconds of life around each shot, so you are not just freezing a moment, but keeping a bit of it alive.
Up front, the Phone (4a) Pro gets a larger and sharper 6.83-inch flexible AMOLED display with a 1260 x 2800 resolution (450 PPI). It supports 10-bit color, peaks at 5,000 nits brightness, and runs at an adaptive 144 Hz refresh rate. Touch response goes up to 2,500 Hz, which is probably overkill for scrolling Instagram, but great for gaming.
Performance is handled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon platform built on a 4 nm process, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It is backed by a linear haptic motor for sharper feedback and dual stereo speakers for audio that does not sound like it is coming out of a tin can.
Battery-wise, it packs a 5,080 mAh unit (or 5,400 mAh in India), with 50W fast charging and 7.5W reverse wired charging. Enough to get you through the day, and then some.
Connectivity is what you would expect from a modern device: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and a full suite of global positioning systems. It also supports dual SIM and eSIM (region dependent), and runs on Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, with 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches.
Durability sees a slight bump too, with an IP65 rating and testing for shallow water exposure, along with tougher glass and improved structural strength.
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro comes in Silver, Black, and Pink, and is available in configurations up to 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage.
If anyone’s interested, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is now available to order in the U.S., starting at US$499.
Images: Nothing.
