Just a couple of years ago, Nothing was perceived as Carl Pei’s experimental brand: beautiful transparent cases, fun glyphs on the back, and one smartphone per year — for enthusiasts only. Now it’s a full-fledged manufacturer with a mature lineup that includes a true flagship, affordable “a” models, and a separate CMF sub-brand focused on affordability. The new Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro have made quite a splash, and users have received them warmly. But here’s the paradox: choosing a specific model has become harder than ever. In 2026, seven devices remain relevant at the same time. Let’s figure out which Nothing Phone to choose in 2026 for you specifically.
Let’s figure out what makes Nothing smartphones different and which one is best to buy
CMF Phone 2 Pro — The Cheapest Smartphone with Nothing OS
Phone 2 Pro — the most affordable smartphone for entering the Nothing ecosystem
The most affordable and most unusual smartphone on the list. The back cover no longer comes off with a proprietary screw, but the phone still looks bright and cool. It does support accessory attachments: camera lenses, wallet, and kickstand.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro |
| Cameras | 50 MP (main) + 50 MP (2x telephoto) + 8 MP (ultrawide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 33W charging |
| Price | from 20,700 rubles |
The key advantage of the CMF Phone 2 Pro is the price and feature set. For just over 20 thousand rubles, you get an AMOLED with 3000 nits peak brightness, NFC, a telephoto with optical zoom, and the ability to swap back covers. There are simply no alternatives with this “budget plus character” formula on the market. The downsides are fair: only IP54 protection and no stereo speakers.
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite — Nothing Design for Minimal Money
The 3a Lite is a twin brother of the Phone 2 Pro, but more premium thanks to its design
Essentially — a copy of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, but in Nothing’s signature aesthetic: glass back panel, transparent accents, and a single round LED instead of full glyphs. Same Dimensity 7300 Pro, same display, same battery.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro |
| Cameras | 50 MP + 8 MP (ultrawide) + 2 MP (macro) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 33W charging |
| Price | from 21,000 rubles |
You get Nothing’s signature smartphone style at the price of a Chinese mid-ranger. Not bad, right? If you like transparent cases, the Essential Key button, and the brand’s aesthetics, but don’t want to pay 50+ thousand — this is the optimal entry into the ecosystem. Updates are promised for up to 6 years of patches and 3 major Android updates.
Nothing Phone (3a) — The Best Value Android Smartphone
Phone 3a — the ideal mid-budget phone by almost every spec
The base “3a” was released in March 2025 and still remains one of the brand’s most balanced offerings. Three cameras, full glyphs, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 — this is the smartphone that the Western press described as “close to ideal in everyday use.” Honestly, I can only agree with that. I personally switched from the (3a) to the Phone (3), but I fondly remember the mid-budget Nothing. Almost perfect on all fronts, even after using an iPhone!
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| Cameras | 50 MP + 50 MP (2x telephoto) + 8 MP (ultrawide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 50W charging |
| Price | from 23,000 rubles |
Phone (3a) offers the optimal price-to-performance ratio. For relatively little money, you get a telephoto with optics, IP64, 50-watt charging, and a full Glyph interface. But there are drawbacks. The main one is slow UFS 2.2 memory, which will come back to haunt you when opening files on the device or the media library in Yandex Music. Nevertheless, according to many reviewers, the base version is a more sensible choice than the pricier Pro.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro — An Affordable Camera Phone with a Periscope Lens
Quite an unusual appearance even by Nothing smartphone standards
It differs from the base (3a) primarily in the rear camera module: a periscope telephoto Sony LYT-600 with 3x optical zoom, f/2.55 aperture, and optical image stabilization. The selfie camera is also more serious — 50 MP with 4K recording.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| Cameras | 50 MP + 50 MP periscope 3x + 8 MP (ultrawide) |
| Battery | 5000 mAh, 50W charging |
| Price | from 25,000 rubles |
Why should you buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro? We’re offered cameras above mid-range level. A periscope with optics at this price is still a rarity. If you shoot a lot with zoom and love portraits, but don’t want to overpay for the (4a) Pro — the (3a) Pro remains an excellent option. The design with the “disc” is debatable, but it’s exactly what makes the smartphone recognizable.
