Nothing's New Mid-Range Phones Skip the US Market

Nothing has unveiled two new mid-range smartphones, but only one will be available in the United States. On the one hand, it’s the more expensive model with better specs, which makes sense. On the other hand, it’s a little disappointing that the model the company has been teasing for weeks won’t be available in the US.

The new Nothing (4a) Pro will be available for pre-order starting March 13 for $499 (€479) and up, and it will be available in most markets starting March 27, while the Nothing Phone (4a) is a cheaper model that will be available in select markets for €349 and up.

Display and Design Differences

The two phones are similar in a lot of respects. From the front it would be difficult to tell the 6.83 inch Nothing Phone (4a) Pro apart from the 6.78 inch Nothing Phone (4a), with both models featuring big, bright, high-res displays, slim bezels, and hole-punch cameras. And they have similar (but not identical processors).

There are some small differences that might be noticeable without turning the phones around. For example the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro display has a slightly higher screen refresh rate and slightly higher peak brightness. And the phone features faster memory.

Glyph System Evolution

But the biggest differences are on the back of the phones. The cheaper Nothing Phone (4a) has Nothing’s new Glyph Bar notification system featuring 6 square lights and 9 individually controllable mini LEDs for a simpler, more basic notification light system than we’ve seen on other Nothing phones.

But aside from that, this model actually looks more like older Nothing phones thanks to a clear plastic back cover that lets you see what lies underneath. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, meanwhile, is the company’s first phone with an opaque back. But it features an aluminum back cover and a more advanced display system thanks to a Glyph Matrix LED display with 137 mini LEDs. These act like a display that can show patterns and animations for custom notifications.

Technical Specifications

Here’s a closer look at the differences between the two models:

Feature	Nothing Phone (4a) Pro	Nothing Phone (4a)
Display	6.83 inches 1260 x 2800 px 450 ppi AMOLED 30-144 Hz refresh rate 2500 Hz touch sampling rate 2160 PWM frequency 800 nits typ brightness 5000 nits peak brightness Gorilla Glass i7	6.78 inches 1224 x 2720 pixels 440 ppi 30-120 Hz refresh rate 2500 Hz touch sampling rate 2160 PWM frequency 800 nits typ brightness 4500 nits peak brightness Gorilla Glass i7
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7S Gen 4
RAM + Storage	LPDDR5x + UFS 3.1 8GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB 12GB + 256GB	LPDDR4X + UFS 3.1 8GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB 12GB + 256GB
Cameras	50MP primary 50MP telephoto (3.5X optical, 140X ultra) 8MP ultrawide (120 degrees) 32MP front	50MP primary 50MP telephoto (3.5X optical, 70 Ultra) 8MP ultrawide (120 degrees) 32MP front
Battery	5,080 mAh	5,080 mAh
Charging	50W (wired) 7.5W (reverse wired)	50W (wired) 7.5W (reverse wired)
Wireless	WiFi 6 BT 5.4 NFC	WiFi 6 BT 5.4 NFC
IP Rating	IP65	IP64
Security	In-screen optical scanner	In-screen optical scanner
OS	Nothing OS powered by Android 16 3 years OS updates 6 years security patches	Nothing OS powered by Android 16 3 years OS updates 6 years security patches
Starting price	$499 /£499 / ₹39,999 / €479	£349 / ₹31,999 / €349

The decision to skip the US market for the cheaper model is particularly interesting given that Nothing has been building its brand presence in the American market. The company’s previous phones were only available through special beta programs or limited releases in the US, making this the first time Nothing has offered a mainstream phone launch in the country.

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro’s higher refresh rate display (144Hz vs 120Hz), brighter screen (5000 nits vs 4500 nits), and more advanced Glyph Matrix system make it a compelling option for users who want the latest features. However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Pro model versus the 7S Gen 4 in the standard model suggests that the performance differences may be more modest than the price difference would suggest.

Both phones maintain Nothing’s distinctive design language with their unique notification systems, though the clear back on the standard model harkens back to the company’s earlier devices while the Pro model moves in a more premium direction with its opaque aluminum back.

For US consumers interested in Nothing’s products, the Phone (4a) Pro represents the company’s most accessible offering yet, though at $499 it sits in a competitive segment of the market with established players like Google’s Pixel series and Samsung’s Galaxy A lineup.