Meet the Nothing  Phone (3a) Lite: Budget design with flagship DNA

The UK-based company Nothing has made its mark in the smartphone world with a transparent-style back panel and signature notification lights.

The latest entry, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, brings key elements of that design to a lower price bracket. According to multiple outlets, the Lite model launches in Europe at around €249 and features a 6.77-inch 120 Hz AMOLED display, a 50 MP main camera, and a 5,000 mAh battery.

It retains the transparent aesthetic, albeit with a simplified LED 'Glyph' notification circle rather than the full light strip seen in higher-end models.

What the Lite brings vs its siblings

• The Phone (3a) Lite uses the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset (4nm) and supports up to 256 GB storage according to early specs.

• By contrast, the full Phone (3a) uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 at 4nm, a triple-camera system (50 MP main + 8 MP ultra-wide + 50 MP telephoto) and was launched earlier in 2025.

• The flagship Phone (3) steps into a more premium bracket: 12 / 16 GB RAM, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, 5,150 mAh battery with 65W wired + 15W wireless charging, and a triple 50 MP camera setup with telephoto.

Availability & pricing

The Phone (3a) Lite is initially launching in Europe and the UK, starting at £249/€249 for 8 GB+128 GB variant. US availability is reportedly not in the first wave.

For users seeking a visually distinctive phone at an affordable price, the Phone (3a) Lite offers many of the design cues and display refresh strengths of higher models — at a lower cost. If you prioritise performance (chipset, telephoto camera, wireless charging) then stepping to the Phone (3a) or Phone 3 may be worth the extra cost. The flagship Phone 3 clearly targets the 'full experience' user, while the Lite variant is a smart 'budget buy' for design-aware consumers.

With the Phone (3a) Lite, Nothing is extending its signature design into more accessible territory — delivering high refresh display, solid main camera, and 5G capabilities at a price rarely seen from this kind of aesthetic. Meanwhile, the Phone (3a) and Phone 3 offer incrementally more premium features. Whether you choose the Lite, 3a or 3 depends on how much premium you’re willing to pay for performance and extras — but the underlying visual identity remains consistent across the range.