Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, a mid-range smartphone, attracted attention at this year’s Mobile World Congress when it was introduced with a zoom capability of up to 140x - a number that sounds highly impressive at first glance.

On the final day of Mobile World Congress, technology company Nothing officially unveiled the new smartphone model, Nothing Phone (4a) Pro. Although positioned in the mid-range segment, the device quickly drew interest thanks to its claimed zoom capacity of up to 140x.

However, users should not set expectations too high. This is not 140x optical zoom but rather digital zoom. In other words, the camera relies largely on software algorithms to enlarge images instead of using specialized zoom lenses, which are typically bulky and expensive.

As a result, image quality at the maximum zoom level will inevitably decrease significantly. Even so, the fact that a mid-range smartphone dares to push digital zoom to 140x remains an interesting move.

Alongside the Pro version, Nothing also introduced a standard model called the Nothing Phone (4a), with several features reduced in order to maintain a more accessible price.

Performance and display: subtle differences

The standard Nothing Phone (4a) is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, while the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro upgrades to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.

Both are mid-range chips, meaning users should not expect performance comparable to flagship processors such as the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Nevertheless, Nothing says the CPU in the Pro version can be up to 27 percent faster than the previous generation, while GPU performance improves by around 30 percent.

The phone uses LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. Although this storage standard does not reach the speeds of UFS 4.0 or UFS 4.1, it remains more than capable of handling everyday tasks such as web browsing, gaming and photo editing smoothly.

For battery capacity, both devices feature a 5,080 mAh battery, which is impressive for this segment. They support 50W fast charging, allowing the battery to reach about 60 percent in just 30 minutes.

The display is one of the clearest differences between the two models. The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro features a 6.83-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate and peak brightness up to 5,000 nits.

Meanwhile, the standard version offers a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits brightness. Both displays are protected by Gorilla Glass 7i.

Camera: big ambitions with 140x zoom

The camera system is the most notable highlight of the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.

The device uses a 50MP Sony LYT700C main sensor with a size of 1/1.56 inch. This sensor carries Pantone Validation certification, focusing on accurate color reproduction, particularly skin tones. According to the company, the camera system can reproduce up to 110 different skin tones.

In addition, the phone features a 50MP periscope telephoto camera offering 3.5x optical zoom. Combined with image processing algorithms, the system can reach a maximum zoom level of 140x.

In practice, however, many smartphones today struggle when digital zoom exceeds 10x or 20x, so the actual image quality at such extreme magnification remains uncertain.

The device also includes an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 32MP front-facing camera.

Meanwhile, the standard Nothing Phone (4a) retains a similar camera configuration: a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 32MP selfie camera.

Both devices integrate multiple image processing tools and AI features designed to improve photo quality in various shooting conditions.

Design: signature transparent style

One of the elements that makes Nothing smartphones stand out in the market is their distinctive design, and the company continues to follow this philosophy.

The standard Nothing Phone (4a) features a Glyph Bar system on the back with 63 mini LED lights arranged across different zones. These lights can display notifications, alerts or even act as a lighting source for portrait photography in low-light conditions.

Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro introduces a Glyph Matrix system with 137 mini LED lights, offering more complex lighting effects.

Both devices retain the brand’s signature semi-transparent back panel.

The Pro version measures 7.95 mm in thickness and carries an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, while the standard model has an IP64 rating.

Software, pricing and availability

Both new smartphones from Nothing run Android 16 out of the box, paired with the Nothing OS 4.1 interface. The system includes redesigned icons, floating app windows and an AI Dashboard control panel.

Nothing promises three years of Android operating system updates and six years of security updates for these devices, which is relatively competitive within the mid-range segment.

In terms of pricing, the Nothing Phone (4a) starts at 349 euros (approximately US$380). The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is listed on the company’s online store in the US starting at US$499 (around VND13 million).

According to the plan, the Pro version will officially go on sale from March 27.

With its distinctive design, ambitious camera specifications and a range of AI-powered features, Nothing appears eager to demonstrate that mid-range smartphones can still deliver unique experiences - even if the headline figure of “140x zoom” is more symbolic than truly practical.

Hai Phong