Latest news with #EssentialKey
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Nothing Phone (3) vs Nothing Phone (3a) Pro: flagship vibes vs smart mid-range
Nothing's throwing punches in two price tiers. The Phone (3) lands as the brand's boldest and most expensive at $799, finally giving us a flagship-tier phone after two years of waiting and midranger launches. One such midranger is the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. Aggressively priced at around $459, and with pretty adequate hardware on board. Also, it still has the old Glyph LED strips, which the Phone (3) has decided to kill is chasing flagship status; the other seeks value-domination. So, which one suits you? Let's dive in. Nothing's latest high-class phone is available at Amazon. Right now, the 16/512GB variant is up for pre-order, with shipping set to begin on July 15. The device boasts a unique design, 6.77-inch AMOLED display, and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip. Pre-order yours now and save $100! Pre-order at Amazon The last Glyph-bearer - the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro still has a triple camera, outlandish design, Essential Key, and the latest from Nothing. Buy at Amazon Nothing Phone (3) vs Nothing Phone (3a) Pro differences explained: Table of Contents: Design and Display Performance and Software Camera Battery Audio Specs Conclusion Both the Nothing Phone (3) and Galaxy S25 Plus are big phones, but once you actually get to hold them, you instantly notice the difference. The Galaxy is much thinner and weighs less, so it almost feels like carrying a much smaller phone. The Nothing Phone (3) on the other hand is big, chunky and you can kind of feel that extra heft when you have it in your pocket. Both models share Nothing's signature transparent aesthetic and the Essential Key, giving a unified brand identity. But their personalities diverge (3) leans max‑out: asymmetrical cams, Glyph Matrix dot‑matrix screen on the back, aluminum frame, and the most powerful hardware on a Nothing Phone right now. Phone (3a) Pro tones it down with a more conservative circular camera module (but still a somewhat scatterrede design). The frame is plastic, but the back is glass. You will also notice that both phones rock an extra button. That is, of course, the Essential Key, which is Nothing's take on an AI assistant. It's kind of like a screenshots app with a couple of extras. AI will annotate screen grabs and even generate specific alerts based on the context. Probably still evolving, but I can't say it warrants having it's own button on the phone. The displays are OLED panels, seemingly cut from the same cloth: 1080p OLEDs at 120 Hz, 3,000 nit peaks on the (3a) Pro and 4,500 on the Phone (3). The Phone (3) is slightly smaller at 6.7 inches, vs 6.8 on the Phone (3a) Pro, but that could be just some decimals rounding in the wrong direction. Their measurements deviate by just a little: So, about the same top and minimum brightness. And while they are usable, they are not among the best. 1,500 nits at max may give you trouble when you are out under the summer sun. 2 nits minimum is workable but not ideal when the lights are off (1 nit and below is optimal). While we do forgive those numbers to a midranger like the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, we were hoping to get a slightly improved panel on the Phone (3). Well, we did... but with a huge emphasis of "slightly", less so on "improved". For biometrics, we have optical fingerprint scanners on both here. Again, seemingly the same — they are not lightning fast like a Galaxy S25 ultrasonic, not so slow that you'd get annoyed. Nothing says the Phone (3) is its first true flagship, which is a bit of an odd statement. A flagship product is the best or most mainstream one in a manufacturer's portfolio at any given time. It's not about how expensive or powerful it is — Samsung may have the Galaxy Z Fold series, but the S series is where the flagship phones are. Anyway, I digress. The Phone (3) comes with a powerful chip, but not the top-tier one. The new Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is about as powerful as last year's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is not bad at all — great performance and great results across the board. And it's certainly much faster than the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. While we are generally happy with the software optimizations and overall flow of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, but it's still an optimized midranger. You can catch apps installing slowly, or pictures taking a while to get processed, or other small hiccups. Plus, you won't get to run modern games at high details, if that's what you're into. That's a huge leap, which only points to another burning issue within the smartphone world — how big the gap is between midrange and top-shelf chips. But that's a discussion for another time. And here's all your gaming performance — in the Nothing Phone (3) . It's also worth noting that the Phone (3) comes with 256 GB of fast, UFS 4.0 storage. The Phone (3a) Pro has 256 GB, too, sure. But it's a UFS 2.2 chip — at least two generations old. Again, sure it works, but it's noticeably slower when downloading, installing, or accessing files. Two eccentric phones, two triple camera modules arranged in peculiar ways — these phones are definitely fun to watch and examine at the very least. But how do they perform? The Nothing Phone (3) has 50 MP sensors under all four ot its cameras, the Phone (3a) Pro is almost there — only its ultra-wide lens has an 8 MP sensor. So, before looking at some photos, here's how they scored on our benchmark test: Yeah, the results are very close. The Phone (3) may have slight improvements in detail sharpening, better-lit shadows, or HDR treatment to the photo. Mostly, the improvements are visible indoors. Both phones deal pretty well, even with the sun blasting into their lenses. But the Phone (3) is a bit better at evening out dynamics and pulling colors out of shadows. Indoors, we can see that the Nothing Phone (3) is much better at keeping high dynamics at bay and pull realistic color and skintone (if a bit saturated) from subjects. The Phone (3a) Pro is starting to wash out and lose it. Zoom quality is comparable in terms of detail, but the Phone (3) is much better at taking brighter and more vivid zoomed photos. Again, slightly better dynamics, and details from the Phone (3). The Phone (3) footage is more contrast-y and its microphone quality is definitely better here. Otherwise, we have similar levels of detail and stabilization. OK, the Nothing Phone (3) features a bigger, 5,150mAh battery made with Si-Carbon tech, whereas the Phone (3a) Pro has a 5,000 mAh Li-Poly cell. First of all, what does this mean for endurance: Interrestingly, the Phone (3a) overperforms even on the browsing test, even if it has a slightly smaller battery. And, yes, it does get 2 extra hours on our gaming test, but hey — a much less powerful processor requres much less juice. Both phones are comparable on the video test. But what do these numbers mean in general? Both are good for an active day — you can even forget to charge them and they will last through the night. A quick top-up in the morning and you are set. The Phone (3a) Pro does not support wireless charging, but the Phone (3) does. As for the tech — Si-Carbon batteries are new and capable of packing more energy in smaller cells. Potential issue — they may have shorter overall lifespan, but we'll see. Eh, not amazing sound from neither of those phones. They don't have a lot of bottom end, they are boxy and midrangey, a bit barky even. They work great for the built-in ringtones which have been designed around those speakers, and they are loud enough to wake you up, that's for sure. Not for music, but OK for podcasts or YouTube videos. The haptics are amazing on both phones — quick, clicky, and responsive. The Nothing Phone (3) is certainly the more powerful phone, and will get more software support down the line, so there's arguments to be made for it. It's objectively the better phone, but at $800 — its price is getting up there. That, combined with the recent identity crysis and you may be feeling that you have no idea what you are "buying into". The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, on the other hand, is still a fantastic way into the ideology and experience of Nothing. You will get that mini Glyph to see what the hubbub is about (spoiler: mostly looks, but we like them!). You will get to see and experience the Nothing OS interface and the Essential Space. And you won't be out a lot of money for it.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Nothing Phone 3 launched with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, Glyph Matrix, and more
Nothing Phone 3 launch: After much anticipation, Nothing has finally announced its first true flagship smartphone after 2 years, the Nothing Phone 3, in India. With the launch, the company has announced more significant upgrades and noteworthy enhancements which may grab attention in the market. The very thing buyers may first notice is the redesigned rear panel, which has some new additions with an uncommon camera placement, Glyph matrix, the Essential Key, and more. Nothing debuts with Essential Key, Glyph Matrix, and more at Rs.79999(Aishwarya Panda/HT) Additionally, the smartphone has also been upgraded to a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor that claims to offer improved performance. Therefore, if you have been planning the grab the smartphone, then here's everything you need to know about the Nothing Phone 3. The Nothing Phone 3 finally debuts with its signature transparent design featuring metal and glass. We have a few new additions on the rear panel, including the Glyph Matrix, which is made up of 489 individually firing LEDs, Glyph Button, and a red recording light. The display features ultra-slim bezels that measure 1.87mm on all sides. The smartphone features a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 4500 nits of peak brightness. The Nothing Phone 3 also comes upgraded triple camera setup that includes a 50MP OIS main camera, a 50MP OIS periscope camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, it also comes with a 50MP selfie camera. For performance, the Phone 3 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor fabricated with TSMC's 4nm process. It claims to include an 8-core CPU with speeds up to 3.21GHz and also features a Qualcomm Adreno 825 GPU. Additionally, it also includes Qualcomm Hexagon NPU to manage AI-related tasks. Lastly, the Phone 3 is backed by a 5500mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 65W fast charging. The smartphone will run on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, with Nothing OS 4.0 based on Android 16 announced to be rolled out in Q3 2025. The software includes several new features that including Essential Space, Essential Search, and more. Nothing Phone 3: Price and Availability The Nothing Phone 3 will be available in two colour ways: Black and White. In terms of pricing, the smartphone will Rs.79999 for the 256GB variant. Pre-orders for the device will start on July 4, and the sale officially starts on July 15, 2025. MOBILE FINDER: iPhone 16 LATEST Price
Mint
29-04-2025
- Mint
CMF Phone 2 Pro launched: 7 key details you must know
CMF Phone 2 Pro was launched yesterday, and naturally becomes CMF's second phone after the CMF Phone 1 was launched last year. It offers a slew of upgrades over the last generation, and does represent good value considering its feature set, especially the camera setup. Here, let us tell you all you need to know about the CMF Phone 2 Pro, including its performance, accessories, and more. It gets a triple camera setup, unlike the Nothing CMF Phone 1, the CMF Phone 2 Pro features a triple camera system consisting of a 50-megapixel main shooter and a 15-megapixel telephoto camera. As for the front camera, it's a 16-megapixel shooter. This is a major improvement from the CMF Phone 1, which only had a dual-camera setup. Yes, the CMF Phone now has Essential Space, and this is facilitated by the Essential Key, akin to the Nothing Phone 3a and the 3a Pro. You can quickly take notes, save memories, capture screenshots, and there's a big AI angle at play as well. The CMF Phone 1 had the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset. The CMF Phone 2 Pro takes it up a notch with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro, which makes for much better performance. However, things like the battery remain the same, with the CMF Phone 2 Pro offering a 5000mAh battery, similar to the CMF Phone battery supports 33W fast charging. The phone offers a great choice in terms of aesthetics, with four colours on offer: black, white, light green, and orange. Different variants also offer different finishes, for instance, the orange variant has a dual-tone design. As far as build quality goes, the phone offers IP54 dust and water resistance, which makes it quite durable. Coming to the display, the CMF Phone 2 Pro features a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED panel and supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness is impressive at 3,000 nits, and the high brightness mode can reach 1,300 nits. The phone offers several premium-grade features, including a linear haptic motor for more tactile vibration, according to the company. There's an in-display fingerprint scanner for biometrics. It supports PGMI at 120 FPS, has Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6, and also includes a Gaming Network Boost feature as well as a Signal Boost feature to help in areas with weak cellular reception. The CMF Phone 1 was known for its quirky add-ons, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro is no different. It offers several unique accessories like a universal cover, which lets you attach magnetic accessories including a wallet and a stand that snap onto the phone's back, much like Apple's MagSafe. There's also a lanyard offered by Nothing, which you can use to keep your phone safe and stylish. The most interesting bit might just be the interchangeable lenses, which allow you to take landscape shots and creative images using a fisheye lens. First Published: 29 Apr 2025, 07:04 PM IST
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Forbes
CMF Phone 2 Pro: 5 Things You Should Know About The New Nothing Phone
CMF Phone 2 Pro in Light Green CMF is carrying forward the Phone 1's design language with its new Phone 2 Pro, but it adds a bunch of new features without pushing the price beyond $300. The CMF Phone 2 Pro brings the Essential Key from Nothing Phone 3a series, adds a new telephoto sensor, and trims down its weight and size. Here are five things you should know about the new Nothing phone launched by its sub-brand, CMF. CMF's new phone measures just 7.8mm thick and weighs 185 grams, making it the thinnest and lightest Nothing smartphone to date. The numbers translate to a comfortable in-hand feel and an easy-to-hold device. It offers a unibody design and is rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance. The CMF Phone 2 Pro keeps the modular design, allowing you to personalize your phone with accessories like the Universal Cover. You can also make it more functional with attachable fisheye or macro lenses. However, accessory availability will vary by region. The new CMF phone will be available in four color options, namely, Orange, Light Green, White, and Black. The CMF Phone 2 Pro features a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits (up from 2,000 nits on the Phone 1). Outdoor brightness has also been boosted to 1,300 nits for better legibility under harsh sunlight. Like its predecessor, it supports HDR10+, a 120Hz refresh rate, and FHD resolution. Unlike the CMF Phone 1, the Phone 2 Pro sports a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom. It joins a 50MP main sensor and an 8MP ultrawide lens. Software enhancements like Truelens Engine 3.0 and Ultra XDR are said to improve the photography experience. On the front, you get the same 16MP selfie shooter. The CMF Phone 2 Pro houeses the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset, which is a slight upgrade over the Dimensity 7300 in Phone 1. It comes with 8GB RAM across both storage variants (128GB and 256GB), with support for up to 2TB of expandable storage via microSD. The Phone 2 Pro runs Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15 and is promised three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. It has the same 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging and 5W reverse wired charging. Nothing claims the battery will retain 90% health after 1,200 charging cycles. In India, the CMF Phone 2 Pro price starts at 18,999 Indian Rupees for the 8GB/128GB model. The new CMF phone is priced at $279 in the U.S. and will be made available through Nothing's developer-focused Beta Program. It costs 219 British pounds in the U.K.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- The Hindu
Nothing launches CMF Phone 2 Pro with Essential Space and customisable back: Features, price and sale
Nothing's sub-brand CMF on Monday (April 28, 2025) launched the CMF Phone 2 Pro which succeeds the CMF Phone 1 launched last year. The budget segment CMF Phone 2 Pro also brings the Essential Space on a press of Essential Key and customisable back options. CMF Phone 2 Pro has a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness. The 10-bit panel supports HDR10+. For customisation, users can attach lanyard or a fisheye lens at the phone's back. It is IP54 rated for dust and splash resistance. CMF has used MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro processor with 8 GB RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Memory can be expanded till 2 TB. It operates on Nothing OS 3.2 based on Android 15. (For top technology news of the day, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today's Cache) The Phone 2 Pro ships with a 5,000 mAh battery. It is also the first phone from Nothing to ship with an in-box charger, a 33 W charger. It also supports 5 W wireless charging. CMF Phone 2 Pro sports a 50 MP main camera, a 50 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and an 8 MP ultrawide sensor. It has a 16 MP front camera. CMF Phone 2 Pro starts at ₹18,999 for the 8 GB/128 GB variant. The 8 GB/256 GB model costs ₹20,999. It comes in four shades: two matte finish (Black and Light Green) and two with dual tones (Orange and White). CMF Phone 2 Pro will sell on Flipkart starting May 5.
