Nothing Phone 4a Review: Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 performance & 50W fast charging

Nothing has expanded its lineup with the Nothing Phone 4a, a phone built around a 120 refresh rate on a AMOLED panel that makes scrolling feel buttery smooth. Designed for gaming, media & streaming, everyday use, it brings 5G connectivity, a large 5400mAh battery, a smooth 120Hz display, and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset into one well-rounded package.

The phone sits at a competitive price in the Indian market. It doesn't try to compete with premium flagships — instead it focuses on delivering a balanced everyday experience, and in that mission it largely succeeds.

The phone sits at a competitive price in the Indian market in the Indian market. It doesn't try to compete with premium flagships — instead it focuses on delivering a balanced everyday experience, and in that mission it largely succeeds.

Design & Build Quality

At 204g, the Nothing Phone 4a feels solid and sturdy to hold. With an IP64 rating, it offers real protection against dust and splashes for everyday use. A fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone quickly and reliably.

Design Rating: 6.9/10

Display

The phone features a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1224 x 2720 resolution. Scrolling through apps, social media and websites feels noticeably smoother than standard 60Hz displays. With 4500 nits of peak brightness, it stays perfectly readable even outdoors. The ~440 PPI density keeps text sharp and crisp. Deep blacks and punchy colours make it excellent for OTT streaming and YouTube.

Display Rating: 9.6/10

Performance

Powering the Nothing Phone 4a is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. Daily tasks such as browsing, video streaming, online classes, messaging and social media all run smoothly. It scores around 11,42,101 on AnTuTu, which is solid for this segment — casual games and multitasking are handled without major issues.

It runs Android 16 with Nothing OS 4.1 on top out of the box. The interface is clean, well-optimised and easy to live with day to day.

Performance Rating: 8.4/10

Camera Performance

The Nothing Phone 4a comes with a 50MP main camera along with additional sensors for depth and wide-angle shots. In daylight, the primary camera captures detailed photos with natural colours and good dynamic range. Video recording goes up to 4K, which is genuinely rare at this price point. Selfies come from a 32MP front camera — good enough for video calls and social posts.

Camera Rating: 7.7/10

Battery Life

Battery life is one of the biggest strengths of the Nothing Phone 4a. The 5400mAh battery comfortably gets you through a full day of use. The 50W fast charging tops it up quickly whenever you do need to charge. It can even reverse-charge your earbuds or smartwatch in a pinch.

Battery Rating: 7.3/10

Software Experience

The phone ships with Android 16 and Nothing OS 4.1 on top. It comes with the usual preloaded apps, most of which can be disabled. For everyday use the software feels smooth and stable, and it stays that way over the long term.

Software Rating: 8.9/10

Should You Buy the Nothing Phone 4a?

If you're looking for a phone for gaming and media & streaming, the Nothing Phone 4a is a strong option. Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 performance and 50W fast charging are its standout strengths. It's not perfect though — no wireless charging and no 3.5mm headphone jack may bother some buyers. For students, office users and families looking for a dependable device in this budget, it is an easy recommendation.