I'm worried for Samsung and Google when cheap Android phones like this exist

Nothing's Phone 4a Pro aims to upend the sub-$500 market with a metal build, bold colors and what the company calls a Glyph Matrix inside a translucent camera module. At $499 it lines up against the Google Pixel 10a and Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, and it manages to feel more premium than many rivals.

The Matrix preserves the Glyph lights' playful vibe but is not touch-sensitive and lacks a dedicated button, making it more subdued and less functional than the Phone 3's implementation. The 4a Pro brings a larger, brighter 6.83-inch AMOLED display that supports up to a 144Hz refresh rate and a 5,000-nit HDR peak.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 powers the phone, offered with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and in testing the device felt fast and responsive. Nothing OS 4.1, based on Android 16, delivers a mostly monochrome look with useful widgets, a Private Space for sensitive apps and Essential Space — an AI productivity app accessed via a physical button for quick screenshots and voice notes.

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