<\/p>\n
I have tried a number of the British company\u2019s phones over the years and have been consistently impressed by the standout designs, user-friendliness and the bang for buck you get with each model.<\/p>\n
Their aim is pretty clear: they want you to bin your big-name phone for something more exciting and affordable.<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s first true flagship, the Phone (3), was released last year. While I wrote that it was a fantastic device, it broke rank with Nothing\u2019s track record of being significantly cheaper than the competition, as it took on the big players head-on for the first time.<\/p>\n
It has now released a tranche of cheaper new phones on the Aussie market, as well as eye-catching new headphones.<\/p>\n
The line-up looks like this:<\/p>\n
Phone (4a) \u2014 from about $649<\/p>\n
Phone (4a) Pro \u2014 roughly $949<\/p>\n
Headphone (a) \u2014 around $329<\/p>\n
Looking good<\/p>\n
True to form, Nothing has implemented its typical flair in the design of all three new products.<\/p>\n
Nothing phones still look like nothing else on the market \u2014 transparent backs, exposed elements and the signature lighting system that flashes when you get notifications.<\/p>\n
The Headphone (a) follows the same philosophy \u2014 clean, minimal, slightly industrial \u2014 and feels more premium than the price suggests.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re the type of products that get people talking, but it\u2019s not all about aesthetics.<\/p>\n
How they perform \u2014 and one major omission<\/p>\n
The Nothing Phone (4a) offers a 6.78-inch 120Hz OLED display, solid performance and a unique design with Glyph lighting. It features a 50MP main camera with decent 3.5x optical zoom capabilities.<\/p>\n
Apps open quickly, scrolling is smooth and the battery life comfortably lasts a full day.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be clear \u2014 for $649, this is a steal. It\u2019s not the most powerful device on the market, but for most people it\u2019s more than enough.<\/p>\n
One big drawback for some users will be the lack of wireless charging. CEO Karl Pei has said younger users don\u2019t care as much about it \u2014 and that removing it allowed the company to bring costs down for non-flagship models.<\/p>\n
So with this new budget series, he\u2019s done exactly that \u2014 and it will irk some people. Maybe I\u2019m showing my age, but I quite like throwing my phone down on a wireless charger instead of fiddling around with a cable every time. Truth be told, it\u2019s not a deal-breaker at this price point.<\/p>\n
The 4a Pro is the next level up. It feels faster, more refined and closer to a proper flagship experience, with stronger performance and better overall polish. It\u2019s probably the smarter buy if you can stretch the budget.<\/p>\n
Both run Nothing OS, which is one of the better Android experiences out there \u2014 minimal bloat, fast and actually enjoyable to use.<\/p>\n
The Pro also boasts a large \u201cGlyph Matrix\u201d on the back \u2014 essentially a mini digital display that can be used for an ever-increasing number of purposes.<\/p>\n
How\u2019s the camera?<\/p>\n
Nothing is keen to show off the photographic power of its budget smartphones \u2014 and these new models deliver.<\/p>\n
I took the Pro model on a day out with my six-year-old son at Circular Quay and got some absolutely cracking shots. It\u2019s particularly good at picking out detail in bright sunlight. People and faces really pop, and the zoom is pretty impressive.<\/p>\n
Check out the mega zoom I managed on the unsettling entrance face at Luna Park, taken all the way from the Opera House forecourt.<\/p>\n
Do the latest iPhones and Samsungs have technically better cameras? Probably. But for the price, these take very strong photos.<\/p>\n
Funkiest headphones on the market<\/p>\n
Nothing isn\u2019t just about phones \u2014 its first earbuds a few years back got plenty of attention in the tech world.<\/p>\n
It released its first over-ear headphones, Headphone (1), last year. These were premium headphones with KEF-tuned sound, an aluminium build and strong battery life, retailing for about $549.<\/p>\n
Now it has released the Headphone (a) \u2014 around $329 \u2014 which fits neatly into the same \u201cpremium-lite\u201d category as the phones.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re comfortable, the noise cancelling is solid, and battery life is strong enough to get you through long commutes or flights.<\/p>\n
They are mostly plastic, so don\u2019t feel as solid or luxurious as the Headphone (1), but they maintain an excellent battery life of up to 80 hours \u2014 in some cases even longer than the premium model.<\/p>\n
This, combined with the bold colour options and futuristic design, is the real selling point.<\/p>\n
Its transparency mode \u2014 which uses external microphones to pass ambient sound through while you\u2019re listening \u2014 is decent, but still a fair way off the standard set by the likes of Sony, Apple and Bose.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m no audiophile, but these handled everything I threw at them and sounded great across hip hop, metal and jazz. They do lean slightly bass-heavy, which will likely appeal to younger users, but you can tweak this using the Nothing X app, which offers both a simple 3-band and a more advanced 8-band equaliser.<\/p>\n
Verdict<\/p>\n
Nothing hasn\u2019t reinvented the wheel here \u2014 and it feels like they\u2019re sticking to a tried-and-tested formula \u2014 but it\u2019s one that continues to win fans around the world.<\/p>\n
As people look for ways to cut costs in a tougher economic climate, that audience is only growing.<\/p>\n
For the money, you\u2019re on to a winner with these new mid-range models.<\/p>\n
Apple, Samsung and Google, and everyone that blindly uses them \u2014 you\u2019ve been put on notice.<\/p>\n