Looking for a new Android phone but don’t want to splurge on one of the pricier options?
Samsung and Nothing have both recently launched mid-range Androids that promise a reliable smartphone experience, without too many bells and whistles to bump up the cost. But how does the Samsung Galaxy A57 compare to the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, especially considering the latter achieved a four-star rating.
We’ve compared the specs of the two handsets and highlighted the key differences below. Keep reading to see which Android mid-ranger will likely suit you best. Or check out our Samsung Galaxy A57 vs Pixel 10a comparison to see how Google’s budget-friendly Pixel fares.
Otherwise, make sure you visit our best Android phones and best mid-range phones guides to find your next handset.
Price and Availability
Available from April 10th, the Samsung Galaxy A57 has a starting price of £529 for the 8+256GB iteration.
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At the time of writing, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro is only available for pre-order and will launch officially from March 27th. Although it’s slightly cheaper than the Galaxy A57, with a starting price of £499 / $499, do keep in mind that this is for the smaller 8+128GB iteration instead.
Exynos 1680 vs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Behind the Galaxy A57 is Samsung’s own Exynos 1680 chip which is promised to offer a “more immersive and fluid on-device AI experience” alongside enhanced processing speeds, longer battery life and a boost in gaming too. Although we’re yet to review the chip ourselves, Samsung’s claims certainly sound promising for the mid-ranger.
Samsung Galaxy A57. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
In comparison, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. Sure, it may not be as powerful as the likes of the premium Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, but we still found it’s able to run consistently for long periods of time. Plus, for most users who will mostly use their phone for communication, social media scrolling, streaming and less-demanding games, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro is perfectly sufficient.
We’ll have to wait until we review the Galaxy A57 and Exynos 1680 chip before we can fairly compare it to the Nothing Phone 4a Pro.
Nothing Phone 4a Pro. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
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Nothing Phone 4a Pro includes a telephoto lens
While the Samsung Galaxy S-series usually finds their way into our best camera phones guide, it’s not always a slam-dunk for the A-series. This year, it seems as if Samsung has more or less kept things the same with the Galaxy A57 as its predecessor, the Galaxy A56, with a 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lens.
Sure, we undoubtedly would have preferred at least some tweaks, especially with the macro lens which is particularly disappointing, it’s worth remembering that we concluded that the A56’s camera offered a “solid daytime performance”. With that in mind, Samsung’s decision to retain the lenses is somewhat understandable.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is also fitted with three rear lenses and, unlike the Galaxy A57, all three are usable. The 50MP main is unsurprisingly the best performer of the lot, however the telephoto zoom is a welcome addition that does a solid job up until around the 30x mark – any further and the quality starts to drop.
Otherwise, the ultrawide is probably the least exciting of the mix. Although it does perform well enough in optimum lighting conditions, you will see some distortion at the edges.
Nothing Phone 4a Pro rear. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
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With this above in mind, at this early stage we’d say the Nothing Phone 4a Pro boasts a more well-rounded camera set-up.
Samsung Galaxy A57 is IP68 rated
You may think that cheaper handsets don’t boast the same level of protection as more expensive alternatives, however that isn’t the case. In fact, many of the best mid-range and even the best cheap phones sport solid IP ratings.
The Galaxy A57 boasts a solid IP68 rating, which means the handset is dust-tight and can withstand continuous submersion in water. Not only that, but the phone is fitted with Gorilla Glass Victus+ on its front and back too for extra scratch and drop resistance too.
In comparison, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro sports a lower IP65 rating instead. This means that although the phone is dust-tight, it can only really handle water splashes and certainly won’t survive an accidental drop in the bath or pool.
Nothing Phone 4a Pro supports faster charging
Samsung has never been one to offer especially speed charging, and the Galaxy A57 is no different. Although it’s fitted with Samsung’s so-called Super Fast Charging 2.0, it still caps out at 45W support. This, according to Samsung, means the Galaxy A57 will reach a 60% charge in just 30 minutes.
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On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro supports 50W wired charging which we found takes just over an hour to reach 100%.
Nothing Phone 4a Pro has Nothing’s Glyph Matrix
In terms of design, the Nothing Phone 4a Pro is easily one of the most interesting handsets to look at. It no longer sports the transparent back of previous Nothing phones and instead has a solid aluminum design that feels premium in-hand. Its camera bump not only houses the three lenses, but it also has an industrial finish with exposed screws and the Glyph Matrix display.
We should note that the Glyph Matrix here isn’t quite as feature-packed as the one on the Nothing Phone 3, and no longer sports interactive Glyph Toys.
WhatsApp notification on Glyph Matrix. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
In comparison, it’s pretty fair to say that the Galaxy A57 looks pretty dull. It’s not that it’s an ugly phone by any means, it’s just normal. However, at 6.9mm thick and available in a choice between four colours (Lilac, Navy, Icy Blue and Grey), it’s an inoffensively designed phone.
Early Verdict
We’ll refrain from providing a conclusive verdict until we review the Samsung Galaxy A57. However, if you’re simply looking for a mid-range Android that visually stands out from the crowd, then the Nothing Phone 4a Pro is undoubtedly the better choice of the two.
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Otherwise, the Samsung Galaxy A57 seems like more of a tweak from the A56 with Exynos 1680, faster charging and a stronger IP rating. If you’re cemented in Samsung’s ecosystem, then the Galaxy A57 seems like a decent choice.