The transparent phone company just showed us what mid-range smartphones should look like in 2026—and yes, it comes in pink.
Nothing just pulled the curtain back on their Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, and honestly? They're not playing around anymore. These aren't just iterative updates—they're genuinely interesting phones that might actually make you consider ditching your flagship.
Design: Transparent, Metal, and Unapologetically Extra
Let's start with what Nothing does best: looking different. The Phone (4a) Pro rocks a full metal unibody that's somehow only 7.95mm thick—the slimmest Nothing's ever made. They've thrown in IP65 water resistance (it can handle 25cm submersion for 20 minutes), and that signature transparent back now integrates seamlessly with the metal frame. No gaps, just smooth surfaces that catch light like a prism.
The regular Phone (4a) keeps the transparent aesthetic but mixes materials—transparent glass on the lower section showing off the internals, metal buttons, and a reinforced camera bump. It gets IP64 protection with the same submersion rating.
And those colors? Silver and black are there for the purists, but Nothing's leaning into a metallic pink that's genuinely fashion-forward. The standard (4a) also comes in transparent blue and soft pink. Finally, phones that don't look like everyone else's.
Cameras: Periscope Zoom That Actually Matters
Here's where things get spicy. The Phone (4a) Pro packs a Sony LYT700c main sensor with OIS, plus a 50MP periscope telephoto lens that goes up to 140x zoom. That's the longest zoom Nothing has ever shipped, and it's genuinely impressive for this price bracket. Add a Sony ultra-wide and a 32MP selfie cam, and you've got a seriously capable camera system.
The regular (4a) isn't slouching either—50MP periscope with 3.5x optical zoom, 50MP OIS main camera, Sony ultra-wide, and that same 32MP front shooter. Both phones run TrueLens Engine 4 for computational photography wizardry, including Ultra XDR photos co-developed with Google. They even threw in an AI Photo Eraser and seven custom Nothing watermarks because why not?
The Glyph Gets Smarter (and Brighter)
Nothing's light-up notification system is back and better. The Phone (4a) introduces a new "Glyph Bar" with 63 mini-LEDs arranged in 7 zones, pumping out 3500 nits of brightness—40% brighter than the Phone (3a). It uses three patented technologies to prevent light leakage and yellow edges.
The (4a) Pro goes full flagship with a "Glyph Matrix" of 137 mini-LEDs covering 57% more area and hitting 3000 nits. Both versions support custom light patterns for contacts, notifications, and even double as fill lights for photos. The whole point? Keep your phone face-down and still know what's happening.
Power and Display: Snapdragon 7 Series Flex
The Pro runs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 (27% faster CPU, 30% better graphics), while the standard model gets the 7s Gen 4. Both handle gaming beautifully—BGMI at 120Hz, PUBG at 90Hz.
Display-wise, the Pro sports a 6.83" AMOLED screen hitting 5000 nits peak brightness (HDR) at 144Hz refresh rate. The standard (4a) rocks a 6.78" panel with 4500 nits peak brightness at 120Hz. Both use Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which is twice as scratch-resistant as older generations.
Software: Nothing OS 4.1 on Android 16
Nothing OS 4.1 brings Android 16 with redesigned icons, floating apps, customizable Quick Settings, and an AI Dashboard for controlling all the AI features. You get 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches—respectable for a mid-ranger.
The "Essential AI" tools include Essential Search (multi-app keyword search), Essential Memory (personalized results), and a "Playground" where you can build no-code apps using AI. Essential Space now supports cloud access across devices.
Battery and Sustainability
Both phones pack 5080mAh batteries with 50W fast charging (60% in 30 minutes). Nothing claims 17 hours of mixed use and 90% capacity retention after 1,200 charge cycles.
On the green front, the (4a) hits a 51.13kg CO₂e carbon footprint (Nothing's lowest ever), while the Pro clocks 50.5kg. Both use recycled materials extensively and ship in 99% plastic-free packaging.
Pricing and Availability
Here's the catch: Malaysian pricing drops April 1st, 2026. The (4a) comes in black, white, blue, and pink. The Pro gets black, silver, and pink options.
Nothing's clearly gunning for the mid-range crown with flagship-adjacent features. Whether they can pull it off depends on that price tag—but on paper? These phones are interesting, which is more than you can say for most smartphones in 2026.
- PakChaq Riq
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