This “Lite” Nothing might be the budget sweet spot

Nothing has announced the Phone (3a) Lite, a cheaper way to get the brand’s transparent styling and clean software without paying flagship money. You still get a bright 120 Hz screen, a 50 MP main camera, the playful Glyph Light, and a big battery. Prices start at AED 839 in the UAE, which puts it squarely in the budget-friendly bracket while keeping most of the bits people actually care about.

Price and availability in the UAE and KSA

Nothing is keeping it simple with two storage options and the usual Black and White finishes.

• UAE: 8/128 GB at AED 839; 8/256 GB at AED 949
• KSA: 8/128 GB at SAR 749; 8/256 GB at SAR 899
• UAE sales: Tuesday, 4 November 2025 on Amazon and Noon
• KSA sales: 15 November 2025

If your budget caps at a thousand dirhams, this sits right in the mix with other wallet-friendly picks. See our guide to the best phones under AED 1,000 for context.

The launch window is staggered, with UAE availability opening first in early November, and Saudi buyers getting it mid-month. The two storage tiers give buyers a clear choice, and both stay under AED 1,000 in the UAE.

Design and durability

The “Lite” tag doesn’t mean bland. You still get the signature transparent look, just dialled back a notch.

• Glass back with a toned-down transparent aesthetic
• Internal aluminium frame for rigidity
• IP54 rating against dust and splashes
• Colours: White and Black

It looks like a Nothing phone at a glance, which is the point. The aluminium frame should help with knocks, and IP54 covers daily hazards like dust and light rain. If you like the brand’s design language but don’t want to spend more on higher-end models, this scratches that itch without feeling cheap.

Display: big, bright, and smooth

This is not a tiny screen pretending to be premium. It’s a sizable panel with proper brightness and smoothness.

• 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED, FHD+ (1080 × 2392), 387 ppi
• Adaptive 120 Hz refresh rate
• Peak HDR brightness up to 3000 nits; 1300 nits outdoors
• 10-bit colour and 2160 Hz PWM dimming

Reading, scrolling, and gaming should feel fluid thanks to 120 Hz. Peak HDR numbers suggest punchy highlights, while 2160 Hz PWM dimming aims to reduce flicker fatigue. The resolution is sensible for the size, keeping text crisp without wasting power.

Cameras: 50 MP main with familiar image pipeline

Nothing is reusing its TrueLens Engine 4.0 processing from pricier models, which is good news for consistency.

• Triple-camera system with 50 MP main (1/1.57-inch Samsung sensor)
• Modes: Ultra XDR photos, Portrait, Auto Tone, Night, Macro, Motion Capture
• Video: 4K at 30 fps; 1080p slow-motion at 120 fps
• Front: 16 MP selfie camera

A large sensor lets in more light than typical budget phones, which should help with night scenes and indoor shots. The mode list covers the basics plus a few fun extras. The 4K/30 cap is expected in this class. If you’re comparing across the brand, have a look at our piece on the Nothing Phone 2a price drop in the UAE to see how Nothing’s mid-range cameras stack up on value right now.

Glyph Light: old-school notification charm

The Glyph Light is a minimal spin on notification LEDs, but with modern tricks.

• Flip to Glyph for silent alerts
• Essential Notifications for Priority Contacts
• Camera Countdown ring
• Custom light patterns for calls and contacts

If you keep your phone face down, you can still spot important alerts without sound. The camera timer ring is handy for group shots. It’s a small touch that makes Nothing phones feel, well, like Nothing phones.

Software and updates

The software aims to stay clean and useful rather than loud.

• Nothing OS 3.5 on Android 15
• Smart Drawer for auto app organisation
• Private Space and App Locker for security
• Essential Key, Essential Space and offline Essential Search
• Update promise: 3 years of Android versions, 6 years of security patches
• Nothing OS 4.0 is scheduled for early 2026

The tools here solve practical problems: quicker access to apps, a separate area for private stuff, and a simple way to find notes and media locally. The update commitment is solid for the price, which should keep the phone secure and usable for longer.

Performance, connectivity and battery

Specs are tuned for day-to-day speed, not benchmark heroics.

• MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4 nm, 8-core up to 2.5 GHz)
• Advanced liquid cooling
• 8 GB RAM plus up to 8 GB virtual RAM
• microSD expansion up to 2 TB
• Dual 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
• 5000 mAh battery, 33 W wired charging, 5 W reverse wired
• Claim: ~50% in ~20 minutes

The chipset is built on a modern process and should run cool with the liquid system. Having microSD back on the menu is a win at this price, and dual 5G plus Wi-Fi 6 covers most networks you’ll hit in the UAE and KSA. A 5000 mAh cell paired with a frugal chip should comfortably last through heavy days, and 33 W charging gets you out the door fast.

Early take: who is this for?

If you want the Nothing look and a clean Android build without spending over AED 1,000, this is the one to shortlist.

• Transparent style without the premium
• Bright 120 Hz screen that’s easy outdoors
• Large main sensor and straightforward camera modes
• Big battery and quick top-ups
• Storage flexibility with microSD

here’s no fluff here, just a tight parts list aimed at everyday users who like the brand’s identity. If you’re shopping around broadly, our roundup of the best phones of 2025 in the UAE is a useful reference for what else is out there right now.

FAQ