Nothing revamps its Samsung rival Android cellphone with distinctive look and engaging value

Android telephones can be found in all sizes and styles for these on all kinds of budgets, however few stand out on retailer cabinets in 2026. Though telephones from Samsung, Google and Motorola are very superior and succesful, it could possibly be argued they lack the character that outlined the perfect Android telephones of the 2010s.

In case you agree, you may like the most recent new cellphone from tech startup Nothing. The UK-based agency has been round for a number of years, releasing Android telephones and audio merchandise, and at an occasion in central London this week it launched three new merchandise together with the Nothing Cellphone 4a Professional – and it’s a headturner.

At £499 it’s the identical value because the Google Pixel 10a and Samsung Galaxy A56, however has baggage extra character. It’s additionally £300 lower than Nothing’s 2025 flagship Nothing Cellphone 3. This new machine doesn’t substitute that cellphone. As an alternative, Nothing says it gained’t launch a brand new flagship in 2026, opting to replace its mid-range with the 4a collection, earlier than a Cellphone 4 even exists.

£499 will get you 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, although pay £549 and also you’ll improve to 12GB RAM and 256GB. These are aggressive costs contemplating the specs on supply, with the cellphone powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.

The Cellphone 4a Professional goes on sale later this month from Nothing’s on-line retailer.

The place the Samsung Galaxy line is tough to inform from Samsung telephones from the final 5 years with plain glass backs and vertically aligned triple digicam lenses, the Cellphone 4a Professional is forged all in metallic with a clear digicam module that additionally incorporates what Nothing calls a Glyph Matrix. This can be a round panel with 137 mini-LEDs that may mild as much as present numerous user-customisable issues.

When positioned face down, the little display screen will be programmed to indicate the time, Caller ID or to flash along with your chosen emoji when sure contacts get in contact. It’s like the fashionable equal of the BlackBerry’s crimson notification mild.

Earlier Nothing telephones – and even the Nothing Cellphone 4a additionally unveiled this week – all opted for an eye catching totally clear design on the again, displaying designs meant to appear to be, however not really, inside elements. The 4a Professional is as a substitute a silver, black or pink metallic throughout, for a barely subtler look. However put this cellphone subsequent to the Galaxy S26 or the Google Pixel 10a with their sparse glass backs, and Nothing’s design stands out each time.

Triple cameras with 50MP major and 50MP 3.5x optical periscope supply 140x digital zoom, whereas the big 6.78-inch AMOLED display screen impresses on this value vary by providing a 144Hz refresh price. With a excessive peak brightness of 5,000 nits, the display screen must be seen even within the brightest out of doors situations.

Nothing’s software program additionally stands out in comparison with Android rivals. Nothing OS 4.1 primarily based on Android 16 is refreshingly light-weight, with customisable icons that show in black and white to make your apps much less distracting, whereas the Glyph display screen on the again can show the time and different info in order for you it to.

The cellphone even has a devoted AI button on the sting to ship screenshots or voice recordings to Nothing’s Important House app, the place AI can shortly categorise your scattershot snaps and ideas and helps you type by means of them.

If £499 is a bit above your funds, you may spend £349 and get a debatably much more distinctive wanting cellphone with the brand new Nothing Cellphone 4a. I’ve already used and reviewed that handset, which retains Nothing’s clear again design. It has very related specs that must be greater than sufficient for all however probably the most demanding of Android followers.