Nothing Phone 3a to feature Snapdragon SoC for faster AI, to be manufactured in India

The Nothing Phone 3a series is set to make its official debut on March 4, and the company has already started revealing key details about its upcoming smartphones. In a major shift, Nothing CEO Carl Pei has confirmed that the Phone 3a will be powered by a Snapdragon chipset, moving away from MediaTek’s Dimensity processors used in its predecessor, the Nothing Phone 2a. 

This change is expected to bring significant performance upgrades, particularly in AI-driven tasks. Additionally, Nothing has announced that the Phone 3a will be manufactured in India, adding to the country’s growing role in smartphone production.

Snapdragon SoC for faster performance

In a recent community post, Carl Pei revealed that Nothing is returning to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon lineup for its upcoming Phone 3a series. While he didn’t specify which exact chip would be used, he claimed that the CPU will be 25 per cent faster and the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) will be 72 per cent faster than the Phone 2a Plus. These upgrades suggest that on-device AI processing will see a major boost, making AI-powered features more responsive and efficient.

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Rumours suggest that the Nothing Phone 3a could come with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, a solid mid-range option that balances power and efficiency. If true, this would place the device in direct competition with other premium mid-range phones that focus on AI capabilities and overall performance.

Display, software, and new features

Leaks indicate that the Nothing Phone 3a will feature a 6.8-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, promising smooth scrolling and vibrant colours. The phone is also expected to ship with Nothing OS 3.1, based on Android 15, offering a clean and near-stock Android experience.

As for Nothing’s signature Glyph interface, it is likely to make a return, continuing the brand’s unique approach to notifications and interactions. However, one of the more interesting rumours is the presence of an additional button on the right side of the device. While some speculate that it could be a dedicated camera button, others believe it might serve as an Action Button, similar to what Apple introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro. This could allow users to trigger AI functions, shortcuts, or other customisable features.

To be manufactured in India

Nothing has also confirmed that the Phone 3a series will be manufactured in Chennai, India. The company’s local production facility employs over 500 workers, with women making up 95 per cent of the workforce. This move aligns with India’s growing importance as a smartphone manufacturing hub.

What remains unclear, however, is whether the Phone 3a units produced in India will be sold exclusively in the country or if they will also be exported to global markets. With India being a key market for mid-range smartphones, Nothing may focus on local distribution first before expanding its reach.

With the official launch just around the corner, the Nothing Phone 3a series looks set to bring exciting upgrades, from a Snapdragon chipset to on-device AI improvements and potential new hardware features. Whether it will shake up the mid-range market remains to be seen, but Nothing certainly seems to be making all the right moves.