TL; DR
- After Nothing revealed the Phone (3a)’s design, netizens commented with mixed reactions.
- Similar to the leaks, the Phone (3a) has a giant circular camera cutout surrounded by three Glyph modules.
It seems to be the asymmetry that is gathering some eyeballs.
The London-based consumer electronics company Nothing revealed the design of its upcoming lineup, the Phone (3a) series, on February 24, 2025. In the past, Carl Pei-led smartphone manufacturer has released handsets with unique and aesthetic designs. Take the Nothing Phone (1) or Phone (2) as an example, or the popular Phone (2a) series that came out in 2024.
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Nothing Phone (3a): A Radical Design Choice For A Mid-Range Smartphone

However, not everyone seems happy with how the company designs its smartphone. After Nothing revealed the Phone (3a)’s design, netizens commented with mixed reactions. Before we move on to the comments, here’s how the Phone (3a) looks.
Similar to the leaks, the Phone (3a) has a giant circular camera cutout surrounded by three Glyph modules. While the Phone (2a) also had a similar camera island, the lenses inside were arranged symmetrically in a pill-shaped cutout (placed horizontally).

On the Phone (3a), the dual-camera setup isn’t symmetrical; while one sensor is situated off the center, the other is located toward the far left. To add to the asymmetry, there are two additional elements in the camera cutout (one of which is the LED flash module).
The bottom half of the handset’s back panel has a subtle design that looks different yet familiar to the company’s design language. It seems to be the asymmetry that is gathering some eyeballs.
Also Read: First Look at Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s Essential Key and its Features Explained
Here’s What X Users Have To Say About The Phone (3a)’s Design
One X user (@_JasonRyan) says that the design choice is “bold,” and the phone looks better in a darker finish.
X user @psmyrdek highlights how the lens isn’t positioned in the middle by adding a line in the center.
https://twitter.com/psmyrdek/status/1893965919564509579
One user (@Saptarshhi) mocks the Phone (3a)’s design by saying, “Where ugly meets aesthetically ugly, let’s go!”
Another user (@psndsh) comments how the design looks like it is drawn by a five-year-old. In a sarcastic response, Nothing says, “he must be super talented.”
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X user @Some2Name says that the circle (referring to the camera module) looks hideous. “Maybe it was cheaper to design that way or something, but… at least the translucent look with LEDs is cool enough to hide the atrocity.”
While there are quite a few critics of the Phone (3a)’s design, some users have appreciated how the phone looks.
X user @TheOneDanTek says the phone “looks pretty nice, you know, y’all are just hating too much.”
User @KhyronXc remarks the Phone (3a) to have a “beautiful phone design,” adding that “I am holding out for the Phone (3),” referring to the company’s purported flagship killer, the Nothing Phone (3) that could come out later this year.
https://twitter.com/KhyronXc/status/1893966209600586157
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