Nothing Phone (4a) or (4a) Pro: is the Pro worth ₹7,000 more?
The Phone (4a) Pro costs ₹7,000 more than the Phone (4a) at 8GB + 128GB. It adds NFC, 144Hz and a slimmer body, not a better camera. Which should you buy?
The Synap verdict
Buy the Phone (4a) Pro in 8GB + 256GB at ₹52,999 if you can stretch. Take the ₹36,999 Phone (4a) only if you can live without NFC.
Buy it if
You want tap-to-pay, a 144Hz screen and a slimmer body for ₹5,000 more than a Phone (4a) with the same memory
Skip it if
You mainly want the periscope zoom camera and never tap to pay, since the cheaper Phone (4a) has the same cameras
Buy the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro only if you want tap-to-pay, a 144Hz screen and a slimmer body, because the cameras are the same. Like for like, at 8GB + 128GB, it costs ₹7,000 more than the Nothing Phone (4a): ₹49,999 against ₹42,999 on 15 October 2026. If you don’t need those three things, the cheaper phone is the better buy.
That gap is the whole question. Both phones carry the same 50MP main camera, the same 50MP periscope zoom lens and the same 5,400 mAh battery (Nothing’s own figure). Here is what ₹7,000 does and doesn’t buy, version by version.
| Version | Phone (4a) | Phone (4a) Pro | Pro costs more by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6GB + 128GB | ₹36,999 | Not offered | n/a |
| 8GB + 128GB | ₹42,999 | ₹49,999 | ₹7,000 |
| 8GB + 256GB | ₹47,999 | ₹52,999 | ₹5,000 |
| 12GB + 256GB | ₹48,999 | ₹59,999 | ₹11,000 |
Is the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro worth ₹7,000 more?
Yes, but only for three reasons: NFC, a smoother screen and a thinner body. If none of those matter to you, no. The camera, the battery and the update promise are the same on both phones.
| Phone (4a) | Phone (4a) Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.78-inch, 120Hz, 4,500 nits | 6.83-inch, 144Hz, 5,000 nits |
| Chip | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 |
| NFC (tap-to-pay) | No | Yes |
| Thickness and weight | 8.5 mm, 205 g | 7.9 mm, 210 g |
| Dust and water | IP64 | IP65 |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main + 50MP periscope + ultrawide | 50MP main + 50MP periscope + ultrawide |
| Battery and charging (Nothing’s figures) | 5,400 mAh, 50W | 5,400 mAh, 50W |
| Updates promised | 3 OS updates | 3 OS updates |
NFC is the one that bites. Our page for the Nothing Phone (4a) notes that the Indian version has none, so no tap-to-pay with a card or phone at a shop terminal or transit gate. UPI by QR code still works without it. The Pro has NFC.
The screen is the next gain: 144Hz against 120Hz, and 5,000 nits of peak brightness against 4,500 nits, both Nothing’s figures. That is a nicer screen, not a different one. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 in the Pro is also a step up from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, but no independent benchmark comparison of the two has been published that we can cite, so treat the gap as unmeasured.
Which Nothing Phone (4a) or (4a) Pro version should you buy?
Buy the Phone (4a) Pro in 8GB + 256GB at ₹52,999 if you can stretch. At that version the Pro is only ₹5,000 above the Phone (4a) at the same memory, ₹47,999, which makes the extras cheapest to buy there.
If the budget is tight, the Phone (4a) at 6GB + 128GB for ₹36,999 is the cheapest way to get the periscope camera. It is ₹13,000 below the cheapest Pro.
Two versions make little sense. The Phone (4a) in 12GB + 256GB costs ₹48,999, just ₹1,000 under the Pro with 8GB + 128GB at ₹49,999, and you would get NFC and a better screen for that ₹1,000 by switching. The Phone (4a) Pro in 12GB + 256GB costs ₹59,999, ₹7,000 more than the 8GB + 256GB version for extra memory most people will not use. Storage cannot be added later, so if you pick, pick 256GB: our guide on what double the storage costs explains why.
Did the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro get more expensive?
Yes. Launch reports in March 2026 put the Phone (4a) at ₹31,999 and the Phone (4a) Pro at ₹39,999 for 8GB + 128GB. Today they are ₹42,999 and ₹49,999, which is ₹11,000 and ₹10,000 more.
| Version | Launch price reported in March 2026 | Today’s price | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone (4a), 8GB + 128GB | ₹31,999 | ₹42,999 | up ₹11,000 |
| Phone (4a) Pro, 8GB + 128GB | ₹39,999 | ₹49,999 | up ₹10,000 |
That matters when you read older reviews and comparisons, which quote launch prices. The ₹7,000 gap between the two has stayed about the same, but both phones now sit in a tougher price bracket. Check the day’s price before you pay, as it has moved since launch. We track every move on the price drops page.
Is there a cheaper Nothing phone with a periscope camera?
Yes, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, at ₹29,999. It also has a periscope lens and, on our page, NFC. It has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a 3,000-nit screen and a 5,000 mAh battery, so it is a step down in each. If a periscope camera is the only reason you are here, it is worth a look before spending ₹36,999 or more.
Which should you buy?
Pay the extra for the Pro if you tap to pay, hold your phone a long time or care about the screen. Take the Phone (4a) if the camera is why you are here and ₹7,000 is better spent elsewhere. The full side-by-side is on our compare page. For wider options, see Nothing phones under ₹50,000 or all of Nothing’s phones.
Quick answers
Do the Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro have the same camera?
On Nothing’s India spec sheet, yes: a 50MP main with stabilisation, a 50MP periscope with stabilisation and an ultrawide at the back, and a 32MP front camera. No independent camera comparison of the two is cited here.
Does the Nothing Phone (4a) have NFC in India?
No. The Indian Phone (4a) has no NFC, so no tap-to-pay. The Phone (4a) Pro does have it.
Is the Phone (4a) Pro waterproof?
No phone is fully waterproof. The Phone (4a) Pro is rated IP65, which covers dust and water jets such as heavy rain. The Phone (4a) is IP64, which covers splashes. Neither is made to go under water.
