Nothing Phone (4b) vs Nothing Phone 4a Comparison

If you're planning to buy a new Nothing smartphone, the Nothing Phone (4b) and Nothing Phone 4a are two excellent options in the upper mid-range segment. Both phones feature Nothing's signature transparent design, clean Android experience, and AMOLED displays, but they target different types of users.

The Nothing Phone 4a is designed as the more premium option with a faster processor, brighter display, superior cameras, and better connectivity features. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone (4b) focuses on offering a large battery and an attractive price while retaining the clean Nothing software experience.

In this detailed comparison, we'll compare every important aspect of these smartphones to help you choose the right one.

Design and Build Quality

Both devices follow Nothing's distinctive transparent design language and offer a premium look that stands out from other smartphones.

The Nothing Phone (4b) features a glass front and back with a plastic frame, while the Nothing Phone 4a also uses a glass back but adds Gorilla Glass 7i protection for improved durability. Both phones carry an IP64 rating for dust and splash resistance.

The Nothing Phone 4a is also slightly lighter and slimmer, making it a little more comfortable during extended use.

Design Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

Its lighter body and stronger display protection give it a slight advantage.

Display Comparison

Both smartphones feature smooth AMOLED displays with a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Nothing Phone 4a offers a noticeably better viewing experience.

Nothing Phone (4b)

• 6.77-inch Super AMOLED display

• 1080 × 2344 resolution

• 120Hz refresh rate

• 2000 nits peak brightness

• 381 PPI

Nothing Phone 4a

• 6.78-inch AMOLED display

• 1224 × 2720 resolution

• 120Hz refresh rate

• 4500 nits peak brightness

• 440 PPI

Although the display sizes are nearly identical, the Nothing Phone 4a delivers a sharper screen, significantly higher brightness, and better pixel density, making it easier to use outdoors and more enjoyable for watching videos and gaming.

Display Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

Its brighter and sharper display provides a more premium visual experience.

Performance Comparison

Performance is one of the biggest differences between these two devices.

Nothing Phone (4b)

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4

• 4nm fabrication process

• AnTuTu Score: 701,545

• LPDDR4X RAM

• UFS 2.2 storage

Nothing Phone 4a

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4

• 4nm fabrication process

• AnTuTu Score: 1,142,101

• LPDDR5X RAM

• UFS 3.1 storage

The Nothing Phone 4a offers a substantial performance upgrade with a faster chipset, newer RAM technology, and quicker storage. It handles gaming, multitasking, and demanding applications much more efficiently than the Nothing Phone (4b).

Performance Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and faster memory make it the clear winner for power users.

Camera Comparison

Photography is another area where the Nothing Phone 4a takes a significant lead.

Nothing Phone (4b)

• 50MP + 8MP dual rear camera

• 16MP front camera

• 4K 30fps video recording

• OIS support

• Ultra XDR imaging

Nothing Phone 4a

• 50MP + 50MP + 8MP triple rear camera

• 32MP selfie camera

• Samsung GN9 primary sensor

• Periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom

• OIS and PDAF

• 4K video recording

The addition of a telephoto camera, higher-resolution selfie camera, and improved image processing gives the Nothing Phone 4a a much more versatile camera system for everyday photography and portrait shots.

Camera Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

It delivers greater versatility, better zoom capabilities, and stronger overall image quality.

Battery and Charging

Battery capacity favors the Nothing Phone (4b), but charging speed favors the Nothing Phone 4a.

Nothing Phone (4b)

• 6000mAh battery

• 33W fast charging

• Reverse charging

Nothing Phone 4a

• 5400mAh battery

• 50W fast charging

• Reverse charging

The Nothing Phone (4b) should last slightly longer on a single charge thanks to its larger battery, while the Nothing Phone 4a can recharge much faster.

Battery Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

Although the battery is smaller, the faster charging and overall battery optimization make it the better-balanced package.

Software Experience

Both smartphones provide an almost identical software experience.

Shared Features

• Android 16

• Nothing OS 4.1

• Clean user interface

• Minimal bloatware

• Smooth animations

• Regular software updates

Since both devices run the same operating system and user interface, the software experience is virtually identical.

Software Winner: Tie

Both phones deliver the same clean Nothing OS experience.

Connectivity Comparison

The Nothing Phone 4a includes several premium connectivity upgrades.

Nothing Phone (4b)

• 5G

• Wi-Fi 6

• Bluetooth 6

• USB Type-C 2.0

• Reverse charging

Nothing Phone 4a

• 5G

• Wi-Fi 6

• Bluetooth 5.4

• USB Type-C 2.0

• NFC

• Reverse charging

Although the Nothing Phone (4b) includes Bluetooth 6, the Nothing Phone 4a offers NFC support, faster internal storage, and a more complete premium feature set.

Connectivity Winner: Nothing Phone 4a

NFC and stronger overall hardware make it the more capable smartphone.

Pros and Cons

Nothing Phone (4b)

Pros

• Large 6000mAh battery

• Bright Super AMOLED display

• Android 16 with Nothing OS 4.1

• Clean software experience

• Competitive pricing

• Reverse charging support

Cons

• Slower Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor

• UFS 2.2 storage

• LPDDR4X RAM

• No NFC

• Dual-camera setup only

• Slower 33W charging

Nothing Phone 4a

Pros

• Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor

• Much higher AnTuTu score

• Brighter 4500 nits AMOLED display

• Higher display resolution

• LPDDR5X RAM

• UFS 3.1 storage

• Triple rear camera setup

• Periscope telephoto lens

• 32MP selfie camera

• Faster 50W charging

• NFC support

• Gorilla Glass 7i protection

Cons

• Slightly smaller 5400mAh battery

• Higher price than Nothing Phone (4b)

Which Phone Should You Buy?

Choose the Nothing Phone (4b) if you want a stylish smartphone with a larger battery, clean software experience, and good everyday performance at a more affordable price.

Choose the Nothing Phone 4a if you want significantly better performance, a brighter display, faster storage, improved cameras, NFC support, and an overall flagship-like experience. It offers a much better value for users who prioritize performance, photography, and premium features.

Final Verdict

The Nothing Phone 4a is the clear overall winner in this comparison. It delivers a faster Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, a brighter and sharper AMOLED display, better cameras with a dedicated telephoto lens, faster charging, LPDDR5X RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and additional premium features like NFC and Gorilla Glass 7i protection.

The Nothing Phone (4b) remains a solid choice for users who value a larger battery and a lower price, but when performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and overall feature set are considered together, the Nothing Phone 4a is the better smartphone and the recommended choice for most buyers.