Smartphones
Nothing Phone (4a) vs Nothing Phone (4b)
Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4b) are budget Nothing phones, but 4a leans into 70x zoom while 4b cuts the price. Choose 4a for the sharper display, 50W charging, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and triple cameras; choose 4b for the £299 entry price, 5,200 mAh battery and simpler everyday setup.
Last updated: July 8, 2026
Nothing
Nothing Phone (4a)
A budget Nothing smartphone built for 70x zoom, a sharper AMOLED display, fast wired charging, Essential AI tools, and Glyph Bar alerts.
VS
Nothing
Nothing Phone (4b)
A lower-cost Nothing smartphone built for a £299 entry price, long battery life, 4K video, Essential AI tools, and Glyph Bar alerts.
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Specifications
Pros & Cons
Nothing Phone (4a) — Pros
✓Triple-camera system includes up to 70x ultra zoom, 7x in-sensor zoom, and 3.5x optical zoom.
✓6.78-inch flexible AMOLED display has 1224 x 2720 resolution, 440 PPI, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and 4500-nit peak brightness.
✓Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 uses a 4 nm TSMC process with a Kryo 8-core CPU up to 2.7 GHz.
✓50W charging is faster than Phone (4b)'s 33W charging.
✓Storage is UFS 3.1, while Phone (4b) uses UFS 2.2.
✓Official Nothing UK page lists more memory choices: 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, and 12GB+256GB.
Nothing Phone (4a) — Cons
✕UK official price starts at £379, higher than Phone (4b)'s £299 UK pre-order price.
✕5,080 mAh international battery is smaller than Phone (4b)'s 5,200 mAh international battery.
✕There is no wireless charging; power delivery is 50W wired plus 7.5W reverse wired only.
✕Bluetooth is 5.4, while Phone (4b) lists Bluetooth 6.0.
✕It is not sold in the US; there, Nothing offers only the pricier Phone (4a) Pro.
Nothing Phone (4b) — Pros
✓Official Nothing UK pre-order price starts at £299, £80 below Phone (4a)'s listed UK price.
✓5,200 mAh international battery is larger than Phone (4a)'s 5,080 mAh international battery.
✓Main camera supports 50MP capture and 4K video recording.
✓Bluetooth 6.0 is newer than Phone (4a)'s Bluetooth 5.4 listing.
✓6.77-inch Super AMOLED display still includes 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 2000-nit peak brightness.
✓IP64 rating, Nothing OS 4.1, Essential AI tools, and Glyph Bar features remain part of the package.
Nothing Phone (4b) — Cons
✕Display resolution is lower at 1080 x 2344 and 381 PPI.
✕Charging speed is 33W, below Phone (4a)'s 50W charging.
✕Processor is Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, positioned below Phone (4a)'s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4.
✕Storage is UFS 2.2, while Phone (4a) lists UFS 3.1.
✕No 70x ultra zoom or 3.5x optical zoom camera is listed.
✕UK page lists only 8GB+128GB, with 8GB+256GB marked India only in the spec data.
Best fit for
✦Capture distant details with up to 70x ultra zoom.
✦Shoot portraits with 3.5x optical zoom from the periscope camera.
✦Use the sharper 1.5K flexible AMOLED display for reading, photos, and video.
✦Charge faster with 50W wired charging and 7.5W reverse wired charging.
✦Run daily apps and games on Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 with UFS 3.1 storage.
✦Track delivery, charging, and notification cues with the Glyph Bar.
✦Choose larger memory options up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
✦Use Nothing OS 4.1 with Android 16 and Essential AI tools.
Best fit for
✦Buy into the Nothing design language at the lower official UK price.
✦Record 4K video from the 50MP main camera.
✦Use the 5,200 mAh international battery for longer everyday runtime.
✦Carry the Blue web-exclusive color if you want the most distinctive Phone (4b) option.
✦Use Essential AI tools and Nothing OS 4.1 on Android 16.
✦Track updates, timers, charging, and app cues with the Glyph Bar.
✦Use Bluetooth 6.0 for newer wireless connectivity support.
✦Choose the simpler phone if 70x zoom and 1.5K resolution are unnecessary.
⚖️
Our Verdict
Nothing Phone (4a) is the better fit if you want the more capable budget phone, especially for zoom photography, display sharpness, charging speed, and storage performance. Its 70x ultra zoom, 3.5x optical zoom, 1224 x 2720 AMOLED display, 50W charging, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, and UFS 3.1 storage make it the stronger spec choice. Nothing Phone (4b) is the better fit if price and battery size matter more than zoom, display resolution, and faster charging. Its £299 UK pre-order price, 5,200 mAh international battery, 50MP main camera with 4K video, Bluetooth 6.0, and Glyph Bar features make it a simpler entry into Nothing's design. Choose Phone (4a) for camera and screen upgrades; choose Phone (4b) for the lower official UK price and longer basic battery spec.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Nothing Phone (4a) if...
→You want up to 70x ultra zoom.
→You want a 3.5x optical zoom camera for portraits and distant subjects.
→You prefer a sharper 1224 x 2720 display with 4500-nit peak brightness.
→You want 50W wired charging instead of 33W.
→You want Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and UFS 3.1 storage.
→You need a 12GB+256GB option from Nothing's listed capacities.
→You care more about camera flexibility than the lowest UK entry price.
→You want Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the display.
Choose Nothing Phone (4b) if...
→You want the lower £299 official UK pre-order price.
→You want the larger 5,200 mAh international battery.
→You do not need 70x ultra zoom or 3.5x optical zoom.
→You are fine with 1080 x 2344 resolution instead of Phone (4a)'s sharper 1.5K panel.
→You want Bluetooth 6.0.
→You mostly shoot everyday 50MP photos and 4K video.
→You prefer a simpler single-main-camera setup over the more camera-focused Phone (4a).
→You want the Blue web-exclusive color from Nothing UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Nothing Phone (4a) vs Nothing Phone (4b): which is better?
A: For camera flexibility, display quality, charging speed, and storage performance, Nothing Phone (4a) is the stronger pick. For a lower official UK price and a larger international battery, Nothing Phone (4b) makes more sense.
Q: What is the main difference between Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4b)?
A: Phone (4a) is the higher-spec model with Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, 70x ultra zoom, 3.5x optical zoom, a 1224 x 2720 display, and 50W charging. Phone (4b) is the cheaper model with a £299 UK pre-order price, Snapdragon 6 Gen 4, 5,200 mAh battery, and 33W charging.
Q: Does Nothing Phone (4a) have 70x zoom while Nothing Phone (4b) does not?
A: Yes. Nothing lists Phone (4a) with up to 70x ultra zoom, 7x in-sensor zoom, and 3.5x optical zoom. Phone (4b) lists a 50MP main camera and ultra-wide camera, but no 70x zoom or optical zoom spec.
Q: Is Nothing Phone (4b) cheaper than Nothing Phone (4a)?
A: Yes, on Nothing UK's official pages. Phone (4b) is listed at £299 for pre-order, while Phone (4a) is listed at £379. Neither phone has published US pricing.
Q: Which has the better display, Nothing Phone (4a) or Nothing Phone (4b)?
A: Phone (4a) has the stronger display spec. It lists a 6.78-inch flexible AMOLED at 1224 x 2720, 440 PPI, 10-bit color, and 4500-nit peak brightness. Phone (4b) lists a 6.77-inch Super AMOLED at 1080 x 2344, 381 PPI, 8-bit color, and 2000-nit peak brightness.
Q: Which charges faster, Nothing Phone (4a) or Nothing Phone (4b)?
A: Phone (4a) charges faster because Nothing lists 50W wired charging. Phone (4b) lists 33W wired charging. Both list 7.5W reverse wired charging.
Q: Which has the larger battery, Nothing Phone (4a) or Nothing Phone (4b)?
A: Phone (4b) has the larger international battery at 5,200 mAh, while Phone (4a) lists 5,080 mAh internationally. In India, Nothing lists 6,000 mAh for Phone (4b) and 5,400 mAh for Phone (4a).
Q: Does Nothing Phone (4b) record 4K video compared with Nothing Phone (4a)?
A: Yes, both record 4K at 30fps. Beyond that they match closely: each lists 1080p at 30/60fps, 1080p Ultra XDR at 30fps, slow motion at 1080p/120fps, and time lapse. The video difference is not resolution but optics, since only Phone (4a) has the 50MP periscope zoom camera.
Q: Do Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4b) get the same software support?
A: Yes. Nothing's official text says both phones get 3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security updates. Both are listed with Nothing OS 4.1 powered by Android 16.
Q: Are Nothing Phone (4a) and Nothing Phone (4b) available in the US?
A: No. Neither phone is sold through Nothing's US store, which carries only Phone (4a) Pro at $499. Nothing's UK store sells Phone (4a) and lists Phone (4b) for pre-order; India and other regional versions can differ in battery size and availability.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
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