Nothing, the innovative smartphone brand founded by Carl Pei, enters its third generation with the upcoming release of the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, scheduled for an official unveiling on March 4. Anticipation is building, as the company has already provided multiple teasers and a detailed video showcasing the design of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. In this video, the design team discusses their efforts to create a distinctive chunky camera module that is sure to spark debate among users.

As we near two decades since the iPhone popularized touchscreen smartphones, the design landscape has evolved significantly. Many contemporary smartphones exhibit a minimalist, almost generic aesthetic, often designed to be concealed within protective cases. This practicality has become the norm, with users typically adding a layer of plastic only when necessary. In contrast, Nothing prides itself on crafting devices with transparent backs and luminous “Glyphs” that are meant to be visible. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro, for instance, features a particularly prominent camera module that is impossible to ignore.

Consumers nowadays tend to favor devices with large displays and substantial battery life while maintaining a slim profile. To achieve this balance, some components have been reduced or eliminated altogether—remember the headphone jack? However, camera modules cannot decrease indefinitely. Smaller lenses and sensors can compromise image quality, prompting premium smartphones to adopt large camera systems that can make them feel unbalanced. Take the Google Pixel 9 series, for example, which boasts an impressive camera bump that dominates its back panel.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro may not classify as a flagship model, but it will certainly feature more camera options than its counterpart, the Nothing Phone 3a, launching concurrently. The latest design video highlights the phone’s three rear cameras: a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens (exact focal length yet to be disclosed). Additionally, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro showcases three illuminated Glyphs on its rear, elegantly framing the substantial camera module. The phone’s printed circuit board (PCB) also underwent modifications to accommodate the thicker folded periscope assembly compared to its other sensors.