{"id":654761,"date":"2026-03-14T09:38:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T09:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654761\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T09:38:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T09:38:33","slug":"5-android-phones-you-should-buy-instead-of-the-nothing-phone-4a-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654761\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Android phones you should buy instead of the Nothing Phone 4a Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro was just announced<\/a> earlier this month, and it\u2019s already safe to say it\u2019ll be one of 2026\u2019s most unique smartphones. With the wild camera sensor placement, iPhone 17 Pro-like camera island, and the secondary display in the top-right corner, it\u2019s quite unlike any other Android phone on the market today \u2014 even without Nothing\u2019s iconic transparent design.<\/p>\n

But despite the fascinating hardware, decent spec sheet, and $500 starting price, that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the Nothing Phone 4a Pro should be your next smartphone.<\/p>\n

Before you rush out and buy Nothing\u2019s latest and greatest, here are five other Android phones you may want to buy instead.<\/p>\n

What do you think is the best Nothing Phone 4a Pro alternative?<\/p>\n

18 votes<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10a<\/p>\n

17%<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/p>\n

28%<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/p>\n

33%<\/p>\n

Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/p>\n

11%<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr (2025)<\/p>\n

11%<\/p>\n

Other (let us know in the comments)<\/p>\n

0%<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10a<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Joe Maring \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The first of those phones is the Google Pixel 10a<\/a>. The 10a isn\u2019t nearly as flashy or exciting as the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, and that can make it look like a pretty boring alternative. But given the choice between the two, I would choose the Pixel.<\/p>\n

Why? Part of it is because of Google\u2019s hardware. As unique as the Nothing Phone 4a Pro may be, the Pixel 10a is easily the more practical smartphone. It\u2019s 27 grams lighter, has a more compact 6.3-inch display (Nothing uses a 6.8-inch screen), and it has a completely flush camera on the back. Nothing\u2019s phone may be more stylish, but it\u2019s the Pixel I\u2019d actually want to use and carry with me every day. Plus, the new Berry color is outstanding.<\/p>\n

The other big deciding factor is software. While NothingOS is one of the better Android skins in 2026, Google\u2019s Pixel software remains the best you can get. The Material 3 Expressive UI is wonderful, and all of Google\u2019s Pixel-exclusive features are far more useful than what Nothing provides. Furthermore, Google\u2019s seven-year guarantee for security patches and Android OS upgrades trounces Nothing\u2019s three-year update promise.<\/p>\n

Nothing technically has the edge in terms of performance, battery capacity, and charging rates, but none of these things are bad on the Pixel 10a. In fact, they\u2019re all really solid. Unless you absolutely need the Nothing Phone 4a Pro\u2019s telephoto camera or quirky design, I\u2019d recommend spending the same $500 on the Pixel 10a instead.<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10a<\/a>\"Google\"AAGoogle Pixel 10a<\/a><\/p>\n

Flush camera design \u2022 Good performance and battery life \u2022 Strong cameras \u2022 Great software support promise \u2022 Excellent price<\/p>\n

Google’s best AI features, in a more affordable mid-tier device<\/p>\n

Google Pixel 10a is a refined mid-range phone built around Tensor G4, a brighter 120Hz 6.3-inch display, tougher Gorilla Glass 7i, satellite SOS, and trickled-down Pixel AI features \u2014 paired with a reliable dual-camera system, 30W charging, and seven years of updates.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/p>\n

\"Samsung<\/p>\n

C. Scott Brown \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

As much as I like the Pixel 10a, I also understand that it might not be for everyone. Maybe you want a larger display. Perhaps you really don\u2019t want to sacrifice a telephoto camera. In that case, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/a> is worth a look.<\/p>\n

Samsung\u2019s 6.7-inch display is a lot roomier than the Pixel 10a\u2019s screen. It\u2019s about the same screen size as the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, but the S25 FE\u2019s body is also shorter, thinner, and lighter. You also get a dedicated 3x optical zoom telephoto camera with a much larger sensor than on Nothing\u2019s smartphone.<\/p>\n

What else is good about the S25 FE? Samsung offers a higher IP68 rating than Nothing\u2019s IP65, and its Exynos 2400 chipset has more horsepower. Samsung also promises seven years of software updates. Nothing has a slight advantage when it comes to battery capacity and charging speed, but that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n

Although I wouldn\u2019t recommend buying the Galaxy S25 FE at its full $650 retail price, it can be a tremendous deal when it\u2019s on sale \u2014 which happens frequently. Less than a month ago, you could buy the S25 FE for only $425. If you can find a discount like that, the S25 FE is an easy buy over the Nothing Phone 4a Pro.<\/p>\n

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/a>\"Samsung\"AASamsung Galaxy S25 FE<\/a><\/p>\n

Large 120Hz display \u2022 Big battery \u2022 50MP camera<\/p>\n

Exynos-powered, 6.7-inch Samsung experience<\/p>\n

The Samsung Galaxy S25 FE is a more affordable experience for fans of the S25 series. Powered by an Exynos 2400 processor, this 6.7-inch phone offers better specs than ever in a FE phone, and nearly all of the greatness found in mainline S25 phones.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/p>\n

\"OnePlus<\/p>\n

Rushil Agrawal \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

If the Galaxy S25 FE is closer to your ideal alternative but still isn\u2019t winning you over, perhaps you should consider the OnePlus 13R<\/a>. Although it\u2019s not OnePlus\u2019s newest smartphone, it\u2019s still the best in its price range. And as an alternative to the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, it\u2019s pretty darn great.<\/p>\n

What the OnePlus 13R lacks in a flashy design, it more than makes up for with a loaded spec sheet. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip is far more performant than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 inside the Nothing Phone 4a Pro. The OnePlus 13R also has a significantly larger battery (6,000mAh vs. 5,080mAh) and much faster wired charging (80W vs. 50W).<\/p>\n

Although OnePlus has technically discontinued the 13R, you can still find it at select retailers; for example, Best Buy is selling the 256GB model at its normal $600 MSRP. I\u2019d recommend shopping around to see if you can find a lower price, possibly with a renewed\/refurbished model.<\/p>\n

But even then, $600 is the same price as the 256GB Nothing Phone 4a Pro. If you put that money towards the 13R, you\u2019re spending the same for better performance, battery life, and charging. If those things are important to you, OnePlus is the way to go.<\/p>\n

OnePlus 13R<\/a>\"OnePlus\"AAOnePlus 13R<\/a><\/p>\n

Speedy performance \u2022 Long-lasting battery \u2022 Superb value for money<\/p>\n

R-eally great.<\/p>\n

The OnePlus 13R is everything you\u2019d expect from a OnePlus phone \u2014 blazing performance, amazing battery life, and rapid charging. Add to that a gorgeous display and a smooth, feature-packed Oxygen OS experience, and you have a phone that feels like it punches well above its $600 price tag.<\/p>\n

Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/p>\n

\"Motorola<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Pixel 10a, Galaxy S25 FE, and OnePlus 13R are all great recommendations within the same price range as the Nothing Phone 4a Pro. However, what about a phone that costs significantly less, but is still worth using? For that, we turn toward the Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are numerous Moto G phones to choose from today, and while it may not be the newest, the Moto G Stylus (2025) remains one of the best. With a faux-leather back, built-in stylus, microSD storage expansion, and 68W wired charging, there\u2019s actually a lot to like about the phone. The Moto G\u2019s display, chipset, and cameras aren\u2019t on par with the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, but they\u2019re still perfectly fine for casual use.<\/p>\n

More importantly, that\u2019s reflected in the price. The Moto G Stylus (2025) retails for $400, but you shouldn\u2019t ever have to pay that. The phone is on sale for $350 at the time of writing, and we\u2019ve seen it drop as low as $280 back in December. The Nothing Phone 4a Pro is technically the better phone, but if you\u2019re trying to keep as much money in your wallet as possible, the Moto G Stylus is an excellent lower-cost alternative.<\/p>\n

Moto G Stylus (2025)<\/a>\"Moto\"AAMoto G Stylus (2025)<\/a><\/p>\n

Built-in stylus \u2022 Vibrant OLED screen \u2022 Fast 68W charging<\/p>\n

Doing things in styl-us.<\/p>\n

The Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) charges quickly, has decent performance, and comes with a built-in stylus that’s way easier than drawing with a fingertip.<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr (2025)<\/p>\n

\"Motorola<\/p>\n

Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Finally, I want to conclude my alternative recommendations by mentioning the Motorola Razr (2025)<\/a>. If you\u2019re thinking about buying the Nothing Phone 4a Pro, a big reason for that is likely its eye-catching design. And while it\u2019s certainly flashy, it\u2019s not nearly as cool as a phone that folds in half.<\/p>\n

Comparatively, that\u2019s exactly what you get with the Razr. The main 6.9-inch display operates like any other \u201cnormal\u201d Android phone, while the 3.6-inch cover screen lets you easily check notifications, reply to texts, and use all of your favorite apps on a compact square. The foldable design is perfect for propping up the Razr for photos, using it as a miniature smart display on your desk, and more.<\/p>\n

The Nothing Phone 4a Pro has an edge in most regards as you dig through the spec sheets of both phones, but the Razr (2025) isn\u2019t a slouch in any one department. And, again, it folds. The Motorola Razr (2025) is the perfect choice if you\u2019re bored with other mainstream Android phones, and with a current sale price of under $500<\/a> at Amazon, you might be able to buy it for less than the Nothing Phone 4a Pro.<\/p>\n

Motorola Razr (2025)<\/a>\"Motorola\"AAMotorola Razr (2025)<\/a><\/p>\n

Improved hinge \u2022 Flexible cameras \u2022 Excellent price<\/p>\n

The most affordable 2025 Razr<\/p>\n

A good looking 6.9-inch folding display is paired with a 3.6-inch external display to make up a compact folded phone, with few compromises at full-size. The Motorola Razr 2025 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X and 8GB of RAM, a 50MP camera, and a 4,500mAh battery.<\/p>\n

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