At the Mobile World Congress 2025, the new budget smartphone Nothing Phone (3a) was unveiled. The device received updates in design, performance, and software compared to its predecessors.

However, the main question that concerns gamers is whether this smartphone has enough power for smooth gaming. Despite improvements in the mid-range line, a true gaming experience requires high performance, a responsive display, and efficient battery usage.

So, let's see if it's worth choosing the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro for mobile gaming, or if it's better to consider some alternatives.

Gaming Performance: Is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor powerful enough?

Both smartphone models are powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 – a mid-range processor that is an improved version of its predecessor but still lags behind flagship gaming chips. The 11% increase in graphics performance and a 33% faster CPU compared to the Nothing Phone (2a) is a step forward, but when compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or Dimensity 8200, the gap becomes noticeable.

Games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile will run but not always with high frames at maximum settings. Less demanding projects, such as PUBG Mobile or League of Legends: Wild Rift, will run without problems, especially thanks to Snapdragon Elite Gaming™ optimizations, but don't expect stable 120 FPS in all cases.

One of the advantages of the new smartphones is the RAM Booster, which combines physical and virtual RAM, allowing for up to 20 GB of RAM. This won't give a significant boost in games but will allow more apps to remain in the background, improving multitasking.

The Nothing Phone 3a features a 4500 mm² vapor chamber, which reduces temperature by 23% compared to the Phone 2a. However, the lack of active cooling (like in RedMagic or Asus ROG) means the phone heats up during long gaming sessions.

• Light gaming (Clash Royale, Mobile Legends, PUBG at 60 FPS): moderate heating, no critical overheating.
• Heavy games (Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail at max settings): after 30 minutes, the smartphone noticeably heats up, and FPS drops by 15-20% due to throttling.

Display and Touch Sensitivity: Are Nothing Phone 3a suitable for dynamic games?

The smartphones feature a 6.77-inch Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and a 1000 Hz touch response rate in gaming mode. The high touch response rate significantly improves sensitivity in dynamic games like Fortnite or Apex Legends Mobile, allowing for quicker reactions to opponents' actions. However, it's important to understand that an adaptive refresh rate means the display won't always operate at 120 Hz if the game doesn't support it.

Another strong point is the peak brightness of 3000 nits, ensuring good visibility outdoors. For indoor gaming, the more relevant 1300 nits with auto-brightness allows for playing even in brightly lit rooms. The large display is well-suited for immersive gaming, but for gamers who prefer compact smartphones for convenient control, the size might be a bit too large.

Battery Life and Charging: How long will the battery last for gaming sessions?

The 5000 mAh battery allows for long gaming sessions without recharging, but due to the mid-range Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, energy efficiency still lags behind flagship solutions. However, power consumption optimization is improved by 8%, providing approximately 30 minutes more battery life compared to the previous model.

• Light gaming: 8-9 hours of screen time.
• Heavy gaming: 4-5 hours of screen time.

The biggest bonus is the 50W fast charging, which allows the phone to charge to 50% in just 20 minutes. This is a significant advantage for mobile gamers who need to quickly recharge before the next match. However, the absence of wireless charging might be a downside for those using wireless gaming accessories.

Alternatives: Are there better gaming smartphones in this price range?

While Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro offer decent performance for casual and mid-level gamers, they are not the best choice for those seeking maximum power in this price range.

If you need a smartphone that delivers high FPS in demanding games, the aforementioned models will offer better performance for similar money. However, if you value unique design, a clean Nothing OS interface, and long-term update support, then the Phone (3a) Series is a good option.

Final Verdict: Is the Nothing Phone 3a worth it for gaming?

For casual and mid-level gamers, the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro offer fast display response, stable cooling, and fast charging, making them good gaming devices in the mid-range segment. However, if your priority is pure performance in heavy games, there are better alternatives with more powerful processors and enhanced cooling systems.

If you're a fan of the unique Nothing design, minimalist OS, and long-term support, the Phone (3a) or 3a Pro won't disappoint you. But if you need a smartphone purely for gaming, it's worth considering options from OnePlus, iQOO, or POCO, which will give you more performance for your money.