I saw the Nothing Phone 4a in every color at MWC - and these two are my favorite

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

Nothing is set to launch its Phone 4a series in London at the "Built Different" event on March 5. It is said to launch two phones, the 4a and 4a Pro. It has been teasing the former leading up to the launch, but the Phone 4a Pro remains a mystery. Ahead of the March 5 unveil, the company took to MWC 2026 to reveal the base Phone 4a in all its glory.

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A color for everyone

You'll be able to purchase the Phone 4a in black, blue, pink, and white options. I got a good look at all the variants today. While the brand had already showcased it in the pink color, this is the first time we're seeing the Phone 4a in blue and black versions.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

I like the blue and pink versions. They are made to stand out. The blue has a vibrant shade, whereas the pink comes in a pastel hue. By contrast, or the lack of it, the black and white models are more subtle and might appeal to a broader audience. Moreover, the white, blue, and pink versions have a silver camera module, whereas the black variant features a color-matched camera housing.

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Same design language, with a new look

Nothing retains its design language, but there's a new look with a transparent window that showcases the design underneath. The Phone 4a sports a pill-shaped camera bump in the top middle of the device. The flash is positioned off-center above the camera bump, which is surrounded by a ring of coils, and these coils are color-matched to each Phone 4a model.

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

You still get the signature Glyph Interface, but instead of light strips, there's a bar with six square lights and an extra red recording light. Each of the squares has nine mini-LED lights that can be customized further. Nothing says it is designed to be less distracting than the lights on the Phone 3a series.

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I like the presence of the red square light. It is borrowed straight from the Nothing Phone 3. And like the flagship phone, it doubles as a functional recording indicator. Each colorway has silver side buttons, including the one for the Essential Key.

What about the Phone 4a Pro?

Nothing is yet to reveal the first look of its Phone 4a Pro, and I'm curious to see what's different between the two models. Will it be more powerful? Will it have a better camera system? We'll have to wait till March 5 to find out.