Nothing Phone (4b): Why the Phone (4a) might be the better choice

Nothing is asking 329 euros (~ $380) for the Phone (4b), while the entry-level version of the Phone (4a) costs $499. The price difference is around $100. And that’s exactly what becomes a problem for the cheaper model: For that small extra cost, the Phone (4a) offers significantly more in several areas.

The difference is particularly noticeable with the display. The Phone (4a) features a higher-resolution 1.5K AMOLED display with an advertised peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits. The (4b) uses FHD+ and has a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits. In our test, the cheaper model actually only reached 1,160 cd/m². As a result, the display isn’t always easy to read in direct sunlight. To be fair, however, it should be noted that the (4a) also doesn’t reach the promised brightness. With up to 1,536 cd/m², it is noticeably brighter in everyday use, though.

Nothing also cuts corners when it comes to the SoC. The (4a) features the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, while the (4b) has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4. On top of that, the (4a) offers faster UFS 3.1 storage. While the (4b) is fast enough for everyday use, those looking for extra power for more demanding apps or games will find the (4a) offers the more robust package.

The biggest difference lies in the camera. The (4a) has an additional 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom. The (4b) lacks this feature and also has a significantly smaller main sensor. Zooming is exclusively digital and, as a result, delivers noticeably poorer results at higher magnifications. The (4b)’s ultra-wide-angle camera is also only moderately impressive in terms of quality.

If the price difference between the two models remains the same, the Nothing Phone (4a) (buy here on Amazon) is definitely the better choice. However, if the availability of the (4a)’s lower-storage variant decreases and you have to opt for the larger model, or if the Phone (4b) simply becomes cheaper, the (4b) could become an attractive alternative.