We tested the still image shooting performance of the Nothing 'Phone (3a) Lite,' a triple-lens smartphone with a macro camera, priced at around 40,000 yen.
The Phone (3a) Lite , released on January 15, 2026, maintains the stylish appearance of Nothing smartphones while
Phone (3a) Lite | Nothing | JP
https://jp.nothing.tech/products/phone-3a-lite
The overall appearance of the iPhone (3a) Lite is summarized in detail in the article below. This time, we will focus on the camera performance.
The appearance of Nothing's first entry-level smartphone 'Phone (3a) Lite' looks like this - GIGAZINE
The back of the iPhone (3a) Lite is equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
The standard camera app lets you adjust the zoom factor from 0.6x to 10x, with 0.6x being the ultra-wide camera, 1x being the main camera, and the remaining factors being digital zoom.
Let's try taking photos at the same location while changing the zoom magnification. First, here's a photo taken at 0.6x. The focal length in 35mm format is 15mm. Note that the example photos in this article have only been edited to reduce the long side to 800 pixels; the color and brightness have not been changed. You can also click on each photo to see the original photo before it was reduced.
Shot at 1x magnification (equivalent to a 24mm focal length in 35mm format). Some smartphones change color when switching cameras, but in the case of the Phone (3a) Lite, the color of the ultra-wide camera and main camera are adjusted to be almost identical.
This photo was taken at 2x magnification (equivalent to a 50mm focal length in 35mm format). The 2x magnification is achieved through digital zoom, which results in a slightly grainy photo.
It's possible to take a photo at the maximum zoom of 10x, but the photo is quite grainy, so it's not practical.
Another location was photographed at 0.6x magnification.
1x.
2x.
10x. Digital zoom makes the grain of the image more noticeable, so when taking photos with the Phone (3a) Lite, we recommend shooting at 0.6x or 1x.
I tried taking various photos with the main camera at 1x zoom. I took a photo of the playground equipment in the park. The equipment in the background is a little blurred, giving the photo a three-dimensional look.
Photographing a bridge. The bright clouds are not overexposed, and the shadow of the bridge is not crushed.
Triangular cone.
This photo captures dal bhat and meat at
Photograph only the meat.
We also tested the camera's nighttime shooting capabilities. When taking a photo of a brightly lit road in front of the station from above, we had to hold the camera still for about a second after tapping the shutter button.
High-end smartphones can take pictures in the dark in an instant, just like in the daytime, but with the Phone (3a) Lite, you have to hold the device still and hold it steady, and even the slightest movement will cause the picture to fail, as shown below. This is a common behavior with SLR and mirrorless cameras, but it may feel strange to people who are used to high-end smartphones being able to take pictures in an instant.
I also took photos at different locations. If you stand still, you can take beautiful photos. However, compared to high-end smartphones, the image appears blurry when displayed at full size.
Another shot. A huge ghost image appeared around the huge light on the right.
The iPhone (3a) Lite is equipped with a macro camera, and you can take macro shots by tapping 'Macro' under 'More' in the standard camera.
The macro camera on the iPhone (3a) Lite is not a camera that can take close-up shots, but rather a camera that can only take close-up shots, so you need to get within 4cm of the subject.
Below is a shot of a 10,000 yen bill taken with a macro camera. You can get pretty close.
I was able to capture a large image of Shibusawa Eiichi.
Photographing fallen leaves. Even the veins of the leaves were clearly visible. However, because the pixel count is only 200 megapixels, the graininess is noticeable when displayed at full size.
asphalt.
Wooden bench seat.
Nylon backpack. Although the macro camera has a low pixel count, it is a fun feature to have fun with because it captures a completely different world than a regular camera.
After examining the camera performance of the iPhone (3a) Lite, we found that it has weaknesses such as 'low resolution' and 'poor night photography performance' compared to high-end smartphones. On the other hand, when using the main camera in bright outdoor conditions, it is possible to take photos of sufficient quality. Considering that it is a smartphone in the 40,000 yen range, it can be said to have sufficient performance.
The benchmark results and battery performance of the iPhone (3a) Lite are summarized in the article below. In short, 'The processing performance is low and it's not suitable for heavy gaming, but the battery life is long and the charging speed is fast, so it's comfortable to use if gaming isn't your main use.' The article also covers the effects of the 'Game Mode' processing mode, which improves processing performance, and how charging speed changes depending on the remaining charge, so please use it as a reference when considering purchasing.
Summary of benchmark results and battery life for Nothing's low-cost smartphone 'Phone (3a) Lite' - GIGAZINE
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