The Nothing Phone (4b) has joined the company’s Indian smartphone range as a more affordable alternative to the Phone (4a). Launch offers give the 4b a ₹29,999 effective starting price, while the Phone (4a) starts at ₹31,999. That small gap makes the older A-series model a particularly important comparison.
The two phones share Nothing OS, transparent-inspired styling and a Glyph Bar, but they differ substantially in performance, cameras, display resolution and battery priorities. This comparison uses published specifications and Indian pricing rather than a side-by-side long-term test.
Nothing Phone 4b vs Phone 4a specifications
| Specification | Nothing Phone (4b) | Nothing Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.77-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED, 120Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 |
| RAM and storage | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB | 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB |
| Rear cameras | 50MP OIS main + 8MP ultrawide | 50MP OIS main + 50MP periscope + 8MP ultrawide |
| Front camera | 16MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 6,000mAh, 33W charging | 5,400mAh, 50W charging |
| Software | Android 16-based Nothing OS 4.1 | Android 16-based Nothing OS 4 |
| Starting price | ₹34,999; ₹29,999 effective offer | ₹31,999 |
Design and display
Both phones use Nothing’s transparent-inspired design language and a horizontal Glyph Bar for visual alerts, timers and other notifications. The Phone (4b) uses a colourful plastic unibody and is available in Black, Blue and White, while the Phone (4a) has a more elaborate rear camera arrangement that immediately distinguishes it as the higher-tier device.
The screens are similar in size and both support a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the Phone (4a) offers a sharper 1.5K AMOLED panel, while the Phone (4b) uses a lower FHD+ resolution. The difference will be most apparent in fine text, photographs and high-resolution video. The 4b’s panel remains perfectly adequate for normal use, but the 4a provides the more premium viewing experience.
Display winner: Nothing Phone (4a)
Performance and storage
The Phone (4a)’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 sits above the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 inside the Phone (4b). Both processors can handle everyday applications and casual gaming, but the 4a offers greater CPU and graphics headroom for demanding games, video editing and longer ownership.
The Phone (4a) also uses faster UFS 3.1 storage and offers a 12GB/256GB configuration. The 4b is limited to 8GB RAM and uses slower UFS 2.2 storage. This will not make the 4b feel slow during basic tasks, but the combination of a faster chipset and storage gives the 4a a more responsive and future-proof specification.
Performance winner: Nothing Phone (4a)
Cameras
The biggest hardware difference appears on the back. Both models have a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation and an 8MP ultrawide camera. The Phone (4a) adds a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom and up to 70x digital zoom.
That dedicated zoom camera makes the 4a considerably more versatile for portraits, distant subjects, events and travel. The Phone (4b) covers normal and ultrawide perspectives but relies on cropping from its main sensor when users zoom.
The 4a also has a 32MP front camera, compared with the 4b’s 16MP unit. Both support 4K rear-video recording, but the extra telephoto lens and higher-resolution selfie camera give the A-series phone an easy specifications victory.
Camera winner: Nothing Phone (4a)
Battery and charging
The Phone (4b) fights back with a 6,000mAh battery in its Indian version, 600mAh larger than the Phone (4a)’s 5,400mAh cell. It should be the better option for buyers prioritising maximum screen time and fewer charging stops.
The Phone (4a), however, charges more quickly at 50W, compared with 33W on the Phone (4b). The 4b also supports 7.5W reverse wired charging for accessories. Buyers who want endurance should lean towards the 4b; those who value shorter top-ups may prefer the 4a.
Battery capacity winner: Nothing Phone (4b)
Charging-speed winner: Nothing Phone (4a)
Software and update support
Both phones run Android 16 with Nothing OS and include Essential AI tools. Nothing OS remains one of the cleaner and more visually consistent Android interfaces, so the everyday software experience should be broadly familiar across both models.
The Phone (4b) is promised three Android version upgrades and six years of security patches. It launches slightly later with Nothing OS 4.1, but buyers should not choose between the phones based only on the minor software-version difference because features can change through updates.
Price and value in India
The Phone (4b) carries an MRP of ₹34,999 for 8GB/128GB and ₹38,999 for 8GB/256GB. A combination of bank discount and exchange offer reduces the advertised effective prices to ₹29,999 and ₹33,699 respectively. Since an exchange benefit depends on the device being traded in, not every buyer will receive the full effective price.
The Phone (4a) launched at ₹31,999 for 8GB/128GB, with higher prices for its additional storage and RAM variants. Buyers should compare the final checkout prices: if the 4a costs only ₹2,000–₹3,000 more than the 4b, its hardware upgrades justify the difference.
Verdict: Phone 4b or Phone 4a?
The Nothing Phone (4a) is the better phone overall. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, sharper display, faster storage, 50MP periscope camera, superior selfie camera and quicker charging provide meaningful improvements in areas users notice every day.
Choose the Nothing Phone (4b) if its effective price is substantially lower, battery endurance is your main concern, or you simply want the Nothing design and software experience at the lowest possible cost. Its 6,000mAh battery, OIS main camera and long security commitment make it a balanced mid-range phone.
Our recommendation: At a gap of ₹3,000 or less, buy the Phone (4a). Consider the Phone (4b) when offers make it at least ₹4,000–₹5,000 cheaper or when the larger battery matters more than camera versatility and performance.
Sources: Nothing Phone (4b) official page, Nothing Phone (4a) official page, Nothing’s Phone (4b) price announcement and Phone (4a) specifications and pricing.
