Nothing has expanded its mid-range lineup with the launch of the Nothing Phone (4b) in India. Starting at ₹34,999, the new phone sits above the Nothing Phone 4a, which launched earlier this year at ₹31,999. At first glance, both phones look nearly identical. They share the brand’s signature transparent design, clean software, and Glyph lighting. However, Nothing has made several changes under the hood.

So, is the Phone (4b) worth spending an extra ₹3,000? Or does the Phone 4a still offer better value? Here’s our detailed comparison.

Comparison in Short

• Price: Phone 4a starts at ₹31,999, while Phone 4b starts at ₹34,999.
• Performance: Phone 4a uses Snapdragon 7s Gen 4; Phone 4b gets Snapdragon 6 Gen 4.
• Battery: Phone 4b packs a larger 6,000mAh battery compared to the 5,080mAh cell on Phone 4a.
• Camera: Phone 4a offers a triple-camera setup with a 50MP telephoto lens, while Phone 4b drops it.
• Charging: Phone 4a supports faster 50W charging; Phone 4b supports 33W charging.
• Software: Both run Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16 with long-term software support.

Nothing Phone 4a vs Phone 4b: Specifications

Design: Both Look Like Nothing Phones

Nothing hasn’t changed its design philosophy.

Both phones feature transparent backs, exposed screws, flat frames, and the signature industrial styling that separates Nothing from almost every Android brand.

However, the Phone 4a gets a larger Glyph Bar with 63 LEDs, making notifications and animations more expressive. The Phone 4b uses a simplified 45-LED Glyph Bar, though it still supports timers, notifications, charging indicators, volume levels, and recording alerts.

The Phone 4b feels slightly thicker because of its bigger battery, while both phones weigh around 210g.

Winner: Phone 4a

Display: Higher Resolution Gives Phone 4a an Edge

Both smartphones feature smooth 120Hz AMOLED displays, but there is an important difference.

The Phone 4a uses a 1.5K AMOLED panel, making text sharper and videos more detailed. It also reaches up to 4,500 nits HDR brightness.

The Phone 4b settles for a Full HD+ Samsung AMOLED display with a claimed 2,000 nits peak brightness.

Unless battery life is your priority, the Phone 4a offers the better viewing experience.

Winner: Phone 4a

Performance: Phone 4a Is Clearly Faster

Performance is where the biggest difference appears.

The Phone 4a runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, while the newer Phone 4b surprisingly uses the lower-tier Snapdragon 6 Gen 4.

During our Phone 4a review, the device handled multitasking, BGMI, and everyday apps smoothly while scoring over 1.15 million points on AnTuTu.

The Phone 4b should comfortably handle daily tasks, but gamers and power users will notice the performance gap.

Winner: Phone 4a

Camera: Phone 4a Is the Better Photography Phone

Nothing has simplified the camera hardware on the Phone 4b.

The Phone 4a features:

• 50MP primary camera
• 50MP periscope telephoto (3.5x optical zoom)
• 8MP ultra-wide
• 32MP selfie camera

The Phone 4b drops the telephoto lens entirely.

It includes:

• 50MP primary camera
• 8MP ultra-wide
• 16MP selfie camera

If photography matters, especially portraits and zoom shots, the Phone 4a is easily the stronger option.

Winner: Phone 4a

Battery: Phone 4b Finally Takes the Lead

Battery is the biggest upgrade on the Phone 4b.

It packs a 6,000mAh battery, compared to the 5,080mAh battery inside the Phone 4a.

However, Nothing has reduced charging speed from 50W on the Phone 4a to 33W on the Phone 4b.

So you’ll get longer battery life, but you’ll spend more time charging.

Winner: Phone 4b

Software Experience: Still One of Nothing’s Biggest Strengths

Both phones run Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16.

The clean interface, minimal bloatware, smooth animations, and practical AI features like Essential Space remain identical.

Nothing also promises three Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates for both devices.

There’s very little separating them here.

Winner: Tie

Nothing Phone 4a vs Phone 4b: Which Should You Buy?

On paper, the Nothing Phone 4b is the newer smartphone, but it isn’t an upgrade in every area.

In fact, the Nothing Phone 4a still delivers better value for many buyers. It offers a faster Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, a sharper display, superior cameras, and quicker charging—all while costing ₹3,000 less.

The Phone 4b’s larger 6,000mAh battery is its biggest advantage. If battery life is your top priority, it’s worth considering. Otherwise, the Nothing Phone 4a remains the more complete smartphone and would be our recommendation for most users.