Nothing Phone 3a series, set for global launch on March 4, will feature a periscope lens, a first for the London upstart. The lens will enable up to 60x “ultra” zoom and come paired with a 50-megapixel unspecified sensor. While not directly confirmed, it is highly likely that this so-called “pro-level camera system” would be exclusive to the Phone 3a Pro, one of—and the higher-end model—two smartphones Nothing is planning to unleash on D-day.
“Phone 3a series will feature significant camera improvements compared to its predecessor, Phone 2a,” Nothing said in a statement shared with financialexpress.com over email. “One of the most significant upgrades is the addition of the 50MP periscope lens offering 3x optical zoom, 6x in-sensor zoom, and 60x ultra zoom, delivering crisp and detailed macro shots, and 70 mm portrait-perfect focal length.”
The Phone 2a and Phone 2a Plus both came with the same 50MP dual camera setup with a combination of wide and ultrawide lenses. Even the Phone 2, which is Nothing’s flagship phone, doesn’t have any telephoto camera. The Phone 3a series and very likely the Phone 3a Pro model, is getting the first dibs at it which given the Phone 2a’s fantastic sales track record, should fly with buyers, or at least that is what Nothing would be hoping for.
Why only the Phone 3a Pro (or whatever Nothing calls it eventually) will get it, is clear from the promotional material shared by Nothing in today’s announcement. While initial teasers revolved around a horizontal camera system, like the Phone 2a, a freshly minted teaser photo shows off a circular assembly complete with the headlining periscope camera. There are two more cameras in this phone. The main sensor is also 50MP unspecified which Nothing claims can capture “64 percent more light at a pixel level meaning it has a 300 percent greater full well capacity versus Phone 2a,” to enable “more depth and clarity” in photos.
The main and front cameras (which is unspecified for now) will record 4K videos. All the four sensors will support Ultra HDR photo output.
Elsewhere, the Phone 3a series is confirmed to come rocking a Qualcomm chip and a new mystery button, that is widely speculated to be on the lines of Apple’s action or camera control buttons.
Follow FE Tech Bytes on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook