Nothing has introduced the Phone (3a) Community Edition in India, a limited-run model shaped through the company’s yearlong Community Edition Project. The device reflects contributions from four fan creators selected from more than 700 global submissions, illustrating how user-generated design can influence a commercially released smartphone without shifting its core specifications. Rather than serving as a major hardware refresh, this edition functions as a curated reinterpretation of the Phone (3a), pairing standard components with bespoke design elements rooted in late-90s and early-2000s aesthetics.
The Community Edition is built on the 12GB/256GB configuration of the base model but features several visual and software-level changes introduced by the contest winners. Its hardware design incorporates transparent accents reminiscent of retro gaming devices, a trend that Nothing has leaned into across its product line but here filtered through community input. A new accessory category debuts alongside the phone: custom Dice using the company’s Ndot 55 font, framed as a playful extension of the brand’s minimal visual language rather than a functional add-on.
On the software side, a redesigned lock-screen clock aims to reduce visual noise by using varied font weights, and accompanying wallpapers bring the exterior aesthetic into the interface. These adjustments are small but consistent with Nothing’s approach of emphasizing cohesive visual identity over heavy feature additions. The phone ships with Android 15 and Nothing OS 3.2, though early buyers receive an over-the-air update to Android 16 with Nothing OS 4, keeping the device aligned with current software support.
Because this edition is not a hardware overhaul, the technical specifications remain unchanged. The 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED panel retains its 1080 × 2392 resolution, HDR10+ support, 10-bit color, adaptive 30–120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling, and 2160Hz PWM dimming, protected by Panda Glass. Performance still comes from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 paired with an Adreno 720 GPU. The camera system also mirrors the standard model: a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide with a 114-degree field of view, and a 50MP 2x telephoto lens. Video capture tops out at 4K 30fps, with Action Mode available for stabilization, while the 32MP front camera handles 1080p recording.
The battery maintains its 5000mAh capacity with 50W wired charging, and familiar features such as stereo speakers, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and IP64 splash resistance remain intact. As a result, the Community Edition’s primary appeal lies in its design narrative rather than performance differentiation. Limiting production to 1,000 units reinforces that positioning, treating the device as a collector-style release rather than a mainstream variant.
In India, the Phone (3a) Community Edition is priced at ₹28,999 for the single 12GB/256GB configuration. Availability is restricted to a one-day offline drop on December 13, 2025, at 33&Brew, Prestige Technostar, Brookefield, Bengaluru, between 2 PM and 6 PM IST. Given the small production run and offline-only distribution, demand will likely outweigh supply, making the release more of an event than a full-scale launch.
