- Rakuten Mobile announces the availability of the “Phone (3a) Lite.”
- In addition to the standard “White” and “Black” colors, a new “Red” color will be available exclusively through Rakuten Mobile.
- While priced at 42,800 JPY (tax included) on the official Nothing Japan website, Rakuten Mobile is offering it for 32,890 JPY—roughly 10,000 JPY cheaper.
Nothing Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of the British venture “Nothing Technologies Limited,” announced on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, that the domestic version of the “Phone (3a) Lite” will be released on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The “Phone (3a) Lite” is the first entry-level smartphone in the “Phone (3)” series lineup, which was previously announced overseas on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
In conjunction with this, Rakuten Mobile also announced that it will carry the “Phone (3a) Lite.” Furthermore, in addition to “White” and “Black,” Rakuten Mobile will offer an exclusive “Red” color as part of its “Rakuten Saikyo” lineup, bringing the total to three color options.
*Please note that the Rakuten Mobile exclusive “Red” is not “Crimson Red.”
The domestic version of the “Phone (3a) Lite” will be available in a single model featuring 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The price at Rakuten Mobile is set at 32,890 JPY (including tax). Interestingly, while the official Nothing Japan website lists the device at 42,800 JPY, Rakuten Mobile’s price is nearly 10,000 JPY lower at 32,890 JPY. Quite a surprise.
Since this is the Japan-specific model, the “Phone (3a) Lite” comes equipped with FeliCa for “Osaifu-Keitai” support and also supports eSIM. Pre-orders have already begun as of Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
↓ Click here for the “Rakuten Saikyo Plan” ↓
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
The “Phone (3a) Lite” is an Android smartphone from the British venture “Nothing Technologies Limited (Nothing),” serving as the first entry-level model in the new “Phone (3)” series.
Despite the name “Phone (3a) Lite,” it is characterized by inheriting the design and functionality of the true flagship “Phone (3)” rather than being just a cheaper version of the “Phone (3a).” The device features a glass body and is IP54 rated for water and dust resistance. It combines durability with a premium feel rarely found in entry-level models.
The back of the device features the “Glyph Light,” an evolved version of Nothing’s unique “Glyph Interface.” The “Glyph Light” includes features such as “Flip to Glyph” for silent notifications, “Essential Notifications” to alert you of messages from key contacts, and a “Camera Countdown” light for group photos.
The “Phone (3a) Lite” also includes the “Essential Key,” an AI-integrated button first seen on the “Phone (3a),” located below the power button on the side. The “Essential Key” supports three types of operations: [Single Press], [Long Press], and [Double Press]. A [Single Press] quickly saves captions from websites or images on the screen, a [Long Press] starts a voice recording, and a [Double Press] opens “Essential Space”—a virtual personal space that automatically organizes and catalogs saved captions and recordings into “Smart Collections.” It also features “Essential Search,” allowing you to search saved content even when offline.
Key specifications of the “Phone (3a) Lite” include a 6.77-inch (2,392 × 1,080) Full HD+ AMOLED display with 3,000 nits brightness, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB / 256GB internal storage. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery supporting 33W fast charging and 5W wired reverse charging, and runs “Nothing OS 3.5” based on Android 15. An update to “Nothing OS 4.0,” based on the next-generation Android 16, is planned for early 2026.
The RAM can be expanded by up to an additional 8GB (for a total of up to 16GB) using the “RAM Booster” feature. Additionally, Nothing promises three years of major Android OS updates and six years of security updates from the launch date.
The camera setup consists of a triple rear camera system (50MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro) and a 16MP center punch-hole front camera.
Functionally, the device includes “Smart Drawer” for automatic app organization, “Private Space” for protecting personal files, and “App Locker” for securing individual apps. It even features an advanced liquid cooling system to ensure stability during high-load tasks and gaming.
While the “Phone (3a) Lite” is globally available in “White” and “Black” with two storage options (8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB), the Japanese domestic version is limited to the 8GB RAM + 128GB internal storage model, specifically equipped with FeliCa (Osaifu-Keitai) and eSIM support.
Furthermore, the Japanese lineup includes the new “Red” color, which is exclusive to Rakuten Mobile within Japan.
Key Specifications
| ■ OS |
| ・Nothing OS 3.5 (Based on Android 15) |
| ■ Dimensions |
| ・164 × 78 × 8.3 mm |
| ■ Weight |
| ・199g |
| ■ Display |
| ・6.77-inch (2,392 × 1,080) Full HD+, AMOLED |
| ■ Processor |
| ・MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro |
| ■ RAM |
| ・8GB, RAM Booster support (up to +8GB) |
| ■ Internal Storage |
| ・128GB |
| ■ Rear Camera |
| ・50MP Main + 8MP Ultra-wide + 2MP Macro |
| ■ Front Camera |
| ・16MP Center Punch-hole |
| ■ Wi-Fi |
| ・802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / ax |
| ■ Bluetooth |
| ・5.4 |
| ■ Battery |
| ・5,000mAh, 33W Fast Charging / 5W Wired Reverse Charging |
| ■ Others |
| ・Dual SIM (nano SIM × 2 *eSIM supported in Japan only), USB Type-C, Fingerprint Sensor, Essential Key, NFC, FeliCa (Osaifu-Keitai support) |
| ■ Colors |
| ・White / Black / Red (Rakuten Mobile Exclusive) |
| ■ Mobile Network |
| ・2G: GSM Quad-band ・3G: WCDMA B1 / 2 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 19 ・4G: B1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 7 / 8 / 12 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 26 / 28 / 38 / 40 / 41 / 42 / 48 / 66 / 71 ・5G: Sub6 n1 / n2 / n3 / n5 / n7 / n8 / n12 / n20 / n25 / n28 / n40 / n41 / n66 / n71 / n77 / n78 |
↓ Click here for the “Rakuten Saikyo Plan” ↓
Source：Rakuten Mobile
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