Nothing has launched the Phone 4b as the starting point for its new ‘b’ series, positioning it as the most accessible way into the Nothing ecosystem. On paper, it sits below the Phone 4a in the lineup and at Rs 34,999 for the base model, it is Rs 3,000 cheaper than the 4a’s Rs 37,999 starting price. But cheaper does not always mean less capable. The 4b brings a larger battery and a newer Glyph Bar, while the 4a retaliates with a better camera system, a significantly sharper and brighter display, faster charging and faster storage. If you are trying to decide between the two right now, here is how the two compare across every area that matters.
The Phone 4b starts at Rs 34,999 for the 8 GB + 128 GB variant and Rs 38,999 for the 8 GB + 256 GB variant, with bank discounts bringing those prices down to Rs 29,999 and Rs 33,999 respectively. The Phone 4a starts at Rs 37,999 for the 8 GB + 128 GB model, going up to Rs 40,999 for the 8 GB + 256 GB variant and Rs 43,999 for the 12 GB + 256 GB configuration. The 4b also ships with a case and screen protector in the box, which the 4a does not and adds a marginally extra value.
The Nothing Phone 4b and Phone 4a share a similar visual language with Nothing’s signature transparent design, but they differ in build quality and Glyph implementation. The 4b uses a polycarbonate unibody with a UV-coated finish and the 4a uses a glass back with a plastic frame, covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.
The most visible design element on both phones is the Glyph Bar. The 4b gets an evolved version with 45 mini-LEDs arranged across five squares in four individually addressable zones, housed inside a clear camera module. Nothing says this Glyph Bar is 40% brighter than previous Glyph interfaces with no light leakage across brightness levels. In comparison, the 4a carries 63 mini-LEDs across six individually addressable zones, giving it more granular notification and progress customisation. Both offer the same core Glyph functions, including charging status, timers, ride and delivery progress and the red recording light, but the 4a has more customizable notification mapping available.
The 4b is marginally larger and heavier (210 g vs 204.5 g), though both share the same 8.6 mm thickness. Both carry an IP64 dust and water resistance rating, tested to withstand submersion in up to 25 cm of water for 20 minutes. The 4b comes in Black, White and Blue; the 4a in Black, White and Blue as well, though with different finishes and materials.
The Phone 4a has a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with 2720 x 1224 pixels resolution and 440 PPI, with a claimed peak brightness of 4,500 nits, 120Hz refresh rate and a PWM frequency of 2,160 Hz. The 4b has a 6.77-inch AMOLED panel at 2344 x 1080 pixels and 381 PPI, with a claimed peak brightness of 2,000 nits, 120Hz refresh rate and a PWM frequency of 480 Hz.
As per the claimed numbers, the 4a is able to get nearly twice as bright outdoors in peak mode. The 2,160 Hz PWM frequency on the 4a is also more eye-friendly for users sensitive to screen flicker, particularly at low brightness levels. The 4a also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision for video content, while the 4b does not have these certifications.
The camera hardware is the biggest differentiator between these two phones. The 4a has a triple camera system: a 50 MP main sensor with a large 1/1.57-inch sensor size and OIS, a 50 MP periscope telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS and an 8 MP ultrawide. The 4b has a dual camera system: a 50 MP main sensor on a smaller 1/2.76-inch sensor with OIS and the same 8 MP ultrawide.
The 4a’s sensor captures significantly more light than the 4b’s sensor, at least on paper, which translates to better low-light photography and more dynamic range in challenging conditions. The 4a’s slightly wider aperture of f/1.9 versus the 4b’s f/1.8 is a minor offset in the 4b’s favour, but the sensor size advantage of the 4a more than compensates.
The 4a’s periscope telephoto is the camera the 4b simply cannot match. If zoom photography matters to you, whether for portraits, sports or travel shots, the 4a is the only option here with an optical advantage. The 4a also records Dolby Vision HDR video, which the 4b does not. The selfie camera also favours the 4a considerably with a 32 MP sensor versus the 4b’s 16 MP.
Both phones are built on a 4nm Qualcomm chipset and share the same Adreno 810 GPU, which means graphics performance in gaming and video tasks should be comparable between them. The CPU configuration differs, however. The 4a’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 runs a prime core at 2.7 GHz and performance cores at 2.4 GHz, while the 4b’s Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 tops out at 2.3 GHz on the prime core and 2.2 GHz on performance cores. For everyday use and multitasking, both phones should feel smooth and responsive, but for sustained heavy workloads the 4a is the better choice.
Storage speed is another area where the 4a has an advantage: UFS 3.1 versus the 4b’s UFS 2.2. This matters for app install times, file transfers and large file operations, though typical users may not notice it in casual daily use. The 4a also offers a 12 GB RAM configuration and the 4b does not have that option, topping out at 8 GB. Both phones ship with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16 and offer three years of Android updates and six years of security patches.
One connectivity point where the 4b actually leads as it ships with Bluetooth 6.0, compared to the 4a’s Bluetooth 5.4.
In India, the Phone 4b ships with a 6,000 mAh cell, which Nothing describes as the largest battery in any Nothing phone. On the other hand, the 4a carries a 5,400 mAh battery. Just in terms of capacity, the 4b offers a 600 mAh advantage but the trade-off is the charging speed.
The 4a charges at 50W, reaching 50% in 22 minutes and 100% in 64 minutes. The 4b charges at 33W, reaching 50% in 27 minutes and 100% in 80 minutes. If you are a heavy daily user who tends to run the phone down to low battery mid-day, the 4a’s faster charging may matter more than the 4b’s bigger tank. If you are the kind of user who charges overnight and rarely needs a midday top-up, the 4b’s larger capacity works in its favour. Both phones support 7.5W reverse wired charging.
The Phone 4b is not just a lesser Phone 4a. It makes a case for itself on battery size, price and a cleaner design. For a buyer who prioritises endurance over everything else, it is the stronger option between the two. However, the Phone 4a is the more capable phone, be it in display quality, camera hardware or storage speed.
At Rs 34,999 for the 4b versus Rs 37,999 for the 4a, the Rs 3,000 price gap is narrow enough that the 4a’s advantages are worth the premium for most buyers who are stretching to this price range at all. Buy the 4b if battery life is your single biggest daily priority and you’re on a budget. Buy the 4a if you care about cameras, display quality or have the flexibility to spend a little more.
Also Read: Nothing Phone 4b in Digit Test Labs: The most interesting phone under Rs 35000?