PhonicSpecs editorial answer — research checked October 5, 2026. This is a source-based recommendation, not a claim that we own or personally tested these phones.
My camera-first shortlist starts with Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, subject to US carrier compatibility. Its dedicated telephoto makes it worth examining for travel and portraits. Samsung Galaxy A37 5G is an alternative for buyers who prefer Samsung, but the evidence reviewed here does not establish that it takes better indoor photos.
Current budget check: Nothing's US store shows the silver 8GB/128GB Phone (4a) Pro at $419, reduced from $499. Samsung's US purchase page shows Galaxy A37 5G 128GB at $489.99; its 256GB option is $609.99 and outside this budget. These are observed prices before tax, not a promise that a promotion will continue. Recheck the final unlocked price, availability and warranty before paying. If $500 is your total including tax, the A37 may exceed it. Do not assume a Pixel 10a still qualifies because an older review says $499; verify its current checkout price.
What the camera evidence actually says: Tom's Guide's original Nothing review lists a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom and an 8MP ultrawide. Its later comparison used more than 100 photos against the more expensive Pixel 10: daytime and portraits were tied, Nothing won the 3.5x and 5x zoom categories, and Pixel won low light and ultrawide. This supports considering Nothing for useful zoom, not claiming it beats every flagship or every sub-$500 competitor. The Pixel 10 in that test is not the Pixel 10a.
Samsung specifies a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro and a 12MP front camera. There is no dedicated telephoto in that system. Its six OS upgrades and six years of security updates are another reason to consider it for a longer ownership period. Specifications establish features; they do not establish autofocus reliability with moving pets or comparative image quality.
How I would choose for this question: For travel and moderate zoom, start by examining Nothing's actual photo samples. For indoor children or pets, request repeated moving-subject samples before deciding: compare how often eyes and faces are sharp, not just the single best image. Neither the landscape samples nor stabilization specification answers that question. For night scenes, inspect noise, skin tone and bright lights at the same viewing size. For video, compare walking clips, autofocus changes and sound; the still-photo comparison above does not prove a video winner.
Check the exact US model with your carrier. Nothing's official compatibility guidance says 5G depends on the device, carrier, plan and coverage. Ask your carrier to confirm activation and the features you need for the exact model, rather than assuming that “unlocked” means identical support everywhere.
Sources: Nothing's US store and its compatibility document; Tom's Guide original camera comparison. Samsung's primary price/specification references are in the opening post. The camera hardware was cross-checked against Tom's Guide's original Phone (4a) Pro review.
Owners of either phone: please add the price paid, software version, lens/mode and lighting, and tell us whether your recommendation comes from repeated indoor photos, travel zoom or video. Specific successes and failures will make this shortlist more useful than a general “best camera” claim.
