The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro passed the durability test without surprises, but a nuance was found with water protection.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro – Reliability Test and an Unexpected Water‑Resistance Quirk

The new Nothing Phone (4a) Pro smartphone has successfully passed a series of tests, confirming its status as one of the most reliable devices in the mid‑price segment. However, an independent test revealed a design feature that could significantly reduce water resistance when handling the SIM card tray carelessly.

What JerryRigEverything Tested
YouTube channel JerryRigEverything (Zack Nelson) performed standard checks:

Design “narrow spot”
The key issue was the design of the microphone hole located near the SIM card slot.

Nelson discovered that a typical SIM tray removal tool can accidentally puncture the waterproof membrane that provides the IP65 rating (dust and water protection).

* What happens when it’s pierced? – The membrane is damaged, but an additional internal waterproof layer protects the device. This preserves basic water resistance even after the outer membrane is nicked.

* Why does this matter? – Many other smartphones lack such “dual” protection; their waterproof layer can be easily damaged by a single simple motion, making the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro more reliable in this regard.

Test Results
* Flex test – The device performed excellently, which is a good result for a mid‑range smartphone.

* Overall verdict – Nelson called the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro “the best‑built Nothing device” and noted that it passed the durability test “with flying colors.”

Thus, the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro demonstrates high build reliability, and the additional internal waterproof layer protects against accidental damage to the outer membrane. This makes it one of the most reliably built smartphones in its segment.