Apple iPhone Air vs Nothing Phone (3a)
The Apple iPhone Air (2025) runs on the Apple A19 Pro, while the Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3; launch prices were $999 and $329. By overall MobileRank rating, the Apple iPhone Air leads — 75/100 vs 60/100 (a 15-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3a) has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 3149); the main camera is 48 MP vs 50 MP; the Apple iPhone Air is faster in AnTuTu (2,538,751 vs 1,050,601); the Apple iPhone Air is noticeably lighter (165g vs 201g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Apple iPhone Air
Nothing Phone (3a)
What makes Apple iPhone Air better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 2538751 vs 1050601
- Better Geekbench Single: 3850 vs 1161
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9800 vs 3390
- Lighter: 165g vs 201g
- Higher performance (92/100 vs 60/100)
- Better camera (73/100 vs 61/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 79/100)
- Better portability (96/100 vs 54/100)
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 3149 mAh
- Faster charging: 45W vs 40W
- Better main camera: 50MP vs 48MP
- Cheaper at launch: $329 vs $999
- Longer battery life (48/100 vs 26/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Apple iPhone Air vs the Nothing Phone (3a), the Apple iPhone Air scores 15 points higher (75/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air leads (92/100 vs 60/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air leads (73/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (48/100 vs 26/100). Value score: Apple iPhone Air — 60/100, Nothing Phone (3a) — 56/100; it shows how far a model sits above or below the usual level for its price, and is not part of the overall rating. In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (92/100 vs 60/100). In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone Air is a bit better (85/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air is a bit better (73/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (48/100 vs 26/100). In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (96/100 vs 54/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Apple iPhone Air | Nothing Phone (3a) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple A19 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | |
| AnTuTu | 2538751 | 1050601 | |
| Geekbench Single | 3850 | 1161 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 9800 | 3390 | |
| Display | 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2736x1260 | 2392x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 3149 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 40W | 45W | |
| Wireless charging | 25W | 0W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | 141 | — | |
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 0 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 0 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB / 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | iOS 26 | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 3000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP54 | |
| Dimensions | 6.0×74.7×5.6 mm | 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 165 g | 201 g | |
| Launch price | $999 | $329 |
Camera comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- Main: 48MP f/1.6
- Front: 12MP
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Apple iPhone Air
- 6.5" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED
- Resolution: 2736x1260
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Apple iPhone Air
- 3149 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 7:48 hrs, total 22:15 hrs
- Wired: 40W
- Wireless: 25W
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Apple iPhone Air and Nothing Phone (3a), covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Apple iPhone Air leads Nothing Phone (3a) by 141.6% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $670. Nothing Phone (3a) was $670 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (92/100 vs 60/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Apple iPhone Air is a bit better (85/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Apple iPhone Air is a bit better (73/100 vs 61/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Apple iPhone Air (48/100 vs 26/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Apple iPhone Air significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (96/100 vs 54/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Apple iPhone Air or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Apple iPhone Air is noticeably better than the Nothing Phone (3a) — the overall rating gap is 15 points.
What is the rating of the Apple iPhone Air and the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Apple iPhone Air has a MobileRank rating of 75/100, the Nothing Phone (3a) — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Apple iPhone Air or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Apple iPhone Air leads on camera score (73/100 vs 61/100).
Which is more powerful: the Apple iPhone Air or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Apple iPhone Air leads on performance (92/100 vs 60/100).
Should you choose the Apple iPhone Air over the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Apple iPhone Air is a better fit for gamers and power users. The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users.