Nothing Phone (3) vs Nothing Phone (3a)
The Nothing Phone (3) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, while the Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3; launch prices were $799 and $329. By overall MobileRank rating, the Nothing Phone (3) leads — 77/100 vs 60/100 (a 17-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3) has the bigger battery (5150 mAh vs 5000); the Nothing Phone (3) is faster in AnTuTu (2,371,693 vs 1,050,601).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nothing Phone (3)
Nothing Phone (3a)
What makes Nothing Phone (3) better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 2371693 vs 1050601
- Better Geekbench Single: 2162 vs 1161
- Better Geekbench Multi: 6847 vs 3390
- Bigger battery: 5150 vs 5000 mAh
- Faster charging: 65W vs 45W
- Lighter: 198g vs 201g
- Higher performance (82/100 vs 60/100)
- Better camera (81/100 vs 61/100)
- Longer battery life (63/100 vs 48/100)
- Better display (85/100 vs 79/100)
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Cheaper at launch: $329 vs $799
- Better portability (54/100 vs 49/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Nothing Phone (3) vs the Nothing Phone (3a), the Nothing Phone (3) scores 17 points higher (77/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3) leads (82/100 vs 60/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3) leads (81/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3) leads (63/100 vs 48/100). Value score: Nothing Phone (3) — 68/100, 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 Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (82/100 vs 60/100). In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3) is a bit better (85/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (81/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (63/100 vs 48/100). In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (54/100 vs 49/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Nothing Phone (3) | Nothing Phone (3a) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | |
| AnTuTu | 2371693 | 1050601 | |
| Geekbench Single | 2162 | 1161 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 6847 | 3390 | |
| Display | 6.7" AMOLED | 6.8" AMOLED | |
| Resolution | 2800x1260 | 2392x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5150 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 65W | 45W | |
| Wireless charging | 15W | 0W | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 8 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 50 MP | 32 MP | |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB | 8GB / 12GB | |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB | 128GB / 256GB | |
| OS | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.0 | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 4500 nits | 3000 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP68 | IP54 | |
| Dimensions | 160.6×75.6×9.0 mm | 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm | |
| Weight | 198 g | 201 g | |
| Launch price | $799 | $329 |
Camera comparison
Nothing Phone (3)
- Main: 50MP f/1.88
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 50MP
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Display comparison
Nothing Phone (3)
- 6.7" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2800x1260
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Nothing Phone (3)
- 5150 mAh
- Wired: 65W
- Wireless: 15W
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Overall performance score
We compared Nothing Phone (3) and Nothing Phone (3a), covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Nothing Phone (3) leads Nothing Phone (3a) by 125.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $470. Nothing Phone (3a) was $470 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (82/100 vs 60/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Nothing Phone (3) is a bit better (85/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (81/100 vs 61/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3) notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (63/100 vs 48/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) is a bit better (54/100 vs 49/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nothing Phone (3) or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3) is noticeably better than the Nothing Phone (3a) — the overall rating gap is 17 points.
What is the rating of the Nothing Phone (3) and the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3) has a MobileRank rating of 77/100, the Nothing Phone (3a) — 60/100.
Which has the better camera: the Nothing Phone (3) or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3) leads on camera score (81/100 vs 61/100).
Which is more powerful: the Nothing Phone (3) or the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3) leads on performance (82/100 vs 60/100).
Should you choose the Nothing Phone (3) over the Nothing Phone (3a)?
The Nothing Phone (3) is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts. The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users.