Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (2026) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5; launch prices were $329 and $1299. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads — 84/100 vs 60/100 (a 24-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 50 MP vs 200 MP; the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (3,463,142 vs 1,050,601).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nothing Phone (3a)
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Lighter: 201g vs 214g
- Cheaper at launch: $329 vs $1299
- Better portability (54/100 vs 51/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 3463142 vs 1050601
- Better Geekbench Single: 3601 vs 1161
- Better Geekbench Multi: 10686 vs 3390
- Faster charging: 60W vs 45W
- Better main camera: 200MP vs 50MP
- Higher performance (96/100 vs 60/100)
- Better camera (86/100 vs 61/100)
- Longer battery life (61/100 vs 48/100)
- Better display (88/100 vs 79/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Nothing Phone (3a) vs the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra scores 24 points higher (84/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (96/100 vs 60/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads (61/100 vs 48/100). Value score: Nothing Phone (3a) — 56/100, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 78/100; 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 Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (96/100 vs 60/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (86/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (61/100 vs 48/100). In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (54/100 vs 51/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Nothing Phone (3a) | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | |
| AnTuTu | 1050601 | 3463142 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1161 | 3601 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3390 | 10686 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 2392x1080 | 3120x1440 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 60W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 25W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | — | 157 | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 200 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 50 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 12GB / 16GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | |
| OS | Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 16 / One UI 8.5 | |
| Brightness (peak) | 3000 nits | 2600 nits | |
| NFC | yes | yes | |
| Protection | IP54 | IP68 | |
| Dimensions | 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm | 163.6×78.1×7.9 mm | |
| Weight | 201 g | 214 g | |
| Launch price | $329 | $1299 |
Camera comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- Main: 200MP f/1.7
- Ultrawide: 50MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 6.9" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 3120x1440
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
- 5000 mAh
- NanoReview test: web browsing 10:12 hrs, total 28:50 hrs
- Wired: 60W
- Wireless: 25W
Overall performance score
We compared Nothing Phone (3a) and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads Nothing Phone (3a) by 69.7% in our overall performance rating.
Benchmarks
Launch prices and where to check today's
Launch price difference: $970. Nothing Phone (3a) was $970 cheaper at launch.
Detailed category analysis
performance
In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (96/100 vs 60/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (88/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (86/100 vs 61/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a bit better (61/100 vs 48/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra are nearly equal (54/100 vs 51/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) by 24 points (84/100 vs 60/100).
What is the rating of the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Nothing Phone (3a) has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — 84/100.
Which has the better camera: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 61/100).
Which is more powerful: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leads on performance (96/100 vs 60/100).
Should you choose the Nothing Phone (3a) over the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a better fit for gamers and power users, mobile photography enthusiasts, budget-conscious buyers.