Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy S26
The Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 (2026) runs on the Samsung Exynos 2600; launch prices were $329 and $799. By overall MobileRank rating, the Samsung Galaxy S26 leads — 74/100 vs 60/100 (a 14-point difference). Key differences: the Nothing Phone (3a) has the bigger battery (5000 mAh vs 4000); the Samsung Galaxy S26 is faster in AnTuTu (2,827,538 vs 1,050,601); the Samsung Galaxy S26 is noticeably lighter (162g vs 201g).
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nothing Phone (3a)
Samsung Galaxy S26
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
- Bigger battery: 5000 vs 4000 mAh
- Faster charging: 45W vs 25W
- Cheaper at launch: $329 vs $799
- Longer battery life (48/100 vs 31/100)
What makes Samsung Galaxy S26 better?
- Higher AnTuTu: 2827538 vs 1050601
- Better Geekbench Single: 2880 vs 1161
- Better Geekbench Multi: 9100 vs 3390
- Lighter: 162g vs 201g
- Higher performance (89/100 vs 60/100)
- Better camera (77/100 vs 61/100)
- Better display (81/100 vs 79/100)
- Better portability (89/100 vs 54/100)
Comparison verdict
Comparing the Nothing Phone (3a) vs the Samsung Galaxy S26, the Samsung Galaxy S26 scores 14 points higher (74/100 vs 60/100). In the "performance" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 leads (89/100 vs 60/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 leads (77/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) leads (48/100 vs 31/100). Value score: Nothing Phone (3a) — 56/100, Samsung Galaxy S26 — 62/100; 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 notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (89/100 vs 60/100). In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (81/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (77/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 (48/100 vs 31/100). In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (89/100 vs 54/100).
Specs comparison
| Specification | Nothing Phone (3a) | Samsung Galaxy S26 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Samsung Exynos 2600 | |
| AnTuTu | 1050601 | 2827538 | |
| Geekbench Single | 1161 | 2880 | |
| Geekbench Multi | 3390 | 9100 | |
| Display | 6.8" AMOLED | 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED 2X | |
| Resolution | 2392x1080 | 2340x1080 | |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz | |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh | |
| Charging | 45W | 25W | |
| Wireless charging | 0W | 15W | |
| DXOMark (camera) | — | 146 | |
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP | |
| Ultrawide | 8 MP | 12 MP | |
| Telephoto | 50 MP | 10 MP | |
| Front camera | 32 MP | 12 MP | |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 12GB | |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB | |
| 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 | 158.4×75.8×7.3 mm | |
| Weight | 201 g | 162 g | |
| Launch price | $329 | $799 |
Camera comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Main: 50MP f/1.9
- Ultrawide: 8MP
- Telephoto: 50MP
- Front: 32MP
Samsung Galaxy S26
- Main: 50MP f/1.8
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Telephoto: 10MP
- Front: 12MP
Display comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 6.8" AMOLED
- Resolution: 2392x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Samsung Galaxy S26
- 6.2" Dynamic AMOLED 2X
- Resolution: 2340x1080
- Refresh rate: 120 Hz
Battery and charging
Nothing Phone (3a)
- 5000 mAh
- Wired: 45W
- No wireless charging
Samsung Galaxy S26
- 4000 mAh
- Wired: 25W
- Wireless: 15W
Overall performance score
We compared Nothing Phone (3a) and Samsung Galaxy S26, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.
Samsung Galaxy S26 leads Nothing Phone (3a) by 62.8% 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 Samsung Galaxy S26 notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (89/100 vs 60/100).
display
In the "display" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (81/100 vs 79/100).
camera
In the "camera" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (77/100 vs 61/100).
battery
In the "battery" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) notably outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S26 (48/100 vs 31/100).
portability
In the "portability" category, the Samsung Galaxy S26 significantly outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (89/100 vs 54/100).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 is noticeably better than the Nothing Phone (3a) — the overall rating gap is 14 points.
What is the rating of the Nothing Phone (3a) and the Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Nothing Phone (3a) has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the Samsung Galaxy S26 — 74/100.
Which has the better camera: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 leads on camera score (77/100 vs 61/100).
Which is more powerful: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Samsung Galaxy S26 leads on performance (89/100 vs 60/100).
Should you choose the Nothing Phone (3a) over the Samsung Galaxy S26?
The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users. The Samsung Galaxy S26 is a better fit for gamers and power users.