Nothing Phone (3a) vs ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

The Nothing Phone (3a) (2025) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra (2022) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. By overall MobileRank rating, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra leads — 71/100 vs 60/100 (a 11-point difference). Key differences: the main camera is 50 MP vs 64 MP; the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is faster in AnTuTu (1,290,942 vs 1,044,507).

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is noticeably better than the Nothing Phone (3a) — the overall rating gap is 11 points.
Profile comparison
Category scores
Nothing Phone (3a)
Performance 60
Display 79
Camera 61
Battery 48
Portability 54
Value for money 62
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
Performance 69
Display 80
Camera 86
Battery 52
Portability 52
Value for money
What makes Nothing Phone (3a) better?
  • Lighter: 201g vs 204g

  • Better portability (54/100 vs 52/100)
What makes ZTE Axon 40 Ultra better?
  • Higher AnTuTu: 1290942 vs 1044507
  • Better Geekbench Single: 1675 vs 1162
  • Better Geekbench Multi: 4453 vs 3315
  • Faster charging: 65W vs 45W
  • Better main camera: 64MP vs 50MP

  • Higher performance (69/100 vs 60/100)
  • Better camera (86/100 vs 61/100)
  • Longer battery life (52/100 vs 48/100)
  • Better display (80/100 vs 79/100)
Comparison verdict

Comparing the Nothing Phone (3a) vs the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra scores 11 points higher (71/100 vs 60/100). In the "camera" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra leads (86/100 vs 61/100). In the "performance" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a bit better (69/100 vs 60/100). In the "display" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (80/100 vs 79/100). In the "camera" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (86/100 vs 61/100). In the "battery" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (52/100 vs 48/100). In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) and the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra are nearly equal (54/100 vs 52/100).

Nothing Phone (3a): The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users.
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra: The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a better fit for active users, mobile photography enthusiasts.
Specs comparison
Specification Nothing Phone (3a) ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
AnTuTu 1044507 1290942
Geekbench Single 1162 1675
Geekbench Multi 3315 4453
Display 6.8" AMOLED 6.8" AMOLED
Resolution 2392x1080 1116x2480
Refresh rate 120 Hz 120 Hz
Battery 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
Charging 45W 65W
Main camera 50 MP 64 MP
Ultrawide 8 MP 64 MP
Telephoto 50 MP 64 MP
Front camera 32 MP 16 MP
RAM 8GB / 12GB 8GB / 12GB / 16GB
Storage 128GB / 256GB 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB
OS Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 Android 12, MyOS 12
Brightness (peak) 3000 nits 1500 nits
NFC yes yes
Protection IP54
Dimensions 163.5×77.5×8.4 mm 163.3×73.6×8.4 mm
Weight 201 g 204 g
Price $329
Camera comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
  • Main: 50MP f/f/1.9
  • Ultrawide: 8MP
  • Telephoto: 50MP
  • Front: 32MP
61
camera
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  • Main: 64MP f/f/1.6
  • Ultrawide: 64MP
  • Telephoto: 64MP
  • Front: 16MP
86
camera
Display comparison
Nothing Phone (3a)
  • 6.8" AMOLED
  • Resolution: 2392x1080
  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz
79
display
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  • 6.8" AMOLED
  • Resolution: 1116x2480
  • Refresh rate: 120 Hz
80
display
Battery and charging
Nothing Phone (3a)
  • 5000 mAh
  • Wired: 45W
  • No wireless charging
48
battery
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
  • 5000 mAh
  • Wired: 65W
  • No wireless charging
52
battery
Overall performance score

We compared Nothing Phone (3a) and ZTE Axon 40 Ultra, covering their specs and all relevant benchmarks.

Nothing Phone (3a) Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
60/100
1044507 AnTuTu
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
71/100 +19.1%
1290942 AnTuTu

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra leads Nothing Phone (3a) by 19.1% in our overall performance rating.

Benchmarks
Price and availability
Nothing Phone (3a)
$329
ZTE Axon 40 Ultra
Price unknown
Detailed category analysis
performance

In the "performance" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a bit better (69/100 vs 60/100).

display

In the "display" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (80/100 vs 79/100).

camera

In the "camera" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra notably outperforms the Nothing Phone (3a) (86/100 vs 61/100).

battery

In the "battery" category, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra and the Nothing Phone (3a) are nearly equal (52/100 vs 48/100).

portability

In the "portability" category, the Nothing Phone (3a) and the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra are nearly equal (54/100 vs 52/100).

Frequently asked questions
Which is better: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is noticeably better than the Nothing Phone (3a) — the overall rating gap is 11 points.

What is the rating of the Nothing Phone (3a) and the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?

The Nothing Phone (3a) has a MobileRank rating of 60/100, the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra — 71/100.

Which has the better camera: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra leads on camera score (86/100 vs 61/100).

Which is more powerful: the Nothing Phone (3a) or the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?

The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra leads on performance (69/100 vs 60/100).

Should you choose the Nothing Phone (3a) over the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?

The Nothing Phone (3a) is a better fit for active users. The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra is a better fit for active users, mobile photography enthusiasts.