Nothing Phone 3 vs Nothing Phone 3a : The Nothing brand has made a mark in the smartphone market with its unique design and transparent back panel. The company’s flagship model Nothing Phone 3 and budget friendly version Nothing Phone 3a both launched in 2025. Both the phones look very similar, but there is a big difference in features, performance and price. Let’s know which one will be better for you.
Design and Build
The Nothing Phone 3 comes with a premium aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass protection and IP68 rating, which makes it better protected from dust and water. It weighs around 218 grams and gives a very solid feel when held in hand. On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 3a has a glass back with a plastic frame and has an IP64 rating, which means it is safe only up to light water splashes. Both phones have a transparent design and Glyph light system, but the Phone 3 has a special effect of Glyph Matrix LED which makes it more premium.
Display
The Nothing Phone 3 has a 6.67-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1.5K (1260×2800) and the brightness can go up to 4000 nits. It also has Gorilla Glass Victus protection. The Phone 3a has a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080p and brightness up to 3000 nits. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate, but the Phone 3’s display is sharper and brighter.
Performance
The Nothing Phone 3 has the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, which gives flagship level performance. It has the option of up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The Phone 3a has a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which is good for daily tasks and mid-level gaming, but not as powerful as the Phone 3 for high-end gaming and heavy tasks.
Camera
The Phone 3 has a 50MP triple camera setup that includes wide, periscope telephoto, and ultrawide lenses. It supports 3x optical zoom and 4K video. The Phone 3a also has a triple camera but has an 8MP ultrawide lens and 2x optical zoom. Photo quality is good but the Phone 3 is ahead in terms of zoom and detail.
Battery and charging
The Phone 3 has a 5150mAh (global) or 5500mAh (India) battery, which supports 65W fast charging and wireless charging. The Phone 3a has a 5000mAh battery and 50W fast charging, but there is no wireless charging option.
Software and updates
Both phones come with Android 15 and Nothing OS. Phone 3 will get OS updates for 5 years and security updates for 7 years, while Phone 3a will get OS updates for 3 years and security updates for 6 years.
Price
Phone 3a starts at around $379 (approximately ₹31,500), while Phone 3 costs around $799 (approximately ₹66,500). That is, Phone 3a falls in the mid-range category and Phone 3 in the flagship segment.
Who should buy it?
If you want top-class performance, premium design and advanced camera, then Nothing Phone 3 will be better for you. But if you want a stylish phone in a low budget with good features and performance, then Nothing Phone 3a is a great option.