Price and storage variants
If we talk about the budget, then all three phones are almost in the same price range. The Poco M 8.5 G is priced at Rs 21,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, Rs 22,999 for the 8GB + 128GB and Rs 24,999 for the 8GB + 256GB.
The Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G is priced at Rs. 21,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant and Rs. 23,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant. The OnePlus N6 is priced at Rs 22,999 for the 4GB + 128GB variant and Rs 24,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant.
That is, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite and Poco M8 are both at the same price for 8GB + 128GB. However, in terms of storage, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite 256GB variant is cheaper by Rs 1000 than Poco.
Display - Which is better?
In terms of display, the Poco M 8.5 G looks quite advanced. It features a 6.77 -inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x2392 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and 3200 nits of peak brightness.
This is the brightest display in this segment, which will look very clear even in sunlight. It also gets 3840Hz PWM dimming, which is good for the eyes.
Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G is no less. The 6.77 -inch FHD + AMOLED display comes with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 3000 nits peak brightness. On the other hand, the OnePlus N6 features a 6.75 -inch HD + LCD display with a resolution of 1570x720 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and 1200 nits peak brightness.
Clearly, the OnePlus N6 is far behind both its competitors in terms of display. The basic difference between AMOLED and LCD is also quite large, and the display brightness of Poco and Nothing is more than double that of OnePlus.
Processor and Performance
In terms of performance, all three phones have different chipsets. The OnePlus N6 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6360 processor. The Poco M 8.5 G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. At the same time, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G gets the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset.
The most powerful of these is Nothing's Dimensity 7300 Pro, which is built on 4nm. Next comes the number of Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, which is considered to be very good in thermal management. The Dimensity 6360 may lag a bit behind these two. However, all three phones are enough for everyday use, but Nothing's Dimensity 7300 Pro is the best option for heavy gaming or multitasking.
What's the right camera for photography?
In terms of camera, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G is far ahead. It has a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The Poco M 8.5 G has a 50MP primary and a 2MP depth sensor, while the OnePlus N6 has a single 50MP camera.
Nothing's 8MP ultra-wide camera allows you to take better group photos and landscape shots. For selfies, the Poco M8 has a 20MP front camera, Nothing has a 16MP camera, and the OnePlus N6 has an 8MP front camera. If selfies are your priority, the Poco M8 wins here.
Battery and Charging
The OnePlus N6 is the king in this segment. It packs an 8000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support. The Poco M 8.5 G packs a 5520mAh battery with 45W charging support. The Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G comes with a 5000mAh battery with 33W charging.
If you are a user who has to charge two-three times a day, then the OnePlus N6 can prove to be a game-changer for you. The 8000mAh battery can easily give you two days of backup. The Poco 5520mAh is also quite good, while the 5000mAh of Nothing is the same as today's flagships.
Software and Connectivity
The OnePlus N6 runs on OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16. The Nothing Phone 3a Lite runs on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, while the Poco M 8.5 G runs on HyperOS 2 based on Android 15. In terms of connectivity, the Nothing has Wi-Fi 6 and NFC, while the Poco M8 has Wi-Fi 5 and no NFC. The OnePlus N6 has Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.3.
Nothing is known for clean and bloatware-free software, and its glyph interface is also liked by users. OnePlus's OxygenOS is also fast and clean, while Poco's HyperOS can get some pre-installed apps. However, if you need NFC, then you will have to choose the Nothing Phone 3a Lite.
Connectivity and other features
There are some differences between the three in terms of connectivity options. The OnePlus N6 comes with 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v 5.3, and a USB Type-C port.
The Poco M 8.5 G has 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v 5.1, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. The Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G offers 5G, dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and NFC. In terms of IP65 rating, the Poco M8 is at the forefront, while Nothing and OnePlus have IP64 rating.
Poco's IP65 rating means it is completely dust-resistant and can defend against low-pressure water jets.
Which phone is best for you?
So now you have a complete picture of all three phones in front of you. If you want the most stunning display, the Poco M 8.5 G 's 3200 nits AMOLED display is unmatched.
If your focus is on the camera and clean software, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G offers a great OS experience with an ultra-wide camera and NFC. And if your biggest need is a long battery backup, the OnePlus N6's 8000mAh battery is no less than a marathon runner.
The OnePlus N6 has an 8000mAh battery backup, the Poco M8 has a great AMOLED display, and the Nothing Phone 3a Lite has a great software experience. With a little thought, you can choose any of them according to your preference.
Conclusion
The OnePlus N6, Poco M 8.5 G, and Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G are the three best options in the Rs 20,000-25, 000 segment in the Indian market. The Poco M 8.5 G has a stunning AMOLED display of 3200 nits and balanced performance.
The Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G comes with clean software, Dimensity 7300 Pro processor and ultra-wide camera. The OnePlus N 6.8000 mAh battery is perfect for battery lovers with Android 16 and OxygenOS 16.
If you need the most battery, then OnePlus N6, if you need the best display, then Poco M8 and if you need software-camera combo, then Nothing Phone 3a Lite is the best.
This comparison will help you make the right decision. Stay tuned to timesbull.com for more smartphone comparisons, reviews, and tech news.
