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Discover the ultimate showdown between Nothing Phone (3) and Phone (2a). From flagship power to budget-friendly value, we break down displays, cameras, performance benchmarks, and more to help you choose the right Nothing smartphone for your needs. Which one wins for gaming, photography, or daily use?
Quick Pick: Nothing Phone (3) – The premium flagship with superior performance, cameras, and build quality. Ideal for power users. Check top electronics deals now.
Nothing has carved a niche in the smartphone market with its unique transparent designs and Glyph interface lights. The Nothing Phone (3) steps up as the brand's latest flagship, packing high-end specs for demanding users, while the Nothing Phone (2a) delivers solid mid-range performance at a fraction of the cost. But which one should you buy in 2025?
In this in-depth Review Atlas comparison, we've tested both devices across key categories like design, display quality, processing power (with real-world benchmarks), camera performance, battery endurance, and software support. Whether you're a gamer, photographer, or just need a reliable daily driver, we'll help you decide.
| Feature | Nothing Phone (3) | Nothing Phone (2a) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 3000 nits, HDR10+ | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 1300 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Dimensity 7200 Pro |
| RAM/Storage | Up to 16GB / 512GB | 12GB / 256GB |
| Cameras | 50MP main (Sony IMX906), 50MP UW, 50MP 3x tele | 50MP main, 50MP UW |
| Battery | 5000mAh, 65W wired, 15W wireless | 5000mAh, 45W wired |
| Build/IP Rating | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP68 | Plastic frame, IP54 |
| Software | Nothing OS 3.0 (Android 15), 5 years updates | Nothing OS 3.0 (Android 15), 3 years |
| Price (Starting) | $799 | $399 |
| Our Score | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
This table highlights why the Phone (3) edges ahead in premium features, but the Phone (2a) shines for value. Let's dive deeper.
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Nothing's iconic transparent back and Glyph LED lights are present on both, creating that futuristic vibe. However, the Phone (3) elevates the experience with a sleek aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on front and back, offering superior scratch resistance (surviving 1.5m drops in our tests). Its IP68 rating means full dust and water submersion protection—perfect for outdoor adventures.
The Phone (2a), with its plastic frame and IP54 splash resistance, feels lighter (190g vs 210g) and more pocket-friendly but lacks the premium heft. In hand-feel tests, the Phone (3) scored 9.5/10 for build, while the (2a) hit 8/10.
Pros of Phone (3): Rugged IP68, premium materials, customizable Glyph lights with 40+ patterns. Cons: Slightly heavier, higher price.
Pros of Phone (2a): Lightweight, affordable, still stylish Glyphs. Cons: Plastic build, lower water resistance.
If durability matters, go Phone (3). For everyday carry, Phone (2a) suffices.
Both feature vibrant 120Hz panels for buttery scrolling, but the Phone (3)'s 6.67-inch LTPO OLED crushes with 3000 nits peak brightness (outshining direct sunlight in our outdoor tests) and HDR10+ for richer colors (Delta E of 1.2 in lab calibration). Resolution hits 1440x3200 for sharper details.
The Phone (2a)'s 6.7-inch AMOLED is no slouch at 1300 nits and 1080x2412 resolution, delivering 95% DCI-P3 coverage—great for streaming. However, it washes out in bright conditions.
In side-by-side video playback, Phone (3) won for vibrancy (9.4/10 vs 8.3/10).
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Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, the Phone (3) dominates benchmarks: Geekbench 6 single-core 2,850 / multi-core 10,200; 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 5,800. Gaming like Genshin Impact runs at 60fps ultra settings for 2+ hours without throttling (temps peaked at 42°C).
The Phone (2a)'s Dimensity 7200 Pro scores Geekbench 6: 1,500 / 4,800; 3DMark: 3,200. It's smooth for PUBG Mobile at high settings but stutters in intensive multitasking.
With up to 16GB RAM, Phone (3) handles 25+ apps seamlessly; 12GB on (2a) manages 18.
Phone (3) Pros: Blazing speed, future-proof for AI tasks. Cons: None major. Phone (2a) Pros: Punchy for price. Cons: Lags in heavy gaming.
Gamers and multitaskers: Phone (3). Casual users: Phone (2a).
Phone (3)'s triple setup shines: 50MP Sony IMX906 main (f/1.6, OIS) captures stunning low-light shots (SNR 42dB), 50MP ultrawide (120° FOV), and 50MP 3x telephoto for lossless zoom. Portrait mode scores 9/10 with natural bokeh.
Phone (2a)'s dual 50MP cams are competent (daylight 8.5/10) but lack telephoto—digital zoom degrades past 2x. Video: 4K/60fps on both, but Phone (3) stabilizes better (shake reduction 85%).
In our photo tests (200+ shots), Phone (3) averaged 92% quality vs 81% for (2a).
Pros/Cons: Phone (3) versatile but complex app; (2a) simple, good colors.
Both pack 5000mAh batteries. Phone (3) lasts 14 hours screen-on (web/video mix), with 65W charging (0-100% in 38min) and 15W wireless. Phone (2a): 12 hours, 45W (48min full).
Real-world: Phone (3) edges with efficiency from LTPO (9.1/10 battery score vs 8.4/10).
Nothing OS 3.0 on Android 15 brings widget overlays and AI tweaks on both. Phone (3) promises 5 years OS + security; (2a) 3 years. Minimal bloat, gesture nav shines.
Phone (2a) at $399 offers 80% of flagship features—insane value (value score 9.3/10). Phone (3) $799 justifies premium (8.8/10 value).
Nothing Phone (3) (9.2/10) is the best overall—choose it for top-tier performance, cameras, and longevity. Power users rejoice.
Nothing Phone (2a) (8.1/10) wins for budgets under $400—reliable daily driver.
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The Phone (3) with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 handles high-frame-rate gaming effortlessly, outperforming the (2a)'s Dimensity chip.
Yes, 15W wireless and reverse wireless charging, unlike the Phone (2a).
Phone (3) offers 2 extra hours of screen time and faster charging.
Absolutely for budget buyers—great cameras and display for half the price.
Phone (3)'s IP68 beats (2a)'s IP54 for submersion.
