Apple iPhone 16e vs Nothing Phone (3a)
Verdict
The Apple iPhone 16e scores higher in 3 of 6 sections (design & durability, performance and connectivity & features), while the Nothing Phone (3a) leads in camera, battery and display.
The biggest difference is camera: 38 vs 77 points.
Choose the Apple iPhone 16e for design & durability and performance; choose the Nothing Phone (3a) for camera and battery.
- iPhone 16e leads in 12 fields
- Phone (3a) leads in 11 fields
- 17 ties
40 scored fields compared
Score by section
| Section scores | iPhone 16e | Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||
| Performance | 85 | 61 |
| Camera | 38 | 77 |
| Battery | 45 | 57 |
| Display | 77 | 85 |
| Design & durability | 83 | 55 |
| Connectivity & features | 71 | 59 |
Full specifications
Performance
- Chipset performance index
- iPhone 16e: 86/100(Better)
- Phone (3a): 50/100
- Chipset
- iPhone 16e: Apple A18
- Phone (3a): Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
- RAM (max)
- iPhone 16e: 8 GB
- Phone (3a): 12 GB(Better)
- Storage (max)
- iPhone 16e: 512 GB(Better)
- Phone (3a): 256 GB
- Process node
- iPhone 16e: 3 nm
- Phone (3a): 4 nm
Camera
- Main camera resolution
- iPhone 16e: 48 MP
- Phone (3a): 50 MP
- Main sensor size
- iPhone 16e: 1/2.55″
- Phone (3a): 1/1.57″(Better)
- Optical stabilization (OIS)
- iPhone 16e: Yes
- Phone (3a): Yes
- Ultra-wide camera
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): Yes(Better)
- Telephoto camera
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): Yes(Better)
- Periscope lens
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- Optical zoom
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): 2×(Better)
- Video recording
- iPhone 16e: 4K 60 fps(Better)
- Phone (3a): 4K 30 fps
- Front camera
- iPhone 16e: 12 MP
- Phone (3a): 32 MP(Better)
- Front camera 4K video
- iPhone 16e: Yes
- Phone (3a): No
Battery
- Battery capacity
- iPhone 16e: 4005 mAh
- Phone (3a): 5000 mAh(Better)
- Battery endurance (EU label)
- iPhone 16e: 41:00 h
- Phone (3a): 43:56 h(Better)
- EU label cycles
- iPhone 16e: 1000
- Phone (3a): 1400
- Wired charging
- iPhone 16e: Unknown
- Phone (3a): 50 W
- Wireless charging
- iPhone 16e: 7.5 W(Better)
- Phone (3a): No
- Reverse charging
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- Reverse charging type
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
Display
- Screen size
- iPhone 16e: 6.1″
- Phone (3a): 6.77″
- Panel type
- iPhone 16e: OLED
- Phone (3a): OLED
- Refresh rate
- iPhone 16e: Unknown
- Phone (3a): 120 Hz
- Pixel density
- iPhone 16e: 460 ppi(Better)
- Phone (3a): 387 ppi
- Peak brightness
- iPhone 16e: 1200 nits
- Phone (3a): 3000 nits(Better)
- Resolution
- iPhone 16e: 1170x2532
- Phone (3a): 1080x2392
- Screen protection
- iPhone 16e: Ceramic Shield glass
- Phone (3a): Panda Glass
Design & durability
- Weight
- iPhone 16e: 167 g(Better)
- Phone (3a): 201 g
- Thickness
- iPhone 16e: 7.8 mm(Better)
- Phone (3a): 8.4 mm
- Dust & water resistance
- iPhone 16e: IP68(Better)
- Phone (3a): IP5x (splash resistant)
- Back material
- iPhone 16e: Glass
- Phone (3a): Glass
- Frame material
- iPhone 16e: Aluminum(Better)
- Phone (3a): Plastic
- EU repairability class
- iPhone 16e: C
- Phone (3a): C
- EU drop resistance class
- iPhone 16e: C
- Phone (3a): C
- EU energy class
- iPhone 16e: B
- Phone (3a): C
Connectivity & features
- 5G
- iPhone 16e: Yes
- Phone (3a): Yes
- Wi-Fi
- iPhone 16e: Wi-Fi 6
- Phone (3a): Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth
- iPhone 16e: 5.3
- Phone (3a): 5.4(Better)
- USB speed
- iPhone 16e: USB 2.0
- Phone (3a): USB 2.0
- USB port
- iPhone 16e: USB-C 2.0
- Phone (3a): USB-C 2.0
- DisplayPort output
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- NFC
- iPhone 16e: Yes
- Phone (3a): Yes
- eSIM
- iPhone 16e: Yes(Better)
- Phone (3a): No
- Ultra-wideband (UWB)
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- Satellite connectivity
- iPhone 16e: Yes(Better)
- Phone (3a): No
- Stereo speakers
- iPhone 16e: Yes
- Phone (3a): Yes
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- Fingerprint reader
- iPhone 16e: None
- Phone (3a): Under display (optical)(Better)
- 3D face unlock
- iPhone 16e: Yes(Better)
- Phone (3a): No
- Infrared blaster
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- FM radio
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- microSD slot
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
- Card slot
- iPhone 16e: No
- Phone (3a): No
General
- Operating system
- iPhone 16e: iOS 18.3.1
- Phone (3a): Android 15
- OS updates (major versions)
- iPhone 16e: Unknown
- Phone (3a): 3
- Launch price
- iPhone 16e: $ 301.34
- Phone (3a): ₹ 32,299
- Year
- iPhone 16e: 2025
- Phone (3a): 2025
Show raw spec textHide raw spec text
Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.
| — | iPhone 16e | Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Network | ||
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66, 71 - A3212, A3408 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66 - A3409 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 - A3410 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3212, A3408 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3409 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A3410 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Launch | ||
| Announced | 2025, February 19 | 2025, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, February 28 | Available. Released 2025, March 11 |
| Body | ||
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) | 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 167 g (5.89 oz) | 201 g (7.09 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Ceramic Shield), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time; International) · eSIM + eSIM (8 or more, max 2 at a time; USA) · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (China) IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 6m for 30 min) | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM IP64 dust tight and water resistant (water splashes) 3 LED light strips on the back (notifications, camera fill light, 26 addressable zones) |
| Display | ||
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) |
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.2 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | Panda Glass Ultra HDR image support |
| Platform | ||
| OS | iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 27.2 | Android 15, upgradable to Android 17, Nothing OS 5, up to 3 major OS updates |
| Chipset | Apple A18 (3 nm) | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x4.04 GHz + 4x2.20 GHz) | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) | Adreno 810 |
| Memory | ||
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM NVMe | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera | ||
| Single | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS | – |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama, 3D (spatial) audio | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, Dolby Vision HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Triple | – | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.74", 0.64µm, PDAF (25cm - ∞), 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Selfie camera | ||
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | 32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.44" |
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR, 3D (spatial) audio, stereo sound rec. | – |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Comms | ||
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Features | ||
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
| Type | Li-Ion 4005 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | Wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) | 50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min |
| Misc | ||
| Colors | Black, White | Black, White, Blue, Community Edition green |
| Models | A3212, A3409, A3410, A3408, iPhone17,5 | A059 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.20 W/kg (body) | – |
| SAR EU | 1.48 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) | – |
| Price | $ 301.34 / € 437.59 / £ 374.98 | ₹ 32,299 |
| EU LABEL | ||
| Energy | Class B | Class C |
| Battery | 41:00h endurance, 1000 cycles | 43:56h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class C |