Nothing Phone (2a) vs Nothing Phone (3a)

Verdict

The Nothing Phone (2a) is not clearly ahead in any section, while the Nothing Phone (3a) leads in camera, display and design & durability; they are even on performance, battery and connectivity & features.

The biggest difference is camera: 59 vs 77 points.

The Nothing Phone (3a) is the newer model, announced 12 months after the Nothing Phone (2a).

Phone (2a) leads in 3 fields
Phone (3a) leads in 7 fields
29 ties

39 scored fields compared

Score by section

Section scores	Phone (2a)	Phone (3a)
Overall
Performance	61	61
Camera	59	77
Battery	56	57
Display	77	85
Design & durability	51	55
Connectivity & features	59	59

Full specifications

Only differences

Performance

Chipset performance index: Phone (2a): 50/100; Phone (3a): 50/100
Chipset: Phone (2a): Dimensity 7200 Pro; Phone (3a): Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
RAM (max): Phone (2a): 12 GB; Phone (3a): 12 GB
Storage (max): Phone (2a): 256 GB; Phone (3a): 256 GB
Process node: Phone (2a): 4 nm; Phone (3a): 4 nm

Camera

Main camera resolution: Phone (2a): 50 MP; Phone (3a): 50 MP
Main sensor size: Phone (2a): 1/1.56″(Better); Phone (3a): 1/1.57″
Optical stabilization (OIS): Phone (2a): Yes; Phone (3a): Yes
Ultra-wide camera: Phone (2a): Yes; Phone (3a): Yes
Telephoto camera: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): Yes(Better)
Periscope lens: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Optical zoom: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): 2×(Better)
Video recording: Phone (2a): 4K 30 fps; Phone (3a): 4K 30 fps
Front camera: Phone (2a): 32 MP; Phone (3a): 32 MP
Front camera 4K video: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No

Battery

Battery capacity: Phone (2a): 5000 mAh; Phone (3a): 5000 mAh
Battery endurance (EU label): Phone (2a): Unknown; Phone (3a): 43:56 h
EU label cycles: Phone (2a): Unknown; Phone (3a): 1400
Wired charging: Phone (2a): 45 W; Phone (3a): 50 W(Better)
Wireless charging: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Reverse charging: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Reverse charging type: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No

Display

Screen size: Phone (2a): 6.7″; Phone (3a): 6.77″
Panel type: Phone (2a): OLED; Phone (3a): OLED
Refresh rate: Phone (2a): 120 Hz; Phone (3a): 120 Hz
Pixel density: Phone (2a): 394 ppi(Better); Phone (3a): 387 ppi
Peak brightness: Phone (2a): 1300 nits; Phone (3a): 3000 nits(Better)
Resolution: Phone (2a): 1080x2412; Phone (3a): 1080x2392
Screen protection: Phone (2a): Corning Gorilla Glass 5; Phone (3a): Panda Glass

Design & durability

Weight: Phone (2a): 190 g(Better); Phone (3a): 201 g
Thickness: Phone (2a): 8.6 mm; Phone (3a): 8.4 mm(Better)
Dust & water resistance: Phone (2a): IP5x (splash resistant); Phone (3a): IP5x (splash resistant)
Back material: Phone (2a): Plastic; Phone (3a): Glass(Better)
Frame material: Phone (2a): Plastic; Phone (3a): Plastic
EU repairability class: Phone (2a): Unknown; Phone (3a): C
EU drop resistance class: Phone (2a): Unknown; Phone (3a): C
EU energy class: Phone (2a): Unknown; Phone (3a): C

Connectivity & features

5G: Phone (2a): Yes; Phone (3a): Yes
Wi-Fi: Phone (2a): Wi-Fi 6; Phone (3a): Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth: Phone (2a): 5.3; Phone (3a): 5.4(Better)
USB speed: Phone (2a): USB 2.0; Phone (3a): USB 2.0
USB port: Phone (2a): USB-C 2.0; Phone (3a): USB-C 2.0
DisplayPort output: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
NFC: Phone (2a): Yes; Phone (3a): Yes
eSIM: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Ultra-wideband (UWB): Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Satellite connectivity: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Stereo speakers: Phone (2a): Yes; Phone (3a): Yes
3.5 mm headphone jack: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Fingerprint reader: Phone (2a): Under display (optical); Phone (3a): Under display (optical)
3D face unlock: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Infrared blaster: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
FM radio: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
microSD slot: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No
Card slot: Phone (2a): No; Phone (3a): No

General

Operating system: Phone (2a): Android 14; Phone (3a): Android 15
OS updates (major versions): Phone (2a): 3; Phone (3a): 3
Launch price: Phone (2a): About 370 EUR; Phone (3a): ₹ 32,299
Year: Phone (2a): 2024; Phone (3a): 2025

Show raw spec text

Original text from the source spec sheet, for reference.

—	Phone (2a)	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 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA	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	2024, March 05	2025, March 04
Status	Available. Released 2024, March 12	Available. Released 2025, March 11
Body
Dimensions	161.7 x 76.3 x 8.6 mm (6.37 x 3.00 x 0.34 in)	163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in)
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	201 g (7.09 oz)
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM 3 LED light strips on the back (notifications, camera fill light, 26 addressable zones) IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes)	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	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 700 nits (typ), 1100 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)	AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution	1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density)	1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density)
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Panda Glass Ultra HDR image support
Platform
OS	Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major OS updates, Nothing OS 3.0	Android 15, upgradable to Android 17, Nothing OS 5, up to 3 major OS updates
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 7200 Pro (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm)
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 6x 2.0 Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520)
GPU	Mali-G610 MC4	Adreno 810
Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM UFS 2.2
Main Camera
Dual	50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm	–
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60/120fps, gyro-EIS	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	32 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm	32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.44"
Features	HDR	–
Video	1080p@60fps	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, Wi-Fi Direct	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, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS	GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
NFC	Yes, 360˚	Yes
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Type	5000 mAh	5000 mAh
Charging	45W wired, 50% in 23 min, 100% in 1 hour	50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min
Misc
Colors	Black, White, Milk, Blue	Black, White, Blue, Community Edition green
Models	A142	A059
Price	About 370 EUR	₹ 32,299
EU LABEL
Energy	–	Class C
Battery	–	43:56h endurance, 1400 cycles
Free fall	–	Class C (90 falls)
Repairability	–	Class C