Nothing Phone (3a) Lite vs Google Pixel 7a: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a modern design, the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite is the better choice. While the Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 offers a slight performance edge and a superior display, the 3a Lite’s significantly longer battery endurance and faster charging make it more practical for daily use.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) Lite | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, October 29 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, October 29 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back (Panda Glass) | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164 x 78 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 3.07 x 0.33 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G615 MC2 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.5 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| 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/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 20 min 5W reverse wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | A001T | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) 1.28 W/kg (body) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 53:56h endurance, 1400 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class A | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
- Exceptional battery life (53:56h endurance)
- Faster 33W wired charging
- Modern design with unique aesthetic
- Camera performance is unproven
- Display brightness likely lower than Pixel 7a
Google Pixel 7a
- Excellent camera quality and image processing
- Brighter and more color-accurate display (1070 nits)
- Powerful Tensor G2 chipset for demanding tasks
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Shorter battery life compared to Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 7a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1070 nits, compared to an unstated value for the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite. This brightness advantage translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s display specs are currently unknown, the Pixel 7a’s OLED panel delivers vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The Pixel 7a’s display is likely to have a standard 60Hz refresh rate, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s refresh rate is unknown, but a higher refresh rate would be a benefit for smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7a is renowned for its camera capabilities, leveraging Google’s computational photography prowess. While specific sensor details are missing for both phones, the Pixel 7a’s image processing is a key differentiator, delivering consistently excellent results in various lighting conditions. The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite’s camera performance is less established, but the chipset’s image signal processor (ISP) will play a crucial role. The Pixel 7a’s video recording capabilities are also likely superior, benefiting from the Tensor G2’s dedicated hardware. We can expect the Pixel 7a to excel in dynamic range and low-light performance.
Performance
The chipset is where these phones diverge significantly. The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Pro (4nm), while the Pixel 7a is powered by Google’s Tensor G2 (5nm). The Tensor G2, with its Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.85 GHz, offers a theoretical single-core performance advantage. However, the Dimensity 7300 Pro’s newer architecture and 4nm process node may offer better efficiency and sustained performance under load. The Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 benefits from Google’s machine learning capabilities, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. Both phones feature an octa-core CPU configuration, but the core arrangement differs, with the Pixel 7a having a more aggressive big.LITTLE setup.
Battery Life
Battery life is a clear win for the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite. Its endurance rating of 53:56h significantly surpasses the Pixel 7a’s older 76h rating. This translates to a full day or more of usage on a single charge, even with demanding tasks. The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite also supports 33W wired charging, allowing for a 50% charge in just 20 minutes, while the Pixel 7a is limited to 18W wired charging. The Nothing Phone (3a) Lite also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 7a.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite if you need exceptional battery life, prioritize fast charging, and appreciate a unique, transparent design aesthetic. You’ll benefit from a phone that can easily last a full day, even with heavy usage. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you value Google’s computational photography, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and a slightly more powerful processor for demanding tasks like video editing or gaming.