Nothing Phone (3a) Pro vs. Google Pixel 8a: Which Mid-Range Champion Reigns Supreme?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Google Pixel 8a emerges as the stronger choice. Its superior display brightness (1508 nits vs 1307 nits) and Google’s image processing deliver a more polished experience. While the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro boasts faster charging and potentially longer battery cycle life (1400 cycles vs 1000), the Pixel 8a’s overall refinement wins out.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) Pro | Google Pixel 8a |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 - G6GPR (International) |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G6GPR (International) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 04 | 2024, May 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 25 | Available. Released 2024, May 14 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - India only | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 211 g (7.44 oz) | 188 g (6.63 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~430 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) | Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 14, upgradable to Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP (16 MP eff.), 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, Ultra HDR, panorama, Best Take |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto) (15cm - ∞), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/2.76" | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, 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, dual/tri-band (market/region dependent) |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless Bypass charging |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4492 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe |
| Models | A059P | GKV4X, G6GPR, G8HHN, G576D |
| Price | € 380.00 | $ 229.98 / C$ 417.99 / £ 279.00 / € 299.99 / ₹ 33,300 |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 43:17h endurance, 1400 cycles | 40:06h endurance, 1000 cycles |
| Energy | Class C | Class B |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class A (270 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class B |
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- Faster 50W charging
- Longer battery cycle life (1400 cycles)
- Unique and eye-catching design
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks
- Lower peak display brightness
Google Pixel 8a
- Superior camera image processing
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Google’s Tensor G3 chip with AI capabilities
- Slower 18W charging
- Lower battery cycle life (1000 cycles)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 8a’s display significantly outshines the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro in peak brightness, reaching 1508 nits compared to the 3a Pro’s 1307 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize 4nm chipsets, the display power draw will impact overall efficiency. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type, but given the price point, both are likely OLED. The Pixel 8a’s superior brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use and HDR content consumption.
Camera Comparison
While detailed camera specs are absent, the Pixel 8a benefits from Google’s renowned computational photography. The Tensor G3 chip is specifically designed to accelerate these algorithms, resulting in superior image processing, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of sensor size information makes a direct comparison difficult, but Google’s software optimization consistently delivers excellent results even with smaller sensors. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro will likely rely more on hardware capabilities, but without Google’s software advantage, it may struggle to match the Pixel 8a’s image quality. We can assume both phones will offer standard features like HDR and night mode, but the Pixel 8a’s processing will likely be more refined.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro versus Google’s Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8a. The Tensor G3 employs a nona-core configuration with a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, offering a theoretical performance edge over the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3’s octa-core setup with a Cortex-A720 prime core at 2.5 GHz. However, raw clock speed isn’t everything; Google’s Tensor G3 prioritizes AI and machine learning tasks, while the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 focuses on a balance of performance and efficiency. The Pixel 8a’s CPU architecture is more complex, potentially leading to better multi-tasking performance. Both are built on a 4nm process, suggesting comparable thermal efficiency, but the Tensor G3’s more powerful cores may generate more heat under sustained load.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro boasts a 43:17h endurance rating, exceeding the Pixel 8a’s 40:06h. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Pixel 8a’s active use score of 11:25h is lower than the 3a Pro’s 13:37h, indicating faster battery drain during intensive use. The 3a Pro also supports 50W wired charging, significantly faster than the Pixel 8a’s 18W charging. The 3a Pro reaches 50% charge in just 19 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes, while the Pixel 8a takes considerably longer. Furthermore, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is rated for 1400 battery cycles, suggesting longer-term battery health compared to the Pixel 8a’s 1000 cycles.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you prioritize rapid charging (50W vs 18W) and a unique, transparent design aesthetic. It’s ideal for users who frequently top up their phones and appreciate a distinctive look. Buy the Google Pixel 8a if you value a brighter, more color-accurate display, Google’s industry-leading camera software, and guaranteed software updates, making it the better choice for photography enthusiasts and those seeking long-term support.