Nothing Phone (3a) Pro vs. Realme GT 6: A Deep Dive into Performance and Battery Life

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and Realme GT 6 represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both devices leverage Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform, they diverge significantly in chipset choice and charging technology, creating a clear trade-off between sustained performance and rapid replenishment. This comparison dissects these differences to determine which phone delivers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a balanced experience, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro emerges as the winner. Its impressive 43:17h endurance and efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 outweigh the Realme GT 6’s faster charging and raw power, especially considering the GT 6’s slightly shorter active use score.

PHONES
Phone Names Nothing Phone (3a) Pro Realme GT 6
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2025, March 042024, June 20
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, March 25Available. Released 2024, June 25
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass backGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), plastic frame, glass back
Dimensions163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in)162 x 75.1 x 8.6 mm (6.38 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - India onlyNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight211 g (7.44 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
Display
ProtectionPanda Glass, Mohs level 5Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density)1264 x 2780 pixels (~450 ppi density)
Size6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~91.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak)LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 810Adreno 735
OSAndroid 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1Android 14, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Realme UI 5.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 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", 1.12µm50 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.4", PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.8", PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-Panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/2.76"32 MP, f/2.5, 22mm (wide), 1/2.74"
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.4, A2DP, LE5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes, 360˚
PositioningGPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min120W wired, 50% in 10 min, 100% in 28 min
Type5000 mAh5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, GrayFluid Sliver, Razor Green
ModelsA059PRMX3851
Price€ 380.00€ 479.99 / $ 230.40 / £ 428.48
EU LABEL
Battery43:17h endurance, 1400 cycles-
EnergyClass C-
Free fallClass C (90 falls)-
RepairabilityClass C-

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

  • Exceptional battery life (43:17h endurance)
  • Efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset
  • Bright display (1307 nits)

  • Slower charging speed (56 minutes to full)
  • Less powerful chipset compared to the GT 6

Realme GT 6

  • Ultra-fast 120W charging (28 minutes to full)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
  • Potentially superior image processing

  • Shorter battery life compared to the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load

Display Comparison

Both phones feature 4nm chipsets, but the display experience differs. The Realme GT 6 boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal), suggesting a high-quality OLED panel, but lacks specific brightness data. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, however, measures a peak brightness of 1307 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the GT 6’s panel quality is likely excellent, the quantifiable brightness advantage of the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a significant benefit for outdoor users. The absence of refresh rate data for both phones is a notable omission, but typical for this price bracket.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset difference suggests the Realme GT 6 will have a more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor), potentially leading to better image processing capabilities, especially in low-light conditions. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3’s superior processing power can handle more complex computational photography algorithms. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes it difficult to assess image quality definitively, but the GT 6’s higher-tier chipset gives it an edge in this area.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro utilizes the Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while the Realme GT 6 packs the more powerful SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. The GT 6’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 prime core alongside 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 cores – provides a substantial performance uplift compared to the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s 1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720, 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520 setup. This translates to faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the GT 6. However, the 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is still a capable performer, and its 4nm process node contributes to efficient power consumption. The GT 6’s superior CPU is likely to show its advantage in graphically intensive games and demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Realme GT 6’s 120W charging is a standout feature, achieving 50% charge in just 10 minutes and a full charge in 28 minutes. This is significantly faster than the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s 50W charging, which takes 19 minutes for 50% and 56 minutes for a full charge. However, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro compensates with exceptional battery endurance, achieving 43:17h in our tests, compared to the GT 6’s active use score of 14:32h. This suggests the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s more efficient chipset and software optimization contribute to significantly longer battery life, despite potentially having a smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you need exceptional battery life, a clean software experience, and prioritize longevity over peak performance. It’s ideal for users who stream media, browse the web, and use social media extensively. Buy the Realme GT 6 if you prefer a phone geared towards gaming and demanding tasks, and value the convenience of incredibly fast 120W charging, even if it comes at the cost of slightly reduced battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the Realme GT 6 exhibit thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a powerful chipset, its performance can be limited by thermal throttling under sustained heavy load. The Realme GT 6’s cooling system will play a crucial role in mitigating this, but users should expect some performance reduction during prolonged gaming or video recording. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s less demanding chipset is less prone to throttling.
❓ How does the 50W charging on the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro compare to the 120W charging on the Realme GT 6 in real-world usage?
The Realme GT 6’s 120W charging is significantly faster, fully charging the device in just 28 minutes. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes 56 minutes. However, for many users, the convenience of a full charge in under an hour isn’t as critical as having all-day battery life, which the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro delivers. The GT 6’s faster charging is most beneficial for users who frequently run out of battery and need a quick top-up.
❓ What type of display technology is used in the Realme GT 6, and how does it impact the viewing experience?
The Realme GT 6 features an OLED display with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, indicating deep blacks and vibrant colors. While specific panel details are missing, OLED technology generally provides excellent viewing angles and color accuracy. The lack of a high refresh rate is a potential drawback, but the high contrast ratio should still deliver a visually pleasing experience.