Nothing Phone (3a) Pro vs. Sony Xperia 1 VII: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and a modern aesthetic, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro offers a compelling package. However, the Sony Xperia 1 VII justifies its higher price with a significantly more powerful processor, brighter display, and faster active use battery performance, making it the superior choice for power users and content creators.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) Pro | Sony Xperia 1 VII |
| 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, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 04 | 2025, May 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 25 | Available. Released 2025, June 04 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 162 x 74 x 8.2 mm (6.38 x 2.91 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - India only | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 211 g (7.44 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, Mohs level 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 103.7 cm2 (~86.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (2x4.32 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix L + 6x3.53 GHz Oryon V2 Phoenix M) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Adreno 830 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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 | 48 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.35", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 85mm (telephoto), f/3.5, 170mm (telephoto), 1/3.5", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3.5x-7.1x continuous optical zoom, OIS, 4cm macro @ 120mm, no AF 48 MP, f/2.0, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@24/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/2.76" | 12 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.9", 1.22µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 6.0, A2DP, LE Audio, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG, video output |
| 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/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Gray | Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black |
| Models | A059P | XQ-FS54, XQFS54EUKCG.GC, XQFS54EUKCV.GC, XQFS54EUKCB.GC, PDX256 |
| Price | € 380.00 | € 1,338.99 / $ 1,394.99 / £ 1,149.94 |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 43:17h endurance, 1400 cycles | 43:30h endurance, 1400 cycles |
| Energy | Class C | Class B |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | Class B (181 falls) |
| Repairability | Class C | Class D |
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- More affordable price point
- Unique and eye-catching design
- Fast 50W wired charging
- Less powerful processor
- Lower peak display brightness
- Potentially less advanced camera system
Sony Xperia 1 VII
- Significantly faster Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
- Brighter and potentially more accurate display
- Wireless charging and reverse wireless capabilities
- Higher price tag
- Slower wired charging than Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- More traditional design aesthetic
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 VII boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 1475 nits compared to the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s 1307 nits. This difference translates to improved visibility in direct sunlight. While both displays are excellent, the Xperia 1 VII’s higher peak brightness and likely superior color calibration (based on Sony’s display expertise) provide a more immersive viewing experience. We lack panel technology details for both, but Sony’s history suggests a high-quality OLED, potentially with LTPO for variable refresh rates, which would further enhance efficiency. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s display is still very good, but the Xperia 1 VII has a clear advantage in brightness and potential color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, Sony’s Xperia line is renowned for its camera technology, and the 1 VII likely features a larger sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms than the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. The Xperia 1 VII’s focus on professional photography and videography suggests features like real-time tracking autofocus and advanced manual controls. While the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro will likely offer a competent camera experience, the Xperia 1 VII is geared towards users who demand the highest level of image quality and creative control. We can assume the Xperia 1 VII will have superior low-light performance and dynamic range.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s Qualcomm SM8750-AB Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring Oryon V2 Phoenix cores clocked up to 4.32 GHz, represents a significant leap over the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. The 3nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers superior power efficiency and thermal performance, allowing for sustained peak performance during demanding tasks. The Xperia 1 VII’s CPU architecture, with its two high-performance Oryon cores, will excel in single-core tasks and multitasking, while the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, while capable, will show its limitations in graphically intensive games and complex applications. The Xperia 1 VII is built for sustained performance, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro prioritizes efficiency.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive battery endurance, with the Sony Xperia 1 VII achieving 43:30h and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro at 43:17h. However, active use scores reveal a difference: 15:32h for the Xperia 1 VII versus 13:37h for the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. This suggests the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Elite and potentially optimized software contribute to longer real-world usage. While the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro charges faster at 50W (50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min), the Xperia 1 VII offers both 30W wired charging (50% in 30 min) and 15W wireless charging with reverse wireless capabilities, providing greater flexibility.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you need a stylish, well-rounded smartphone with good performance for everyday tasks and appreciate a unique design language. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII if you prioritize top-tier performance for demanding applications like gaming and video editing, require the brightest possible display, and value a more traditional flagship experience with advanced features.