Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy A54: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Nothing Phone (3a) emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, coupled with 50W charging, provides a noticeable performance and convenience advantage over the Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380 and 25W charging. While the A54 boasts a slightly higher endurance rating historically, the (3a)'s active use score is superior.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) | Samsung Galaxy A54 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 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, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 04 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 11 | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| 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 | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.44" | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 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 (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | A059 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | $ 340.00 / € 249.00 | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 43:56h endurance, 1400 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class C | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Faster Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset for improved performance
- Significantly faster 50W charging
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Brand recognition is lower than Samsung
- Long-term software support remains to be seen
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Established brand with a strong reputation
- Potentially wider availability of accessories
- Historically good battery endurance
- Slower Exynos 1380 chipset
- Slower 25W charging
- Dimmer display compared to the Nothing Phone (3a)
Display Comparison
The Nothing Phone (3a) boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 1273 nits compared to the Galaxy A54’s 980 nits. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays offer an 'Infinite' (Samsung) or unspecified (Nothing) contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the (3a) is a significant advantage. The lack of LTPO on either device means refresh rate isn't dynamically adjusted for power saving, but both likely operate at a standard 60/120Hz depending on content. Bezels appear comparable, and color accuracy will require individual calibration testing, but the (3a)'s brightness gives it an edge.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed analysis requires sample comparisons. The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make definitive claims. However, the A54’s history suggests a focus on vibrant, saturated colors, while Nothing typically aims for a more natural look. The inclusion of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the A54 is likely, given its price point, and would be a benefit for video recording and low-light photography. The 2MP macro cameras on both devices are likely to offer limited utility, serving primarily as filler specs.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nothing Phone (3a) utilizes the Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, fabricated on a more efficient 4nm process. This contrasts with the Samsung Galaxy A54’s Exynos 1380, built on a 5nm node. While both are octa-core CPUs, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3’s architecture – featuring a 1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 prime core – offers a performance uplift over the A54’s 4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 cores. The 4nm process also implies better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The (3a) is likely to provide a smoother experience in demanding apps and games.
Battery Life
The Nothing Phone (3a) achieves an impressive 43:56h endurance rating and a 13:38h active use score, surpassing the Galaxy A54’s 119h endurance (older data) and 11:15h active use score. While the A54’s historical endurance rating is respectable, the (3a) demonstrably performs better in real-world active usage. Crucially, the (3a) supports 50W wired charging, reaching 50% charge in just 19 minutes and 100% in 56 minutes, significantly faster than the A54’s 25W charging. This charging speed advantage is a major convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) if you prioritize a responsive user experience, faster charging speeds, and a modern, minimalist design. It’s ideal for users who frequently multitask, game casually, or simply want a phone that keeps up with their pace. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A54 if you prefer a more established brand with a proven track record, a potentially wider ecosystem of accessories, and a slightly longer historical endurance rating, even if it means sacrificing some performance and charging speed.