Nothing Phone (3a) vs Xiaomi 13T Pro: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Power
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing all-day battery life and a clean software experience, the Nothing Phone (3a) emerges as the winner. Its impressive 43:56h endurance and efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset outweigh the Xiaomi 13T Pro’s raw power, especially considering the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Nothing Phone (3a) | Xiaomi 13T Pro |
| 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, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66 |
| 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, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2025, March 04 | 2023, September 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2025, March 11 | Available. Released 2023, September 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Panda Glass), plastic frame, glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back or silicone polymer back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 77.5 x 8.4 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 162.2 x 75.7 x 8.5 mm (6.39 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 200 g or 206 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass, Mohs level 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1220 x 2712 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~446 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.77 inches, 111.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM), 3000 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 68B colors, 144Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 2600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A520) | Octa-core (1x3.35 GHz Cortex-X3 & 3x3.0 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Immortalis-G715 MC11 |
| OS | Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1 | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, HyperOS |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | Leica lens, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| 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/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/1.9, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.88", 0.61µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS, OIS | 8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 4K/1080p@30fps HDR10+, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; 10-bit LOG, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/3.44" | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR10+ |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC (L5), 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/6e/7, dual/tri-band (market/region dependent), Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 50W wired, 50% in 19 min, 100% in 56 min | 120W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 19 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Blue | Alpine Blue, Meadow Green, Black |
| Models | A059 | 23078PND5G |
| Price | $ 340.00 / € 249.00 | $ 370.00 / £ 482.55 / € 301.99 |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 43:56h endurance, 1400 cycles | - |
| Energy | Class C | - |
| Free fall | Class C (90 falls) | - |
| Repairability | Class C | - |
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Exceptional battery life (43:56h endurance)
- Efficient Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset
- Unique and eye-catching design
- Less powerful processor than the Xiaomi 13T Pro
- Slower charging speed (56 minutes)
Xiaomi 13T Pro
- Flagship-level Dimensity 9200+ processor
- Blazing-fast 120W charging (19 minutes)
- Likely superior camera system
- Significantly shorter battery life
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Both phones feature 4nm chipsets, but their displays differ significantly. The Nothing Phone (3a) boasts a peak brightness of 1273 nits, exceeding the Xiaomi 13T Pro’s 1094 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While neither specifies refresh rate, the higher peak brightness of the Nothing Phone (3a) provides a more vibrant and usable outdoor experience. The Xiaomi 13T Pro’s display, while still excellent, is slightly less impactful in bright conditions.
Camera Comparison
The provided data doesn’t offer detailed camera specs, but Xiaomi typically focuses on high-resolution sensors. Given the 13T Pro’s positioning, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and advanced image processing. The Nothing Phone (3a) will likely prioritize computational photography and software enhancements. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Xiaomi 13T Pro is expected to offer greater versatility and potentially better low-light performance. The absence of details on OIS for either device makes it hard to assess stabilization capabilities.
Performance
The Xiaomi 13T Pro’s Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ is the clear performance champion, featuring a Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.35 GHz, compared to the Nothing Phone (3a)’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. The Dimensity 9200+’s architecture (3x A715, 4x A510) is geared towards higher sustained performance, making it better suited for graphically intensive games and demanding multitasking. However, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3’s 4nm process and optimized core configuration (1x A720, 3x A720, 4x A520) offer excellent efficiency, potentially leading to less thermal throttling during prolonged use. The Xiaomi 13T Pro will deliver faster app loading and smoother frame rates in demanding scenarios, but the Nothing Phone (3a) offers a more balanced approach.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the Nothing Phone (3a) truly shines. Its measured endurance of 43:56h significantly surpasses the Xiaomi 13T Pro’s active use score translating to 11:50h. While the Xiaomi 13T Pro boasts a staggering 120W charging, reaching 100% in just 19 minutes, the Nothing Phone (3a)’s 50W charging (56 minutes to full) is still respectable. The trade-off is clear: the Xiaomi 13T Pro prioritizes speed, while the Nothing Phone (3a) prioritizes longevity. The Nothing Phone (3a) also claims 1400 battery cycles, suggesting a longer lifespan before significant degradation.
Buying Guide
Buy the Nothing Phone (3a) if you need exceptional battery life, a distinctive design, and a streamlined Android experience. It’s ideal for users who prioritize longevity and usability over absolute peak performance. Buy the Xiaomi 13T Pro if you demand maximum processing power for demanding games or applications, and value the fastest possible charging speeds – you’re willing to trade some battery endurance for that performance.