Side-by-side technical data
Nothing Phone (3a) vs Nothing Phone (4a)
Comparison between Nothing Phone (3a) and Nothing Phone (4a): camera, battery, fast charging, display, performance and colors, side by side. More phones from Nothing.
NeoTeo's verdict
Which of the two is the better buy
The Nothing Phone (4a) is the more complete choice, with upgrades to its display, storage, and endurance; its overall NeoScore is 7.3 versus 6.8 for the Nothing Phone (3a). The older model makes sense only if it costs less.
Both have a 120 Hz AMOLED display, but the Phone (4a) reaches 4500 nits and 440 ppi, against 3000 nits and 387 ppi on the Phone (3a). It also adds Wi-Fi 6E and UFS 3.1 storage, while the Phone (3a) has Wi-Fi 6 and UFS 2.2. Their processors are the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, respectively.
The Phone (4a)’s telephoto camera offers 3.5 x optical zoom, versus 2 x. Its battery lasts 63 h per cycle according to the EU energy label, against 43 h 56 min, though both charge at 50 W. The Phone (3a) has three microphones instead of two; the Phone (4a) adds reverse charging and Android 16, compared with Android 15.
Nothing Phone (3a)
The Nothing Phone (3a) is the better buy only if it costs less.
Nothing Phone (4a)
The Nothing Phone (4a) is the better buy for anyone who wants a brighter, sharper display, with 4500 nits and 440 ppi.
The verdict
Your pick: Nothing Phone (4a), ahead on Performance & hardware, Camera and Battery & charging.
| Category | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Design & display | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Performance & hardware | 5.9 | 6.4 |
| Camera | 7.5 | 8.1 |
| Connectivity | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Battery & charging | 5.9 | 6.7 |
Which one is for you?
Nothing Phone (3a), if you care about…
- Microphone Count
- 3
- against 2
Nothing Phone (4a), if you care about…
- Wi-Fi Standards
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g
- against Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
- Storage Type
- UFS 3.1
- against UFS 2.2
- Peak Display Brightness
- 4,500 nits
- against 3,000 nits
- Display Pixel Density
- 440 ppi
- against 387 ppi
Specification comparison
Performance
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor Model | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 |
| Processor Process Size | 4 nm | 4 nm |
| Graphics GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 810 | Qualcomm Adreno 810 |
| Storage Type | UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 Best value |
| Maximum CPU Clock | 2.5 GHz | 2.7 GHz Best value |
| Maximum Storage Capacity | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| AnTuTu Score | 828,429 | 1,183,775 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 1,162 | — |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 3,239 | — |
| CPU Description | Octa-core processor with 1 Cortex-A720 core at 2.5 GHz, 3 Cortex-A720 cores at 2.4 GHz, and 4 Cortex-A520 cores at 1.8 GHz. | Octa-core CPU with 1×2.7 GHz Cortex-A720, 3×2.4 GHz Cortex-A720, and 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A520 cores. |
| Processor Type | Octa-Core | Octa-Core |
| 64-Bit Processor | Yes | Yes |
| RAM Capacity | 12 GB | 12 GB |
| RAM Type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| AnTuTu version | v10 | v11 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 1,064 | 1,128 Best value |
Design
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Body Colors | Black, White, Blue, Green | Pink, White, Black, Blue |
| Body Thickness | 8.4 mm Best value | 8.6 mm |
| Body Width | 77.5 mm | 77.6 mm |
| Body Height | 163.5 mm | 164 mm |
| Weight | 201 g Best value | 204.5 g |
| Usable Surface | 88 % | 88 % |
| Body Materials | Glass, Plastic, Polycarbonate | Glass, Plastic |
| Resistance Features | IP64 | IP64 |
| Waterproof Depth | — | 0.25 m |
| Drop Resistance Class | C | C |
| Repairability Class | C | C |
| Drop Test Count | 90 | 100 Best value |
Battery
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Efficiency Rating | C | B Best value |
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,080 mAh Best value |
| Battery Type | Li-Polymer | Li-Polymer |
| Fast Charge Power | 50 W | 50 W |
| Battery Features | Fast Charging, Non-Removable, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator | Non-Removable, Fast Charging, Reverse Charging, Rechargeable, Battery Level Indicator Best value |
| Battery Endurance | 43 h 56 min | 63 h Best value |
| Charge cycles | 1,400 | 1,400 |
Display
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Display Aspect Ratio | 20:9 | 20:9 |
| Display Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Peak Display Brightness | 3,000 nits | 4,500 nits Best value |
| Display Diagonal | 6.77″ | 6.78″ Best value |
| Display Horizontal Resolution | 1,080 px | 1,224 px Best value |
| Display Vertical Resolution | 2,392 px | 2,720 px Best value |
| Display Pixel Density | 387 ppi | 440 ppi Best value |
| Display Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Touch Sampling Rate | 240 Hz | 2,500 Hz Best value |
| Display Contrast Ratio | 1,000,000 :1 | 1,000,000 :1 |
| Display Features | Ultra HDR, Panda Glass, Mohs Level 5, AMOLED, HDR10+, 2160Hz PWM, Hole-Punch Notch, DCI-P3, 10-Bit Panel, Color LED Notifications, Scratch Resistant, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Frameless, HDR10, Always-On Display | Hole-Punch Notch, Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs Level 5, HDR10, HDR10+, Ultra HDR, 2160Hz PWM, DCI-P3, One Billion Colors, Color LED Notifications, Scratch Resistant, Capacitive Touch, Multi-Touch, Frameless, Always-On Display |
Sensors
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor Placement | Under Display | Under Display |
Sensor
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor Features | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Virtual Proximity Sensing, Cooling System | Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity Sensor, Compass, Light Sensor, Cooling System |
Software
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 15 | Android 16 |
| OS Family | Android | Android |
| OS Version | 15 | 16 Best value |
| OS Update Support | 3 years | 3 years |
| Google Services | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| SIM Configurations | Dual Nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM | Dual Nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby, Dual SIM |
| Cellular Bands | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B6, 3G UMTS B8, 3G UMTS B19, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B28A, 4G LTE B28B, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B42, 4G LTE B48, 4G LTE B66, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n28a, 5G NR n28b, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n48, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78 | 2G GSM 850, 2G GSM 900, 2G GSM 1800, 2G GSM 1900, 3G UMTS B1, 3G UMTS B2, 3G UMTS B3, 3G UMTS B4, 3G UMTS B5, 3G UMTS B8, 4G LTE B1, 4G LTE B2, 4G LTE B3, 4G LTE B4, 4G LTE B5, 4G LTE B7, 4G LTE B8, 4G LTE B12, 4G LTE B17, 4G LTE B18, 4G LTE B19, 4G LTE B20, 4G LTE B26, 4G LTE B28A, 4G LTE B28B, 4G LTE B38, 4G LTE B40, 4G LTE B41, 4G LTE B42, 4G LTE B48, 4G LTE B66, 4G LTE B71, 5G NR n1, 5G NR n2, 5G NR n3, 5G NR n5, 5G NR n7, 5G NR n8, 5G NR n12, 5G NR n20, 5G NR n28a, 5G NR n28b, 5G NR n38, 5G NR n40, 5G NR n41, 5G NR n48, 5G NR n66, 5G NR n77, 5G NR n78 |
| Cellular Technologies | GSM, HSPA, UMTS, LTE, 5G | GSM, HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g Best value |
| Wi-Fi Features | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO | Dual Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display, MIMO |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE | A2DP, LE |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS |
| Connectivity Features | NFC, USB Type-C, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, USB Host 2.0, Computer Sync, Tethering, VoLTE, USB 2.0 | NFC, USB Charging, USB Mass Storage, USB OTG, USB Type-C, USB 2.0, Computer Sync, DLNA, OTA Sync, Tethering, VoLTE |
| USB Version | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
| Max. download speed | 2,900 Mbps | 2,900 Mbps |
Audio
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone Count | 3 Best value | 2 |
| Audio Features | Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos, A2DP, LE | Stereo Speakers, A2DP, LE |
Technical
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Phone (4a) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | — | 349 € |
| Model numbers | A059 | A069 |
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