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Nothing Phone (2a) vs Nothing Phone (3a)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NothingPhone (2a)NothingPhone (3a)
Overview
ReleasedMarch 2024March 2025
Display
Screen size6.7″6.77″
Resolution2412 × 10842392 × 1084
Sharpness395 pixels per inch388 pixels per inch
PanelOLEDOLED
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Peak brightness1,300 nits3,000 nits
Display typeFlexible AMOLED; UK maker sheet lists 1,000,000:1 contrast, while the retained Singapore sheet lists 5,000,000:1; reason unpublished6.77-inch flexible AMOLED, FHD+
Pixel density394 ppi; maker specifies 2412 × 1084 resolution, while Android Central and TechRadar's prose use 2412 × 1080387 ppi
Brightness detail700 nits typical, 1,100 nits outdoor and 1,300 nits peak3,000 nits peak; 1,300 nits outdoor; 800 nits typical
Always-on display30 Hz always-on display–
Screen protectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Panda glass
Display featuresHDR10+, 10-bit colour, 100% DCI-P3, adaptive 30–120 Hz refresh, 240 Hz touch sampling and 2,160 Hz PWM dimming as specified by the maker; Android Central measures 1,920 Hz PWM below 50% brightness120 Hz adaptive refresh; 480 Hz touch sampling (1,000 Hz in Gaming Mode); 2,160 Hz PWM dimming; 10-bit (1.07 billion colours); 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Performance
ChipMediaTek Dimensity 7200 ProSnapdragon 7s Gen 3
Memory8 GB – 12 GB8 GB – 12 GB
Storage128 GB, 256 GB128 GB, 256 GB
CPUEight-core Dimensity 7200 Pro at up to 2.8 GHz; second-generation 4 nm TSMC N4P process; Android Central identifies two Cortex-A715 at 2.8 GHz and six Cortex-A510 at 2.0 GHz8-core, up to 2.5 GHz; 4 nm TSMC process (N4)
GPUMali-G610, identified by Android CentralQualcomm Adreno
Storage typeUK 8/128 and 12/256 GB; 8/256 GB sold in India only at launch; RAM Booster uses storage and is not physical RAMUFS 2.2; RAM Booster adds virtual RAM, up to 20 GB in total
Cooling3,200 mm² vapour chamber, 12,000 mm² cooling area and 0.11 mm graphite layer4,500 mm² vapour chamber
Cameras
Main camera50 MP50 MP
Ultra wide camera50 MP8 MP
Telephoto cameraNone50 MP
Optical zoomNone2×
Front camera32 MP32 MP
Main camera50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56-inch sensor, autofocus, OIS and EIS; Android Central identifies Samsung GN950 MP, ƒ/1.88, 1/1.57″ sensor, 24 mm, 84.5° field of view, OIS and EIS, autofocus
Ultra wide camera50 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76-inch sensor and 114° field of view; Android Central identifies Samsung JN18 MP Sony sensor, ƒ/2.2, 1/4″ sensor, 15 mm, 120° field of view
Telephoto camera–50 MP, ƒ/2.0, 1/2.75″ sensor, 50 mm, 49.5° field of view, 2× optical zoom, EIS, autofocus
Front camera32 MP, f/2.2 and 1/2.74-inch sensor; Android Central identifies Sony IMX61532 MP, ƒ/2.2, 1/3.44″ sensor, 22 mm, 81.2° field of view
ZoomNo optical telephoto; TechAdvisor reports 2× in-app digital zoom and up to 10× digital zoom2× optical; 4× in-sensor zoom; up to 30× Ultra Zoom
Video recordingRear 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps and 1080p slow motion at 120 fps; Action Mode4K video recording with AI-powered stabilisation; 4K at 30 fps and 1080p at 30, 60 or 120 fps (GSMArena)
Front video1080p at 60 fps–
Camera featuresTrueLens Engine with Google co-developed Ultra XDR, Motion Capture, Night Mode and Portrait Optimiser; Imagiq 765 14-bit image signal processorTrueLens Engine 3.0
Battery and charging
Battery5,000 mAh5,000 mAh
Wired chargingUp to 45 WUp to 50 W
Wireless chargingNoneNone
Battery life detail5,000 mAh; maker states over 90% capacity retained after 1,000 charging cyclesUp to two days of use (Nothing)
Wired charging45 W; retained specification states 50% in 23 minutes and full charge in 59 minutes; launch release gives 50% in 20 minutes under its test conditions50 W; 50% in 19 minutes, 100% in 56 minutes
Charges other devices–7.5 W reverse wired charging
Wireless chargingNo wireless charging, confirmed by the full reviews–
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight190 g208 g
Thickness8.55 mm8.35 mm
Height × width161.74 × 76.32 mm163.5 × 77.5 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP54IP64
Stylus–No
MaterialsPlastic rear and outer sides, confirmed by the reviews; maker states a 100% recycled aluminium internal mid-framePanda glass front; glass back; 100% recycled aluminium mid-frame and buttons
ColoursBlack, white and milk at launch; later Special Edition adds red, yellow and blue accentsBlack, White, Blue
ButtonsPower key on right and volume on left, confirmed by TechAdvisor; three rear Glyph lights for notifications, timer, progress tracking, volume, music and fill lightingEssential Key (press to capture to Essential Space, long press for a voice note, double tap to open it)
Water resistance detail–IP64
BiometricsIn-display optical fingerprint sensor and camera-based face unlockIn-screen optical fingerprint sensor
Sensors–Accelerometer, electronic compass, front ambient light sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor; linear haptic motor
SpeakersDual stereo speakersDual stereo speakers
Microphones–Two high-definition microphones
Software
Operating systemAndroidAndroid
Software at launchNothing OS 2.5 based on Android 14; retained UK page later describes Nothing OS 3.0 and Android 15Nothing OS 3.1 powered by Android 15
Software updatesOriginal maker promise of three years of Android updates and four years of security updatesThree years of Android updates and six years of security updates, from first availability on nothing.tech
AI featuresLaunch Wallpaper Studio; later maker page lists ChatGPT widgets and integration through compatible Nothing earbudsEssential Space (early access) with the Essential Key
In the boxPhone, USB-C cable, pre-applied screen protector, SIM ejector, safety information and warranty card; no charging adapterNothing Phone (3a), Nothing Cable (USB-C to USB-C), pre-applied screen protector, SIM tray ejector, safety card (no charger)
Connectivity
Satellite messaging–No
Mobile networkGigabit LTE and dual-mode SA/NSA 5G with 4×4 MIMO; maker lists 5G n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/n41/n66/n77/n78, subject to operator and regional support5G (NSA and SA) with 4×4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO
SIMDual nano-SIM; no microSD expansion, confirmed by TechAdvisorDual nano-SIM (eSIM in Japan only)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4/5 GHz, 2×2 MIMO, MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Advanced HotspotWi-Fi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 and 5 GHz
BluetoothBluetooth 5.3, A2DP and BLEBluetooth 5.4
NFCNFC with Google Pay supportYes, with Google Pay
USBUSB-C; no headphone socket, confirmed by Android Central–
PositioningGPS L1, GLONASS G1, BeiDou B1I, Galileo E1 and QZSS L1GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), Galileo (E1), QZSS (L1)

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