Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: The sensible and enthusiast picks
Google’s reimagined midranger
The Pixel 9a is the latest 6.3-inch midranger from Google, and offers an incredible value proposition for around $500. You get perhaps the most impressive battery life from a phone at this price point, with an upgraded 5,100mAh cell. Additionally, there’s a Tensor G4 processor, Android 15, and planned upgrades and feature drops over time.
For
- Redesign makes the camera bump, with new 48MP sensor, almost flush
- 7 years of full OS upgrades and feature drops
- Tensor G4 processor for speed and on-device AI
- 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver
Against
- No Qi2 or MagSafe support
- Camera bump isn’t quite flush with the back of the phone
- Thicker overall than Google Pixel 8a
- Slow charging speeds
Breaking the mold
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro features a unique design with a large, circular camera housing and a transparent back. While this makes the Phone 3a Pro thick, it enables the phone’s triple-camera system that includes a periscope telephoto lens. On top of that, you get a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and Android 15.
For
- Faster performance in certain situations with Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor
- Packs AI features, like automatic app drawer organization and the Essential Space
- 3 years of OS upgrades and 6 total years of security patches
- Periscope telephoto zoom lens
- Large 6.77-inch LTPO OLED display
Against
- Not optimized for U.S. use with limited cellular bands
- Essential Key is positioned awkwardly and could be prone to accidental presses
- Performs worse in gaming performance than Nothing Phone 2a
At under $500, the new Google Pixel 9a looks to be one of the best value-focused midrangers available. It’ll compete with higher-priced phones like the iPhone 16e and OnePlus 13R but also cheaper ones like the recently-released Nothing Phone 3a Pro. While the Phone 3a Pro might actually offer a better value proposition than the latest Pixel 9a, it works better in some regions than others.
For users in Europe or India, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro might edge out the Pixel 9a with its dedicated telephoto camera. But for everyone else, the Google Pixel 9a is more appealing, with full support for North American cellular bands. It also has a better processor, longer software support, and more AI features. Let’s break down how these two midrange phones compare.
Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Design and display
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Ironically, the Google Pixel 9a is the midrange smartphone with a design that could be better described as “nothing.” With a nearly flat back and the recognizable Pixel camera bar gone, the Pixel 9a doesn’t have many unique aspects of its design. It does come in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony. The side rails feature a satin metal finish, and the back is made out of polycarbonate plastic.
Instead of having a thinner body and a protruding camera bar, Google made the entire Pixel 9a measure 8.9mm thick, filling the extra space with a bigger battery. The phone is still more compact than the Nothing Phone 3a Pro overall, as the Pixel 9a measures 154.7mm x 73.3mm x 8.9mm. However, it is noticeably thicker. At 185.9 grams, the Pixel 9a will feel significantly lighter in the hand than the Phone 3a Pro.
While the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s looks aren’t for everyone, it does appear to have a better design than the Pixel 9a. It features Nothing character elements like the lighted Glyph Interface and the transparent back cover. Then, there’s the massive circular camera bump, which looks jarring at first but may grow on you over time. Really, these two phones’ design language couldn’t be more different. One is basic, and the other is striking.
With a 6.77-inch screen, the Phone 3a Pro is bigger overall than the Pixel 9a. Nothing’s higher-end mid-ranger measures 163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.39mm, meaning it somehow finds a way to remain thinner than Google’s offering. At 211 grams, it’s much heavier than the Pixel 9a. Google has the advantage in durability, with IP68 protection against dust and water ingress and Gorilla Glass 3 on the front. Meanwhile, the Phone 3a Pro has a lesser IP64 rating and a Panda Glass covering.
The Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch pOLED screen, and it’s bigger and better than last year’s model. The panel has a 1080 x 2424 resolution and can hit 120Hz refresh rates, but it isn’t an LTPO display. That means it can’t fluctuate smoothly between refresh rates — it can only switch between 60Hz and 120Hz. It’s very bright, with 2,700 nits peak brightness.
By comparison, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a bigger screen than the Pixel 9a and uses a more advanced LTPO panel. It’s a 6.77-inch LTPO OLED screen with a 2392 x 1080 resolution and HDR10 support. It beats out the Pixel 9a with 3,000 nits of peak brightness, too. For anyone with sensitive eyes, the Phone 3a Pro’s 2160Hz PWM dimming will be appreciated.
However, one advantage of the Pixel 9a is that it isn’t a giant smartphone. The more compact form factor will be loved by fans of small phones, whereas the Phone 3a Pro is ideal for people who love big screens.
Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Hardware and specs
While the Google Tensor G4 chip isn’t as strong of a performer as the best options from Apple and Qualcomm, it’s likely better than the midrange chip inside the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Nothing’s midranger is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, which is a recently refreshed processor optimized for AI. However, the Pixel 9a has the exact same Tensor G4 chip as the rest of the Google Pixel 9 series, which is a key advantage.
Additionally, our tests found that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Phone 3a Pro actually performed worse in gaming tasks than the MediaTek chip in the last-generation Phone 2a. As such, depending on your workflow, the Phone 3a Pro might not be as much of an upgrade as you may expect.
|
Category |
Google Pixel 9a |
Nothing Phone 3a Pro |
|---|---|---|
|
Processor |
Google Tensor G4 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|
Display |
6.3-inch Actua pOLED display, 1080 x 2424 resolution, 120Hz, 2700 nits peak brightness |
6.77-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED, 2392 x 1080, HDR10, 1300 nits HBM, 3000 nits max, 480Hz touch sampling rate, 1000Hz touch sampling rate in gaming mode, 2160Hz PWM dimming |
|
Operating System |
Android 15 |
Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15) |
|
Memory |
8GB |
8GB/12GB |
|
Storage |
128GB, 256GB |
128GB/256GB |
|
Battery |
5,100 mAh |
5000mAh |
|
Charging |
23W wired, Qi wireless charging |
50W wired charging |
|
Rear camera(s) |
48 MP, f/1.7 wide camera; 13MP, f/2.2 ultrawide camera with 120-degree FoV |
50MP f/1.88 Samsung, 1/1.56″ sensor, 4K30, OIS, dual-pixel PDAF; 50MP f/2.55 Sony, 1/1.95″ sensor, 3x optical periscope zoom, OIS, Autofocus; 8MP f/2.2 Sony, 120-degree FoV |
|
Front camera |
13MP front camera |
50MP f/2.2 Samsung, 1/2.76″ sensor |
|
Durability |
IP68, Gorilla Glass 3 |
IP64, Panda Glass |
|
Colors |
Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, Peony |
Gray |
|
Weight |
185.9g |
211g |
|
Dimensions |
154.7mm x 73.3mm x 8.9mm |
163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.39mm |
Battery life is a big perk of using the Pixel 9a, as it offers a 5,100mAh capacity. That’s only 100mAh more than the Phone 3a Pro provides on paper, but real-world usage will be much different. With a smaller screen, the Pixel 9a’s battery capacity will likely last longer than a similar-specced phone with a bigger screen. With that being said, the Phone 3a Pro’s 3,000mAh capacity is no slouch.
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro arguably wins the charging race with support for 50W wired charging, even if it doesn’t support wireless. The Pixel 9a can only hit 23W wired charging and only supports Qi wireless instead of the newer Qi2 spec.
Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Cameras and software
The difference-maker between these two phones may boil down to their camera systems, as the Pixel 9a has two rear cameras, whereas the Phone 3a Pro has three. Crucially, that third Phone 3a Pro sensor is a periscope telephoto lens, which makes lossless zoom shots possible. As someone who loves taking zoom shots at sporting events and concerts, the 3x optical zoom (6x with sensor crop) offered by the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a key advantage.
Google’s main sensors are known for producing quality shots with the help of great computational photography, and that might help the Pixel 9a. It uses a 48MP, f/1.7 main sensor with a 1/2-inch image sensor size. That’s paired with a 13MP, f/2.2 ultrawide with a 120-degree field of view. This year, the Pixel 9a supports advanced camera modes, like Astrophotography.
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s main camera is a 50MP, f/1.88 sensor from Samsung, and it features a 1/1.56-inch sensor size. It’s joined by a 50MP, f/2.55 periscope telephoto lens from that can do up to 3x optical periscope zoom. Rounding out the rear camera system is an 8MP, f/2.2 ultrawide camera from Sony with a 120-degree field of view.
Putting it all together, the Phone 3a Pro has the telephoto advantage, while the Pixel 9a could win with its main and ultrawide lenses. Nothing also offers a 50MP front-facing camera, while Google gives the Pixel 9a a 13MP selfie camera.
Google’s Pixel 9a has a clear edge in terms of software, with seven years of full OS upgrades and feature drops. Meanwhile, Nothing will only give the Phone 3a Pro three years of OS upgrades and six total years of security patches. Both phones feature plenty of AI, with Google’s Gemini and the Nothing-exclusive Essential Space.
Google Pixel 9a vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro: Which one should you buy?
Overall, the Google Pixel 9a is likely to be the more polished option at the sub-$500 price point. It has excellent Google software and plenty of AI features, plus a reliable camera system. More importantly, users in the U.S. will notice that the Pixel 9a has full carrier support, unlike the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. As such, the Pixel 9a is the easier phone to recommend than the Phone 3a Pro, even if the latter wins a few battles on the spec sheet.
Enthusiasts will be most likely to take a chance with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. It has an interesting, transparent design with a Glyph Interface made up of three lighted strips. Plus, getting a periscope telephoto lens on a midrange phone is a nice perk. With that being said, weak cellular support in the U.S. and nonexistent Verizon support will be a dealbreaker for many.
The sensible option
The Google Pixel 9a, with full support for 5G connectivity in North America, is the best choice at the sub-$500 price point. Add in the fast Tensor G4 processor and a full slate of Google AI and Gemini features, and the Pixel 9a figures to be a compelling package.
Excellent in certain regions
The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is ideal for use in places where it is fully supported, like Europe and India. Buyers in those markets can take advantage of the Phone 3a Pro’s capable camera system, fast processor, and unique Nothing OS 3 flavor.
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