Apple iPhone 16evsNothing Phone (3a) Pro
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro wins
Verdict
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 459, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Apple iPhone 16e takes Performance — led by performance score (1,350,000 pts).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Apple iPhone 16e takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Price — led by price (459 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,350,000 pts vs 680,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want a sharper screen — 457 ppi vs 387 ppi.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want better video quality — 90 pts vs 74 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want a better camera — 136 pts vs 116 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16e if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want sharper selfies — 50 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,005 mAh.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 20 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a lower price — 459 USD vs 599 USD.
At a glance
- Apple iPhone 16e
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Click a label to jump to that section ↓
Best price now
The cheap alternative
Full record
Every spec, side by side — winners get a check and a proportional bar. Ties share the badge.
Performance score
Approximate benchmark score of the chipset — higher is faster for apps, games and AI.
Chipset
The processor inside — shown for reference, never decides a winner.
RAM
More RAM keeps more apps alive in the background.
Storage
Base onboard storage for photos, apps and media.
Screen size
Diagonal screen size — bigger is better for media, smaller is easier to hold.
Pixel density
Sharpness of the screen — above ~400 ppi looks crisp.
Refresh rate
How smooth scrolling and motion feel. 120 Hz is the modern standard.
Peak brightness
Peak brightness in sunlight — higher stays readable outdoors.
Main camera
Resolution of the primary rear camera — photo quality is judged by the Camera quality score, not megapixels.
Selfie camera
Resolution of the front camera.
Telephoto
A dedicated zoom lens for distant subjects without quality loss.
Video score
Composite video rating — stabilisation, 4K/8K support and colour.
Camera score
Composite camera quality from independent testing — how good the photos actually are.
Battery
Battery capacity — higher generally lasts longer.
Charging speed
Wired charging speed — higher refills faster.
Wireless charging
Whether the phone charges wirelessly.
Price
Typical MSRP in US dollars — lower is better value.
Which one should you buy?
Apple iPhone 16e
Choose Apple iPhone 16e if battery matters most. It costs USD 599.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 459, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Apple iPhone 16e
- A18 chip
- Cheapest new iPhone
- Long software support
- 60 Hz display
- Single rear camera
- 20 W charging
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- 3x periscope zoom
- Distinctive Glyph design
- Clean software
- Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is mid-tier
- No wireless charging
- Average low-light video