Google Pixel 8vsNothing 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.
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- Google Pixel 8 takes Display — led by peak brightness (2,000 nits).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Google Pixel 8 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 Google Pixel 8 if you want…
- Choose Google Pixel 8 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 950,000 pts vs 680,000 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 8 if you want a sharper screen — 428 ppi vs 387 ppi.
- Choose Google Pixel 8 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 2,000 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose Google Pixel 8 if you want better video quality — 92 pts vs 74 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 8 if you want a better camera — 139 pts vs 116 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 8 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 6.2 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want sharper selfies — 50 MP vs 10.5 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 4,575 mAh.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 27 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a lower price — 459 USD vs 499 USD.
At a glance
- Google Pixel 8
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
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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?
Google Pixel 8
Choose Google Pixel 8 if display matters most. It costs USD 499.
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
Google Pixel 8
- Photo quality
- 120 Hz display
- 7 years of updates
- Tensor G3 throttles
- Average battery
- Slow-ish 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