Google Pixel 9avsNothing Phone (3a)
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Nothing Phone (3a) wins
Verdict
Nothing Phone (3a) wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Nothing Phone (3a) is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — price is its standout. At USD 379, it's also the most affordable of this group.
- Google Pixel 9a takes Performance — led by performance score (1,000,000 pts).
- Nothing Phone (3a) takes Display — led by screen size (6.77 in).
- Nothing Phone (3a) takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Google Pixel 9a takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- Nothing Phone (3a) takes Price — led by price (379 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want…
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,000,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want a sharper screen — 422 ppi vs 388 ppi.
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want better video quality — 93 pts vs 87 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want a better camera — 145 pts vs 126 pts.
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want longer battery life — 5,100 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose Google Pixel 9a if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.3 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,000 nits vs 2,700 nits.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 13 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 23 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a lower price — 379 USD vs 499 USD.
At a glance
- Google Pixel 9a
- Nothing Phone (3a)
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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?
Google Pixel 9a
Choose Google Pixel 9a if battery matters most. It costs USD 499.
Nothing Phone (3a)
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if price matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 379, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
Google Pixel 9a
- Excellent camera
- 5,100 mAh battery
- 7 years of updates
- Tensor chip trails rivals
- 23 W charging
- Plastic build
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Unique Glyph design
- 3x telephoto
- Clean software
- Mid-range chipset
- 50 W charging
- Average selfies