iQOO Z9vsNothing 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 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 459 — USD 160 more than the iQOO Z9. Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Performance — led by ram (12 GB).
- iQOO Z9 takes Display — led by peak brightness (1,800 nits).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro takes Battery — led by charging speed (50 W).
- iQOO Z9 takes Price — led by price (299 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose iQOO Z9 if you want…
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 700,000 pts vs 680,000 pts.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a sharper screen — 395 ppi vs 387 ppi.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,800 nits vs 1,200 nits.
- Choose iQOO Z9 if you want a lower price — 299 USD vs 459 USD.
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 6.67 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want sharper selfies — 50 MP vs 16 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want better video quality — 74 pts vs 62 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a better camera — 116 pts vs 92 pts.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 44 W.
At a glance
- iQOO Z9
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
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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?
iQOO Z9
Choose iQOO Z9 if price matters most. It costs USD 299, the lowest price in this group.
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 459.
Pros & cons
iQOO Z9
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Strong chip for the price
- 44 W charging
- No telephoto
- Plastic frame
- Average low-light camera
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