Nothing Phone (2a)vsOnePlus Nord 3
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
OnePlus Nord 3 wins
Verdict
OnePlus Nord 3 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
OnePlus Nord 3 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — display is its standout. It costs USD 399 — USD 50 more than the Nothing Phone (2a). Pay the premium if display is your priority.
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Performance — led by performance score (1,000,000 pts).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Display — led by pixel density (450 ppi).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Camera — led by video score (90 pts).
- OnePlus Nord 3 takes Battery — led by charging speed (80 W).
- Nothing Phone (2a) takes Price — led by price (349 USD).
Scores follow our published methodology · v2026.09
In plain English
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 16 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a lower price — 349 USD vs 399 USD.
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,000,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a bigger screen — 6.74 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a sharper screen — 450 ppi vs 394 ppi.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,450 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want better video quality — 90 pts vs 82 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want a better camera — 125 pts vs 112 pts.
- Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if you want faster charging — 80 W vs 45 W.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- OnePlus Nord 3
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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?
Nothing Phone (2a)
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if price matters most. It costs USD 349, the lowest price in this group.
OnePlus Nord 3
Choose OnePlus Nord 3 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 399.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
OnePlus Nord 3
- Dimensity 9000
- 80 W charging
- 120 Hz AMOLED
- Average cameras
- No wireless charging
- Software quirks