Nothing Phone (2a)vsSamsung Galaxy S23
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
Samsung Galaxy S23 wins
Verdict
Samsung Galaxy S23 wins 3 of 5 categories — our overall pick
Samsung Galaxy S23 is the overall winner, 3 / 5 — camera is its standout. It costs USD 549 — USD 200 more than the Nothing Phone (2a). Pay the premium if camera is your priority.
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Performance — led by performance score (1,500,000 pts).
- Too close to call between Samsung Galaxy S23 and Nothing Phone (2a).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Samsung Galaxy S23 takes Battery — led by wireless charging (Yes).
- 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 a bigger screen — 6.7 in vs 6.1 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 3,900 mAh.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want faster charging — 45 W vs 25 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if you want a lower price — 349 USD vs 549 USD.
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want…
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,500,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a sharper screen — 425 ppi vs 394 ppi.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 1,750 nits vs 1,300 nits.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want better video quality — 93 pts vs 82 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want a better camera — 135 pts vs 112 pts.
- Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Samsung Galaxy S23
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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?
Nothing Phone (2a)
Choose Nothing Phone (2a) if price matters most. It costs USD 349, the lowest price in this group.
Samsung Galaxy S23
Choose Samsung Galaxy S23 if camera matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 549.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (2a)
- Unique Glyph design
- Clean software
- Good price
- Mid-range chipset
- No telephoto
- 45 W charging
Samsung Galaxy S23
- Compact size
- 3x telephoto
- Big discount
- 3,900 mAh battery
- 25 W charging
- Aging chipset