Nothing Phone (3a)vsApple iPhone 16 Plus
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.
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus takes Performance — led by performance score (1,350,000 pts).
- Nothing Phone (3a) takes Display — led by refresh rate (120 Hz).
- Nothing Phone (3a) takes Camera — led by telephoto (Yes).
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus 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 Nothing Phone (3a) if you want…
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a bigger screen — 6.77 in vs 6.7 in.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want smoother scrolling — 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want sharper selfies — 32 MP vs 12 MP.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want true optical zoom — Yes vs No.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want longer battery life — 5,000 mAh vs 4,674 mAh.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want faster charging — 50 W vs 25 W.
- Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if you want a lower price — 379 USD vs 899 USD.
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want…
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 1,350,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want a sharper screen — 460 ppi vs 388 ppi.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want better video quality — 96 pts vs 87 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want a better camera — 138 pts vs 126 pts.
- Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if you want the convenience of wireless charging — Yes vs No.
At a glance
- Nothing Phone (3a)
- Apple iPhone 16 Plus
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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 (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.
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
Choose Apple iPhone 16 Plus if battery matters most. It costs USD 899.
Pros & cons
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Unique Glyph design
- 3x telephoto
- Clean software
- Mid-range chipset
- 50 W charging
- Average selfies
Apple iPhone 16 Plus
- A18 chip
- Great battery life
- Large display
- 60 Hz display
- No telephoto
- Slow charging