OnePlus 12vsNothing Phone (3a)
SETTLEDUpdated September 8, 2026
OnePlus 12 wins
Verdict
OnePlus 12 wins 4 of 5 categories — our overall pick
OnePlus 12 is the overall winner, 4 / 5 — display is its standout. It costs USD 699 — USD 320 more than the Nothing Phone (3a). Pay the premium if display is your priority.
- OnePlus 12 takes Performance — led by performance score (2,000,000 pts).
- OnePlus 12 takes Display — led by pixel density (510 ppi).
- OnePlus 12 takes Camera — led by camera score (143 pts).
- OnePlus 12 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 OnePlus 12 if you want…
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a faster phone for apps and games — 2,000,000 pts vs 700,000 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want more apps open at once — 12 GB vs 8 GB.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want more room for photos and apps — 256 GB vs 128 GB.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a bigger screen — 6.82 in vs 6.77 in.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a sharper screen — 510 ppi vs 388 ppi.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a screen you can read in sunlight — 4,500 nits vs 3,000 nits.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want better video quality — 94 pts vs 87 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want a better camera — 143 pts vs 126 pts.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want longer battery life — 5,400 mAh vs 5,000 mAh.
- Choose OnePlus 12 if you want faster charging — 100 W vs 50 W.
- Choose OnePlus 12 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 lower price — 379 USD vs 699 USD.
At a glance
- OnePlus 12
- 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?
OnePlus 12
Choose OnePlus 12 if display matters most — it wins the most categories overall. It costs USD 699.
Nothing Phone (3a)
Choose Nothing Phone (3a) if price matters most. It costs USD 379, the lowest price in this group.
Pros & cons
OnePlus 12
- Fast chipset
- 5,400 mAh + 100 W
- Bright display
- Cameras trail rivals
- Curved screen
- OxygenOS changes
Nothing Phone (3a)
- Unique Glyph design
- 3x telephoto
- Clean software
- Mid-range chipset
- 50 W charging
- Average selfies