iPhone SE 3 vs Nothing Phone 3a
Put the iPhone SE 3 next to the Nothing Phone 3a and you have Apple and Nothing going after exactly the same midrange smartphone crowd. Across 3 compared areas, the Nothing Phone 3a takes 3. The widest gap shows up under display.
At a glance
- Display Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Memory & Storage Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Camera Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Price Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Display0.0
- Memory & Storage0.0
- Camera0.0
- Display10.0
- Memory & Storage2.2
- Camera8.7
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz
The Nothing Phone 3a’s 120 Hz leaves the iPhone SE 3’s 60 Hz well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. You notice refresh rate every time you scroll a feed or a web page, which is why the Nothing Phone 3a feels more fluid in everyday use.
-
The iPhone SE 3 has a 2.01 oz lighter build
Not a close call. The iPhone SE 3 lists 5.08 oz and the Nothing Phone 3a lists 7.09 oz. That’s a substantial gap. A few grams won’t matter, but bigger gaps add up in a pocket or a small bag over a full day.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has 380% higher peak brightness
Among all the differences on this page, 3,000 nits against 625 nits is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the Nothing Phone 3a. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB
The iPhone SE 3 gives up a lot on base storage: 64 GB, compared with 128 GB on the Nothing Phone 3a. The Nothing Phone 3a starts with more room, which means fewer “storage full” warnings and less time deleting old videos.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has a higher-resolution 50 MP main camera
Few buyers will miss this one. The Nothing Phone 3a brings 50 MP to the table; the iPhone SE 3 brings 12 MP. More megapixels on the main camera allow bigger crops and more detail in good light, but sensor size and processing matter just as much.
Design & Size
- iPhone SE 3 5.45 in × 2.65 in × 0.29 in
- Nothing Phone 3a 6.44 in × 3.05 in × 0.33 in
If compact matters to you, the iPhone SE 3 is the one to look at. The Nothing Phone 3a is physically larger all round. Pick the iPhone SE 3 and you save 2.01 oz. The iPhone SE 3 trims 0.04 in off the thickness of the Nothing Phone 3a.
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) Slimmest in class | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 5.08 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 7.09 oz Heaviest in class |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 (winner) | IP64 Lowest IP rating |
| Frame | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
Display
Nothing Phone 3a leads
Look at the display table and one name keeps coming out on top: the Nothing Phone 3a. On the Nothing Phone 3a, you get a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. Smoother motion is one of the most visible display upgrades, and adaptive high-refresh panels can slow down on static content to save power. In short, the Nothing Phone 3a is the better-equipped phone for display.
Refresh rate
iPhone SE 3: 60 Hz Nothing Phone 3a: 120 Hz A higher refresh rate makes scrolling, animations and games look smoother. Once you’re used to it, a lower-rate screen can feel sluggish by comparison.
Peak brightness
iPhone SE 3: 625 nits Nothing Phone 3a: 3,000 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Performance
In the performance section, the key entries are names rather than numbers, so compare what the iPhone SE 3 and the Nothing Phone 3a list in the table below.
CPU cores
iPhone SE 3: 6 Nothing Phone 3a: 8 Core count on its own says little about speed; how the chip is designed and how fast each core runs matter more.
Memory & Storage
Nothing Phone 3a leads
The Nothing Phone 3a dominates the memory & storage section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Nothing Phone 3a steps ahead thanks to 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. If you shoot a lot of video or keep music and maps offline, base storage is one of the specs you’ll feel most over the years. If memory & storage is your priority, the Nothing Phone 3a is the phone to pick.
Base storage
iPhone SE 3: 64 GB Nothing Phone 3a: 128 GB Base storage is what you get without paying extra. Photos, videos and apps add up quickly, so more space at the entry price is real value.
Camera
Nothing Phone 3a leads
The Nothing Phone 3a wins the camera section decisively. Choose the Nothing Phone 3a and you get a higher-resolution 50 MP main camera. The Nothing Phone 3a’s higher-resolution main sensor gives you more room to crop, which helps when you can’t get closer. That makes the Nothing Phone 3a the natural choice for buyers focused on camera.
Main camera
iPhone SE 3: 12 MP Nothing Phone 3a: 50 MP Megapixels are only one part of image quality, so treat this as a sign of detail potential, not a verdict on photos.
Rear cameras
iPhone SE 3: 1 Nothing Phone 3a: 3 An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Battery & Charging
The battery & charging comparison is about what’s inside rather than how much. See the table for the iPhone SE 3’s and the Nothing Phone 3a’s entries.
Software & Updates
Here the spec sheet speaks in model names and types. Compare the iPhone SE 3 and the Nothing Phone 3a row by row in the table below.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 4.7 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | LCD (Retina HD) | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2392 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 326 ppi Lowest pixel density | N/A (not specified) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz (winner) |
| Peak brightness | 625 nits Dimmest screen in class | 3,000 nits (winner) Brightest screen in class |
| Always-on display | No | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| CPU cores | 6 | 8 |
| Process node | 5 nm | N/A (not specified) |
| RAM | N/A (not specified) | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 64 GB Least base storage | 128 GB (winner) |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 12 MP Lowest-res main camera | 50 MP (winner) |
| Ultra-wide camera | N/A (not specified) | 8 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 50 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 2× |
| Rear cameras | 1 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 7 MP Lowest-res selfie camera | 32 MP (winner) Sharpest selfie camera |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | N/A (not specified) | 5,000 mAh |
| Rated video playbackManufacturer rating | 15 h Shortest rated playback | N/A (not specified) |
| Wired charging | N/A (not specified) | 50 W Fastest wired charging |
| Wireless charging | 8 W | N/A (not specified) |
| Port | Lightning | USB-C (USB 2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | iOS 15.4 | Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | N/A (not specified) | 3 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.45 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.65 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.29 in (winner) Slimmest in class | 0.33 in |
| Weight | 5.08 oz (winner) Lightest in class | 7.09 oz Heaviest in class |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 (winner) | IP64 Lowest IP rating |
| Frame | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | iPhone SE 3 | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $429 | $379 (winner) Lowest price in class |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
The launch prices are close, with the Nothing Phone 3a just $50 below the iPhone SE 3. Paying $50 more for the iPhone SE 3 doesn’t buy you the better overall package.
Launch prices in the US as of March 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the iPhone SE 3 if…
- you notice every gram in your pocket (5.08 oz vs 7.09 oz)
- you care about a thin profile in your pocket (0.29 in vs 0.33 in)
- you want better protection against water and dust (IP67 vs IP64)
Choose the Nothing Phone 3a if…
- you game or scroll a lot and like motion to look fluid (120 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (3,000 nits vs 625 nits)
- you shoot a lot of photos and video (128 GB vs 64 GB base storage)
- you like to crop into your photos (50 MP vs 12 MP main camera)
- you’d put the $50 saving toward something else
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the iPhone SE 3 or the Nothing Phone 3a?
For most people, the Nothing Phone 3a is the stronger choice, unless you know that a 2.01 oz lighter build would make a real difference in your routine.
Is the iPhone SE 3 bigger than the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a takes that one. With dimensions of 6.44 × 3.05 × 0.33 in, it is larger than the iPhone SE 3 (5.45 × 2.65 × 0.29 in).
Which is faster, the iPhone SE 3 or the Nothing Phone 3a?
The iPhone SE 3 uses A15 Bionic, while the Nothing Phone 3a uses Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. How that translates into speed depends on the workloads you care about.
Which has the better camera, the iPhone SE 3 or the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a has the edge for photography, offering a higher-resolution 50 MP main camera and an extra rear camera.
Is the iPhone SE 3’s display better than the Nothing Phone 3a’s?
Going by the numbers, the Nothing Phone 3a’s screen comes out ahead: a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz and 380% higher peak brightness.
Is the iPhone SE 3 cheaper than the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a is the cheaper option, launching at $50 less than the iPhone SE 3 (launch prices as of March 2025).
Executive Summary
I’ll be upfront: I have no stake in whether you buy Apple or Nothing. I only care that you end up with the right one of the iPhone SE 3 and the Nothing Phone 3a. What I like most about the Nothing Phone 3a here is a 120 Hz display instead of 60 Hz. There’s a bonus as well: the Nothing Phone 3a has 128 GB of base storage instead of 64 GB. I’ll admit the iPhone SE 3 has a point with a 2.01 oz lighter build.
A quick self-test: do you care more about portability or display? The first answer means the iPhone SE 3, the second means the Nothing Phone 3a.
My pick: the Nothing Phone 3a, though the iPhone SE 3 makes sense if you’d trade the rest for a 2.01 oz lighter build.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.