Pixel 8a vs Nothing Phone 3a
Different logos, same mission. The Pixel 8a and the Nothing Phone 3a both want to be your next phone. The spec sheets tilt toward the Nothing Phone 3a, which leads in 2 of 6 areas and opens its biggest gap on battery & charging. There’s also a launch price gap of $120 in favor of the Nothing Phone 3a.
At a glance
- Display Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera Trade-off
- Battery & Charging Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Software & Updates Pixel 8a wins
- Price Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Display8.3
- Memory & Storage2.2
- Camera7.5
- Battery & Charging0.9
- Display10.0
- Memory & Storage2.2
- Camera6.9
- Battery & Charging9.2
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 Pixel 8a has 4 years of extra promised updates
Put simply, the Pixel 8a is far ahead here: 7 years compared with 3 years. Software support is what separates a phone that ages gracefully from one that doesn’t, making it one of the most practical lines on the spec sheet.
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The Nothing Phone 3a has faster 50 W wired charging
The Nothing Phone 3a’s 50 W leaves the Pixel 8a’s 18 W well behind, so if this spec matters to you, the choice is easy. The Nothing Phone 3a refills faster on a cable, which matters most on the mornings you forgot to charge overnight.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has 50% higher peak brightness
Not a close call. The Nothing Phone 3a lists 3,000 nits and the Pixel 8a lists 2,000 nits. That’s a substantial gap. If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the Nothing Phone 3a’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has 11% more battery capacity
Only a little separates them: 5,000 mAh on the Nothing Phone 3a, 4,492 mAh on the Pixel 8a. Capacity isn’t everything, but when two phones are otherwise close, more milliamp-hours is the simplest endurance advantage there is.
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The Nothing Phone 3a has an extra rear camera
Among all the differences on this page, 3 against 2 is one of the most meaningful, and it favors the Nothing Phone 3a. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing.
Design & Size
- Pixel 8a 5.99 in × 2.86 in × 0.35 in
- Nothing Phone 3a 6.44 in × 3.05 in × 0.33 in
A larger body can leave more room inside, while a smaller one is easier to live with in tight spaces. Here, the Nothing Phone 3a is the larger phone. There’s 0.46 oz between them, and the Pixel 8a is on the lighter side. Measured edge to edge, the Nothing Phone 3a is the thinner one, by 0.02 in.
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.99 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.86 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.35 in | 0.33 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.63 oz (winner) | 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
The display numbers point firmly in one direction: toward the Nothing Phone 3a. The Nothing Phone 3a wins here with 50% higher peak brightness. Peak figures are usually reached only in short bursts or small areas of the screen, but a higher ceiling still helps outdoor visibility. On display alone, the Nothing Phone 3a gets the nod.
Peak brightness
Pixel 8a: 2,000 nits Nothing Phone 3a: 3,000 nits Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks.
Screen size
Pixel 8a: 6.1 in Nothing Phone 3a: 6.8 in Screen size is personal. If you watch a lot on your phone, the extra area pays off; if you text one-handed on the go, compact is kinder.
Performance
Too close to call
There’s little to choose between them when it comes to performance. Net result on performance: level.
CPU cores
Pixel 8a: 9 Nothing Phone 3a: 8 Phone chips mix large and small cores, so a different count mostly reflects a different design rather than a clear speed gap.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
This is a tie in all but name. On memory & storage, both deliver about the same. This section won’t settle the choice, so weigh the other areas more heavily.
Camera
Trade-off
The camera section doesn’t produce a winner so much as a choice: a sharper 13 MP ultra-wide (Pixel 8a) or an extra rear camera (Nothing Phone 3a). In short, camera splits the vote, and your use case casts the deciding one.
Rear cameras
Pixel 8a: 2 Nothing Phone 3a: 3 The count alone doesn’t guarantee quality, but the Nothing Phone 3a gives you more lenses to choose from.
Front camera
Pixel 8a: 13 MP Nothing Phone 3a: 32 MP If you mainly use the front camera for calls, the gap is minor; if you post selfies often, the Nothing Phone 3a’s extra resolution helps.
Battery & Charging
Nothing Phone 3a leads
Here the Nothing Phone 3a opens up one of its biggest leads in the comparison. The Nothing Phone 3a has the edge with faster 50 W wired charging. Peak charging speeds depend on a compatible charger, which may not come in the box. If this section decides it for you, choose the Nothing Phone 3a.
Wired charging
Pixel 8a: 18 W Nothing Phone 3a: 50 W Faster wired charging means a short top-up before you head out goes further.
Battery capacity
Pixel 8a: 4,492 mAh Nothing Phone 3a: 5,000 mAh A bigger battery usually means longer days between charges, although chip efficiency and screen size also shape real endurance.
Software & Updates
Pixel 8a leads
The Pixel 8a dominates the software & updates section, and the gaps are large enough to matter in daily use. The Pixel 8a answers with 4 years of extra promised updates. A longer update promise keeps the phone secure and current for longer, which matters if you keep devices for several years. Net result: the Pixel 8a leads this part of the comparison.
Promised OS updates
Pixel 8a: 7 years Nothing Phone 3a: 3 years The Pixel 8a’s longer software support can also help its resale value later on.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Actua) | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2392 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 430 ppi | N/A (not specified) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,000 nits | 3,000 nits (winner) Brightest screen in class |
| Always-on display | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| CPU cores | 9 | 8 |
| Process node | 4 nm | N/A (not specified) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 64 MP (winner) | 50 MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 13 MP (winner) | 8 MP |
| Telephoto camera | N/A (not specified) | 50 MP |
| Optical zoom | N/A (not specified) | 2× |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3 (winner) |
| Front camera | 13 MP | 32 MP (winner) Sharpest selfie camera |
| Max video | 4K60 | 4K30 |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 4,492 mAh | 5,000 mAh (winner) |
| Wired charging | 18 W | 50 W (winner) Fastest wired charging |
| Wireless charging | 8 W | N/A (not specified) |
| Port | USB-C | USB-C (USB 2) |
Software & Updates
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 14 | Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | 7 years (winner) | 3 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 5.99 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.86 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.35 in | 0.33 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.63 oz (winner) | 7.09 oz Heaviest in class |
| Water & dust rating | IP67 (winner) | IP64 Lowest IP rating |
| Frame | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Pixel 8a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $499 | $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
At launch, the Pixel 8a cost $120 more than the Nothing Phone 3a. In percentage terms, that’s 32%. The Nothing Phone 3a costs $120 less and still comes out ahead in more areas, a rare combination.
These are US launch prices, recorded March 2025; what you pay today may be higher or lower.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Pixel 8a if…
- you plan to keep your phone for years (7 years vs 3 years of promised updates)
- you notice every gram in your pocket (6.63 oz vs 7.09 oz)
- you want the sharper ultra-wide camera (13 MP vs 8 MP)
- you want the higher-resolution main camera (64 MP vs 50 MP)
Choose the Nothing Phone 3a if…
- you want the faster cable charging (50 W vs 18 W)
- you use your phone outdoors a lot (3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits peak brightness)
- you often spend long days away from a charger (5,000 mAh vs 4,492 mAh)
- you like switching between focal lengths (3 vs 2 cameras)
- you’d rather keep $120 in your pocket
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Pixel 8a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a makes more sense overall. Consider the alternative only if you value 4 years of extra promised updates above everything else.
Does the Pixel 8a last longer on a charge than the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a comes out ahead on battery capacity, with 5,000 mAh compared with 4,492 mAh on the Pixel 8a.
Is the Pixel 8a 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 Pixel 8a (5.99 × 2.86 × 0.35 in).
Which has the better screen, the Pixel 8a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
On display specs, the Nothing Phone 3a leads thanks to 50% higher peak brightness.
Which costs less, the Pixel 8a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
At launch, the Nothing Phone 3a undercut the Pixel 8a by $120. These figures are as of March 2025, and street prices can change.
Is the Pixel 8a lighter than the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Nothing Phone 3a is the heavier of the two; the Pixel 8a saves 0.46 oz.
Executive Summary
Cross-brand comparisons are where I find the real differences in philosophy, and the Pixel 8a versus the Nothing Phone 3a shows that nicely. The Nothing Phone 3a has faster 50 W wired charging, and for most people that’s not a small thing. Then there’s 50% higher peak brightness, another point for the Nothing Phone 3a. The Pixel 8a does have a strong card to play: 4 years of extra promised updates.
The way I see it, people who prioritize software & updates will be happier with the Pixel 8a, and those who prioritize display with the Nothing Phone 3a.
My pick: the Nothing Phone 3a, though the Pixel 8a makes sense if you care more about 4 years of extra promised updates than anything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.