Pixel 9a vs Nothing Phone 3a
Two brands, one target. The Pixel 9a from Google and the Nothing Phone 3a from Nothing compete head to head for midrange smartphone shoppers. On balance, the Nothing Phone 3a is the stronger package: it leads in 3 out of 6 areas, most clearly in camera. It also matters that $120 separates their launch prices, with the Pixel 9a at the top.
At a glance
- Display Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Performance Tie
- Memory & Storage Tie
- Camera Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Battery & Charging Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Software & Updates Pixel 9a wins
- Price Nothing Phone 3a wins
- Display9.5
- Memory & Storage2.2
- Camera6.2
- Battery & Charging6.6
- 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
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The Pixel 9a has 4 years of extra promised updates
Few buyers will miss this one. The Pixel 9a brings 7 years to the table; the Nothing Phone 3a brings 3 years. The Pixel 9a’s longer software support can also help its resale value later on.
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The Nothing Phone 3a has faster 50 W wired charging
When it comes to wired charging, the Nothing Phone 3a wins comfortably with 50 W against 23 W. Peak charging speeds depend on a compatible charger, which may not come in the box.
-
The Nothing Phone 3a has an extra rear camera
It’s a lopsided result (3 for the Nothing Phone 3a, 2 for the Pixel 9a) and one of the main reasons to choose between them. More cameras help most when each covers a different view, so check the table to see what the Nothing Phone 3a’s extra lens adds.
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The Pixel 9a has a 0.53 oz lighter build
The Pixel 9a gets a small bonus on weight, with 6.56 oz against the Nothing Phone 3a’s 7.09 oz. The Pixel 9a is easier on your wrist during long reading or gaming sessions.
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The Nothing Phone 3a has a sharper 32 MP selfie camera
The spread here is large: 32 MP on the Nothing Phone 3a versus 13 MP on the Pixel 9a. Expect to notice it. A sharper selfie camera helps with video calls, vlogs and group selfies.
Design & Size
- Pixel 9a 6.09 in × 2.89 in × 0.35 in
- Nothing Phone 3a 6.44 in × 3.05 in × 0.33 in
Want the smaller footprint? That’s the Pixel 9a. The Nothing Phone 3a is the larger of the two. The Nothing Phone 3a carries an extra 0.53 oz. The Nothing Phone 3a is 0.02 in thinner than the Pixel 9a.
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.09 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.89 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.35 in | 0.33 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.56 oz (winner) | 7.09 oz Heaviest in class |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 (winner) | IP64 Lowest IP rating |
| Frame | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
Display
Nothing Phone 3a leads
The display numbers lean toward the Nothing Phone 3a, not dramatically but consistently. The Nothing Phone 3a wins here with 11% higher peak brightness. Peak brightness decides how readable the screen stays in direct sunlight and how punchy HDR content looks. Net result: the Nothing Phone 3a leads this part of the comparison.
Peak brightness
Pixel 9a: 2,700 nits Nothing Phone 3a: 3,000 nits If you use your phone outdoors a lot, the Nothing Phone 3a’s brighter panel is the one that holds up better at midday.
Screen size
Pixel 9a: 6.3 in Nothing Phone 3a: 6.8 in A larger display also means a larger phone overall, so this is as much about your hands and pockets as it is about the picture.
Performance
Too close to call
On paper, the performance comparison ends all square. In short, performance is a draw; the decision lies elsewhere.
Memory & Storage
Too close to call
Neither the Pixel 9a nor the Nothing Phone 3a has a real advantage in the memory & storage category. Both cover memory & storage well enough that other priorities should break the tie.
Camera
Nothing Phone 3a leads
If camera is high on your list, the Nothing Phone 3a makes the stronger case by a wide margin. The Nothing Phone 3a has the edge with an extra rear camera. An extra rear camera usually means another focal length (ultra-wide, telephoto or macro) and more freedom in framing. The Pixel 9a brings a sharper 13 MP ultra-wide. If camera is your priority, the Nothing Phone 3a is the phone to pick.
Rear cameras
Pixel 9a: 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 9a: 13 MP Nothing Phone 3a: 32 MP Front cameras are often an afterthought, so a higher-resolution sensor is a small but welcome edge for the Nothing Phone 3a.
Battery & Charging
Nothing Phone 3a leads
The Pixel 9a has a tough time in the battery & charging section, where the Nothing Phone 3a pulls well ahead. Choose the Nothing Phone 3a and you get faster 50 W wired charging. Faster wired charging means a short top-up before you head out goes further. Bottom line for battery & charging: the Nothing Phone 3a has the edge.
Wired charging
Pixel 9a: 23 W Nothing Phone 3a: 50 W The Nothing Phone 3a refills faster on a cable, which matters most on the mornings you forgot to charge overnight.
Software & Updates
Pixel 9a leads
For software & updates, the verdict is easy: the Pixel 9a leads, and not by a little. Point to the Pixel 9a for 4 years of extra promised updates. 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. Anyone shopping mainly on software & updates should start with the Pixel 9a.
Promised OS updates
Pixel 9a: 7 years Nothing Phone 3a: 3 years A longer update promise keeps the phone secure and current for longer, which matters if you keep devices for several years.
Full Specifications
Display
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.3 in | 6.8 in |
| Panel type | OLED (Actua) | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2424 x 1080 | 2392 x 1080 |
| Pixel density | 422 ppi | N/A (not specified) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2,700 nits | 3,000 nits (winner) Brightest screen in class |
| Always-on display | Yes | N/A (not specified) |
Performance
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| CPU cores | 8 | 8 |
| Process node | 4 nm | N/A (not specified) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
Memory & Storage
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Base storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Max storage | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| microSD slot | No | No |
Camera
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP | 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 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,100 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 23 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 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 15 | Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15) |
| Promised OS updatesManufacturer commitment | 7 years (winner) | 3 years |
Design & Build
| Spec | Pixel 9a | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6.09 in | 6.44 in |
| Width | 2.89 in | 3.05 in |
| Thickness | 0.35 in | 0.33 in (winner) |
| Weight | 6.56 oz (winner) | 7.09 oz Heaviest in class |
| Water & dust rating | IP68 (winner) | IP64 Lowest IP rating |
| Frame | Aluminum | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Pixel 9a | 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
That’s $120 between the two launch prices, a spread of 32% that makes the Nothing Phone 3a the value-minded choice. Spending less doesn’t mean getting less here: the Nothing Phone 3a undercuts the Pixel 9a by $120 and still leads overall.
Prices shown are US launch prices as of March 2025. Retail prices change often, so it’s worth checking current offers.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Pixel 9a if…
- you want software support that lasts longer (7 years vs 3 years)
- you want the lighter phone (6.56 oz vs 7.09 oz)
- you often shoot landscapes, buildings or group photos (13 MP vs 8 MP ultra-wide)
- you want better protection against water and dust (IP68 vs IP64)
Choose the Nothing Phone 3a if…
- you want the faster cable charging (50 W vs 23 W)
- you want more lenses to choose from (3 vs 2 rear cameras)
- you take a lot of selfies or video calls (32 MP vs 13 MP front camera)
- you want the screen that stays readable on sunny days (3,000 nits vs 2,700 nits)
- you’d rather keep $120 in your pocket
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the Pixel 9a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
We’d point most buyers to the Nothing Phone 3a. The main exception is if your top priority is 4 years of extra promised updates.
Which has better battery life, the Pixel 9a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
It’s effectively a tie. The battery figures for the Pixel 9a and the Nothing Phone 3a are too close to call.
Which is larger, the Pixel 9a or the Nothing Phone 3a?
Going by the official dimensions, the Nothing Phone 3a is the larger one: 6.44 × 3.05 × 0.33 in against the Pixel 9a’s 6.09 × 2.89 × 0.35 in.
Does the Pixel 9a have a stronger camera setup than the Nothing Phone 3a?
On paper, the Nothing Phone 3a has the stronger camera setup, with an extra rear camera and a sharper 32 MP selfie camera.
Is the Pixel 9a’s display better than the Nothing Phone 3a’s?
The Nothing Phone 3a has the stronger display on paper, with 11% higher peak brightness.
Is the Pixel 9a cheaper than the Nothing Phone 3a?
The Pixel 9a launched at $120 more than the Nothing Phone 3a, based on prices as of March 2025.
Executive Summary
Brand loyalty aside, I tried to judge the Pixel 9a and the Nothing Phone 3a purely on what they offer. The Nothing Phone 3a earns my vote first and foremost with faster 50 W wired charging. There’s a bonus as well: the Nothing Phone 3a has an extra rear camera. Credit where it’s due: the Pixel 9a offers 4 years of extra promised updates.
Match the strength to your habits (software & updates for the Pixel 9a, display for the Nothing Phone 3a), and you won’t go far wrong.
My pick: the Nothing Phone 3a. I’d only go for the Pixel 9a if you’d trade the rest for 4 years of extra promised updates.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.