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Nothing Phone 3a Pro — SD7s Gen 3 · Periscope 3× · Glyph
Nothing

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

SD7s Gen 3 · Periscope 3× · Glyph

84
/ 100
From $459
VS
Pixel 9a wins by 2
Pixel 9a — Tensor G4 · 6.3″ OLED · $499
Google

Pixel 9a

Tensor G4 · 6.3″ OLED · $499

86
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Pixel 9a takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Nothing Phone 3a Pro lands at 84 and Pixel 9a at 86. That puts Pixel 9a ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Nothing Phone 3a Pro if…

  • ✓Periscope 3× tele rare at this price
  • ✓Glyph interface genuinely useful
  • ✓Distinctive design

Pick Pixel 9a if…

  • ✓Cheapest Gemini-ready Pixel
  • ✓7-year updates
  • ✓Improved 5100 mAh battery
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Photography

Pixel 9a

Stills and video quality across lenses

Pixel 9a leads on camera (92 vs 86).

Battery life

Pixel 9a

Screen-on time and charging

Pixel 9a leads on battery (90 vs 86).

Performance

Pixel 9a

Chipset speed for gaming and heavy apps

Pixel 9a leads on cpu (84 vs 80).

Display

Pixel 9a

Panel quality, brightness, refresh rate

Pixel 9a leads on display (88 vs 86).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro 84
vs
86 Pixel 9a

Score breakdown

Nothing Phone 3a Pro
84
cpu 80
gpu 78
camera 86
battery 86
display 86
design 96
Pixel 9a
86
cpu 84
gpu 80
camera 92
battery 90
display 88
design 84

Specs side-by-side

Nothing Phone 3a Pro versus Pixel 9a — full spec comparison
Spec Nothing Phone 3a Pro Pixel 9a
Display
▲ 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz
6.3″ OLED 120Hz
Chipset
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
Google Tensor G4
RAM
▲ 12 GB
8 GB
Storage
▲ 256 GB
128/256 GB
Rear camera
50 MP + 50 MP 3× tele + 8 MP UW
—
Battery
5000 mAh
▲ 5100 mAh
Charging
50W wired, 15W wireless
—
OS
Nothing OS 4
Android 15, 7-yr updates
Weight
211 g
—
IP rating
IP64
—

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Pros
  • +Periscope 3× tele rare at this price
  • +Glyph interface genuinely useful
  • +Distinctive design
Cons
  • −SD7s Gen 3 trails Pixel 8a in CPU
  • −Camera processing inconsistent
  • −IP64 only

Pixel 9a

Pros
  • +Cheapest Gemini-ready Pixel
  • +7-year updates
  • +Improved 5100 mAh battery
Cons
  • −Slower charging (23W)
  • −Tensor G4 throttles
  • −Plastic back

FAQ: Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 9a

Which is better, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or Pixel 9a? +

Pixel 9a scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Nothing Phone 3a Pro worth the price? +

At $459, Nothing Phone 3a Pro delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in design.

Is Pixel 9a worth the price? +

At $499, Pixel 9a delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in camera.

Does Nothing Phone 3a Pro or Pixel 9a last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for photography, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or Pixel 9a? +

Pixel 9a — leads on camera (92 vs 86). Stills and video quality across lenses.

Which is better for battery life, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or Pixel 9a? +

Pixel 9a — leads on battery (90 vs 86). Screen-on time and charging.