Google Pixel 9a vs Nothing Phone (3a)
The Google Pixel 9a scores 6.9 in our rating, and the Nothing Phone (3a) scores 6.6. The Google Pixel 9a leads in performance, design and software support, while the Nothing Phone (3a) is ahead in camera, battery and value for money. At launch in the US, the Nothing Phone (3a) cost $120 less ($379 vs $499). The Google Pixel 9a is the newer phone, announced Mar 19, 2025.
Key differences
Why choose the Google Pixel 9a
- Bigger battery 5,100 mAh vs 5,000 mAh
- Better water resistance IP68 vs IP64
- Longer OS update support 7 years vs 3 years
- Newer model Mar 19, 2025 vs Mar 4, 2025
- Lighter 185.9 g vs 208 g
- Higher-resolution video 4K@60 vs 4K@30
Why choose the Nothing Phone (3a)
- Faster wired charging 50 W vs 23 W
- Bigger screen 6.77 inches vs 6.3 inches
- Brighter screen 3,000 nits vs 2,700 nits
- Lower launch price $379 vs $499
- More RAM 8 GB / 12 GB vs 8 GB
- Thinner 8.35 mm vs 8.9 mm
PhoneRanked scores
Calculated from specs, relative to phones from the same year and price range. How we rate phones
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Overall
6.9
6.6
Display
7.8
7.8
Performance
6.0
5.1
Camera
6.2
6.6
Battery
5.1
5.3
Design
8.0
7.5
Software support
9.2
6.9
Value for money
4.7
5.5
Display
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Size
6.3 inches
6.77 inches
Type
OLED, Actua
OLED, Flexible AMOLED
Resolution
1080 × 2424 px
1084 × 2392 px
Pixel density
422 ppi
387 ppi
Refresh rate
120 Hz
120 Hz
Adaptive refresh
✕ No
✕ No
Peak brightness
2,700 nits
3,000 nits
HDR
—
HDR10+
Protection
Gorilla Glass 3
Panda Glass
Performance
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Process
4 nm
4 nm
Max CPU clock
3.1 GHz
2.5 GHz
GPU
Mali-G715 MP7
Adreno 810
RAM
8 GB
8 GB / 12 GB
Storage
128 GB / 256 GB
128 GB / 256 GB
Storage type
UFS 3.1
UFS 2.2
microSD slot
✕ No
✕ No
Cameras
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Main camera
48 MP, f/1.7, 1/2"
50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.57"
Optical stabilization
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Ultrawide
13 MP
8 MP
Telephoto
—
50 MP, 2× optical
Optical zoom
—
2×
Rear cameras
2
3
Rear video
4K@60
4K@30
Front camera
13 MP
32 MP
Front video
4K@30
—
Battery and charging
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Capacity
5,100 mAh
5,000 mAh
Wired charging
23 W
50 W
Wireless charging
7.5 W
—
Reverse wireless
✕ No
✕ No
Charger in box
✕ No
✕ No
Design and build
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Dimensions
154.7 × 73.3 × 8.9 mm
163.5 × 77.5 × 8.35 mm
Thickness
8.9 mm
8.35 mm
Weight
185.9 g
208 g
Form factor
Bar
Bar
Frame
Aluminum
—
Back
Plastic
Glass
Water resistance
IP68
IP64
Fingerprint
Under-display optical
Under-display optical
3D face unlock
✕ No
✕ No
SIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM
Dual Nano-SIM
Colors
Iris, Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony
Black, White, Blue
Connectivity and features
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
5G
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth
5.3
5.4
USB
USB-C 3.x
USB-C 2.0
NFC
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
3.5 mm jack
✕ No
✕ No
Stereo speakers
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Satellite
✕ No
✕ No
IR blaster
✕ No
✕ No
Software
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
OS at launch
Android 15
Android 15
Interface
Pixel UI
Nothing OS 3.1
OS updates
7 years
3 years
Security updates
7 years
6 years
Launch and price
Spec
Google Pixel 9aNothing Phone (3a)
Announced
Mar 19, 2025
Mar 4, 2025
Released
Apr 10, 2025
Mar 11, 2025
Status
Released
Released
US launch price
$499
$379
Green marks the stronger value in a row. Specs come from official manufacturer data, cross-checked with established tech media; each phone page lists its sources. Report an error
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