Budget Smartphone Battle: iPhone 16e vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro

[MacRumors]

Android smartphone maker Nothing recently came out with the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, just a little after Apple launched the iPhone 16e. Since Nothing's smartphone is targeting roughly the same group of smartphone buyers as the iPhone 16e, we thought we'd do a comparison.

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The iPhone 16e is priced at $599, which is higher than any other budget smartphone that Apple has released to date, while the 3a Pro is quite a bit more affordable at $459. The 3a Pro has some bells and whistles you won't get with the iPhone 16e like extra cameras and a larger display, but the Qualcomm chip in the 3a Pro really can't compete with the A18 in the iPhone 16e. It's not even close.

While the iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch display, the 3a Pro has a larger 6.8-inch display, and it's notably larger and heavier. It has a brighter OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the 16e display is limited to 60Hz. In terms of design, the 16e has a classic, understated iPhone look with a single camera, while the 3a Pro has a large rear camera circle, a stylized mechanical look, and a ring of LED lights at the back that serve as notification alerts.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has an eye-catching design for sure, but it might also be a bit much for some people. There's a single 48-megapixel Wide camera in the iPhone 16e, but the 3a Pro has a trio of cameras, including a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel Telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

Battery life is about the same between the two, and the 3a Pro has no wireless charging feature while the 16e supports slow Qi-based wireless charging. The 3a Pro does charge faster though, because it supports up to 50W wired charging.

Nothing hasn't gone all in on AI like Apple, but there is a dedicated AI button that opens up the Essential Space, which is an AI-powered hub for notes, ideas, and inspirations. There are no image generation features or custom emoji, but it is a truly useful feature.

Of course, the major difference between the two is iOS vs. Android, so while the 3a Pro is a solid value with a good feature set, it's probably not going to lure iPhone users out of Apple's ecosystem.

What do you think of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Budget Smartphone Battle: iPhone 16e vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro

 

[tyrnnsrs]

I'm not sure the processor comparison is fair. On paper yes the A18 is 100% faster. But I think what matters is if the less performant Qualcomm chip is adequate for the device itself and whether you even notice the performance difference.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I think it’s a pity Apple no longer offer a substantially cheaper iPhone

This is a key segment of the market where they can lure in more customers who may buy an iPhone and then watch etc

This new entry level iPhone is more regular premium device. Actually a luxury device still because the build quality is far greater than many others on the market.

 

[Fuzzball84]

I'm not sure the processor comparison is fair. On paper yes the A18 is 100% faster. But I think what matters is if the less performant Qualcomm chip is adequate for the device itself and whether you even notice the performance difference.

The processor comparisons between iPhone models and between models released up to 4 or 5 years ago is also moot, for a lot of consumers. I don’t do anything “Pro” on my iPhone.

The only differentiator and aspect that determines function being more the anemic RAM allocation between those iPhones

 

[Ctrlos]

There are two big differences: dimensions and software. The 3aP is massive compared to the 16e and bigger than last years (very good) 2a.

The 2a could play GameCube titles with no drop in frame rates but I’m not sure how the 3aP stacks in that regard. As with all Apple you’re paying for a more stable software experience and a much richer app ecosystem.

 

[acorntoy]

I'm not sure the processor comparison is fair. On paper yes the A18 is 100% faster. But I think what matters is if the less performant Qualcomm chip is adequate for the device itself and whether you even notice the performance difference.

No that's definitely fair, a processor with those scores will likely run android decently but still lag, other features like the 120hz screen wont be able to keep up and will be moot in a lot of areas.

 

[ThisIsMike]

"So what exactly are you getting for that price?"

Nothing.

Obviously.

 

[John Connor]

The 3a should be used for the comparison, not the Pro model.

 

[strawbale]

Only 3 years of OS updates: https://9to5google.com/2025/03/04/nothing-phone-3a-3-years-android-updates/

 

[MichaelAdam]

It’s interesting to see those articles comparing what in the past was not a subject of discussion… many phones are better the iPhone nowadays … I shall consider the switch nowadays … Nothing is a serious consider that has a promising future targeting the young generation …

 

[foggygray]

6.8 inch display is an automatic "no" from me.

 

[Blackstick]

The "Nothing" marketing is horrific. It's like naming a company "Residential Air conditioning" (yes I had a neighbor who picked that... out of business in a year)

 

[Daalseth]

My reaction after watching the video and reading the article: The 3a is the phone Apple SHOULD have made instead of the 16e. It has the features I want, but not the one (AI) that I don’t.

 

[sw1tcher]

Only 3 years of OS updates: https://9to5google.com/2025/03/04/nothing-phone-3a-3-years-android-updates/

3 years of OS updates *but* 4 years of bug/security updates which in my book is more important.

That said, I'd take a Pixel 9a over the Nothing 3a.

 

[AGSP]

Android smartphone maker Nothing recently came out with the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, just a little after Apple launched the iPhone 16e. Since Nothing's smartphone is targeting roughly the same group of smartphone buyers as the iPhone 16e, we thought we'd do a comparison.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The iPhone 16e is priced at $599, which is higher than any other budget smartphone that Apple has released to date, while the 3a Pro is quite a bit more affordable at $459. The 3a Pro has some bells and whistles you won't get with the iPhone 16e like extra cameras and a larger display, but the Qualcomm chip in the 3a Pro really can't compete with the A18 in the iPhone 16e. It's not even close.

While the iPhone 16e has a 6.1-inch display, the 3a Pro has a larger 6.8-inch display, and it's notably larger and heavier. It has a brighter OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the 16e display is limited to 60Hz. In terms of design, the 16e has a classic, understated iPhone look with a single camera, while the 3a Pro has a large rear camera circle, a stylized mechanical look, and a ring of LED lights at the back that serve as notification alerts.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro has an eye-catching design for sure, but it might also be a bit much for some people. There's a single 48-megapixel Wide camera in the iPhone 16e, but the 3a Pro has a trio of cameras, including a 50-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel Telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera.

Battery life is about the same between the two, and the 3a Pro has no wireless charging feature while the 16e supports slow Qi-based wireless charging. The 3a Pro does charge faster though, because it supports up to 50W wired charging.

Nothing hasn't gone all in on AI like Apple, but there is a dedicated AI button that opens up the Essential Space, which is an AI-powered hub for notes, ideas, and inspirations. There are no image generation features or custom emoji, but it is a truly useful feature.

Of course, the major difference between the two is iOS vs. Android, so while the 3a Pro is a solid value with a good feature set, it's probably not going to lure iPhone users out of Apple's ecosystem.

What do you think of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro? Let us know in the comments below.

Article Link: Budget Smartphone Battle: iPhone 16e vs. Nothing Phone 3a Pro

I've used Mac and iPhone for years, yes before the iphone was a thing. But when the Pixel 7a arrived and fed up with the ever increasing pricing of this is the best iPhone ever!! I actually bought one....a Pixel 7a.

Pixel and Nothing phones running Android 15 are a great option. Android is not ios, but so what? Stop ending comparisons with the comments, "well the big difference is ios vs. android". It's 2025 and the user experiece of both Android and Apple phone is very similar, and it's no big deal switcking out of Apple to Google and vice versa.

What do you want a phone for? Calls, email, internet, YouTube, TicToc? Well hello they both do that! An the Pixel A series have great cameras.

If you haven't used an Android 15 Pixel or Nothing phone, perhaps you might surprise yourself and save £500/$500

Ps. this is by no means anti-Apple, just plain good financial sense and an alternative decent mobile.

 

[Veinticinco]

I'd gladly tie a giant bunch of balloons to Tim Cook's house and hand the CEO job to Carl Pei. He's a "product guy" for one thing, with a track record and actually listens to feedback from customers, a rare quality. VW weren't afraid to give Mate Rimac (also a young visionary who walks his own path whilst coming across as humble) the keys to the kingdom.

 

[Ctrlos]

Probably worth mentioning that Google just blew a big hole in the budget smartphone market.

Everything the Pixel 8a was missing with a bigger battery and a practically flush camera? For £499?!

Apple are cutting the price of the 16e soon aren’t they?

 

[bunce66]

Don't know a single person who owns or even slightly cares about a "Nothing phone".

 

[deevey]

Now lets talk about waterproofing

 

[catracho504]

The real battle is Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e.

I want to see that.

 

[Plerf]

Does Nothing sell more or less than, say, 561 phones a year?

 

[reyesmac]

It's great that there is competition. But why own earth would they price their phones for more than you can buy a used iPhone for that could still beat it? You price it lower than any iPhone you can buy even in the used market that is as good or worse than the knockoff you are selling. It's like someone selling high end purses with no name brand for almost as much as the original. If you are going to buy an inferior product the price/performance ratio has to be too good to pass up.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

How is it fair to compare it with a cheaper phone

 

[Valbunny]

3 years of OS updates *but* 4 years of bug/security updates which in my book is more important.

That said, I'd take a Pixel 9a over the Nothing 3a.

6 years of bug/security updates.

 

[Smittywerben]

The fact that this $460 phone has a bigger telephoto sensor than $1200 16PM is just crazy.
I think Apple was the first company ever to use a telephoto camera on their main stream phone, 7 Plus, now they have to play catch up with a company that was founded in 2020.