iPhone 17 vs Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

iPhone 17

ProMotion 120Hz finally arrives on the standard iPhone, making the 6.1-inch OLED display significantly smoother than previous base models.

• ProMotion 120Hz is the single biggest upgrade — scrolling, animations, and general interaction feel dramatically smoother
• Peak brightness reaches 2,000 nits which is excellent for outdoor use though lower than the Pro 3,000-nit panels
• No always-on display despite ProMotion hardware — a frustrating omission to differentiate from the Pro line

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The 6.77-inch AMOLED display is a highlight, with 120Hz refresh rate, 3,000 nits peak HDR brightness, and 480Hz touch sampling. A massive upgrade from the Phone 2a's 1,300 nits, it delivers excellent outdoor readability, rich colors, and smooth scrolling. FHD+ resolution is standard for the price class but perfectly adequate.

• 3,000 nits peak HDR brightness with 120Hz refresh — excellent outdoor readability and smooth scrolling
• 480Hz touch sampling rate delivers responsive input — particularly noticeable in gaming and fast scrolling
• Nothing OS monochrome aesthetic underuses the AMOLED's color capabilities — feels understated for such a vibrant panel

iPhone 17

The 48MP main + 12MP ultrawide dual camera delivers impressive results with improved computational photography, though the lack of telephoto remains the biggest gap versus Pro.

• The 48MP main camera produces sharp, well-exposed photos with excellent color science that is nearly indistinguishable from Pro in good light
• The new 24MP TrueDepth front camera is a standout — selfie quality takes a major leap with better detail and more natural skin tones
• No telephoto means digital zoom only beyond 2x, which produces noticeably softer results than the Pro optical zoom

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The camera system is the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro's biggest selling point. The 50MP main sensor with OIS delivers detailed, vibrant daylight shots, while the 50MP 3x periscope telephoto is virtually unheard of under $500 — producing excellent portraits and zoom shots. The 50MP selfie camera is above average. However, the 8MP ultrawide is a weak link, low-light performance divides opinion, and video is limited to 4K/30fps.

• 50MP 3x periscope telephoto is a genuine rarity under $500 — excellent for portraits with natural bokeh
• 50MP main sensor with OIS produces detailed, vibrant 12.5MP binned shots with good dynamic range in daylight
• 8MP ultrawide is a clear weak link — cannot record 1080p/60fps and lacks detail
• Video limited to 4K/30fps — no 4K/60fps option, and telephoto lacks 4K video entirely

iPhone 17

The A19 chip handles daily tasks, gaming, and Apple Intelligence features with ease, providing a consistently smooth experience.

• A19 chip delivers more than enough power for everyday use — apps, multitasking, and Apple Intelligence all run smoothly
• Gaming performance is strong, with only a slight gap behind the A19 Pro in GPU-heavy titles

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 handles everyday tasks — social media, browsing, multitasking — without issue. However, it's the weakest area of the phone. Benchmark scores (~810K AnTuTu) trail competitors like the Poco X7 Pro, and gaming at high settings can stutter. Some reviewers experienced occasional lag, while others found it perfectly smooth for non-gaming use.

• Smooth for everyday tasks — social media, browsing, and productivity run without noticeable stutter
• Gaming performance actually worse than the older Phone 2a — Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 trails Dimensity 7200 Pro in GPU tasks
• Occasional sluggishness and lag reported during extended use sessions