Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Nothing Phone (3a)

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 handles everyday use and casual gaming at 60fps, but it can stutter under heavier loads and the UFS 2.2 storage is slow.

• It runs a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB UFS 2.2 storage.
• You can find ways to make it stutter when gaming or moving through heavy apps, but the performance still can't be faulted for the price.
• Gaming is solid for a budget phone — Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact and Asphalt all held ~60fps at default settings (33–37°C).
• Demanding titles like Genshin or Wuthering Waves can't hold a constant 60fps for more than 30 minutes or at higher settings.
• The slow storage and processor raise real questions about long-term performance expectations.
• Nothing's software is well optimised — there are occasional stutters when heavily loaded, but overall it runs nice and smooth for the price.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Bespoke Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy (3.36GHz) — same chip as the S23 family and Fold 5. Flagship-grade for everyday use and noticeably more efficient than the Flip 4's 8+ Gen 1.

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy at 3.36GHz + 8GB RAM + 256GB UFS 4.0 base — same chip as the S23 family in a Flip form factor.
• New chip is faster AND more efficient than the Flip 4's 8+ Gen 1 — battery life improvement comes from chip + 10% larger cell combined.
• Two years in (2025), still smooth for everyday use — chip + 8GB RAM have aged well thanks to Samsung's update cadence.

Nothing Phone (3a)

A 5,000mAh cell that comfortably lasts a day to a day and a half with no overheating, plus fast ~50W wired charging — though there's no wireless charging and no charger in the box.

• The 5,000mAh battery easily delivers a day and a half, sometimes two, with zero overheating.
• Real-world screen-on time ran roughly 6.5–8.5 hours, including an 8.5-hour run on mobile data with hotspot use.
• Even with the 5,000mAh cell it's still a one-day battery champ, comfortably ending the night with 25–30% left.
• A measured charge test took it 1% to 90% in exactly one hour on a 45W charger, with a 50W charger faster and a full charge in ~1h10–15m.
• It supports up to 50W wired charging but there's no wireless charging — a notable omission even at this price.
• Against newer 6,000–7,000mAh competitors the 5,000mAh capacity is starting to look modest, though it's far from bad.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

3,700mAh — only 10% more than the Flip 4 and the lineup's weakest. GSMArena measured ~15h video / 12h Wi-Fi web. 25W charging is slow, and oddly the Flip 5 takes longer to reach 100% than the Flip 4.

• 3,700mAh battery — only ~10% larger than the Flip 4. The lineup's weak spot, especially next to slab flagships with 4,500-5,000mAh.
• GSMArena testing: just over 15 hours of video playback and 12 hours of Wi-Fi web browsing — 'not amazing, not half bad either'.
• Real-world: about 1 hour more SOT per day than the Flip 4 thanks to chip + cell improvements — meaningful but still behind comparable slab phones.
• 25W charging matches the Flip 4 in the first 30 minutes — but oddly takes longer to reach 100% than the Flip 4 did.
• 15W Qi wireless charging supported and 4.5W reverse wireless — top up Galaxy Buds while traveling.