Google might have a small but growing challenger in the clean Android space. The way we see it so far, the Nothing Phone (3) could be a very enticing option over the Pixel 9 Pro XL – at least until the 10 series launches in just a few months.
One major upside is that the Pixel 10 will basically look, run, and likely feel the same as the Pixel 9. That makes this a bit more of a fair comparison, given that the only major update we’re expecting is to the chipset and some minor adjustments to how the camera bar looks.
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Hardware and design
Sometimes people can be critical of brands for sticking to boring or plain designs, but then we’re also critical if a brand tries something a little more unorthodox. You have to give Nothing credit for doubling down on unique, standout design traits. The clear finish, combined with almost random placement of the cameras, is unlike anything else out there. Some will love it. Many will hate it, but that is okay. The discourse is almost like free marketing for the device.
Conversely, it’s hard to deny that Google’s Pixel 9 Pro XL is a remix of the iPhone with a camera bar slapped on. It’s striking in its own way, but truthfully, it’s a little derivative. It almost seems like it has been designed to have one standout option that eventually blends into the background.
One thing to note about the “Glyph Matrix” region. It can get hot around this phone section when downloading lots of apps or during the initial setup. The capacitive touch button that sort of blends into the design also means cases require a silly cutout section. The company can try to say it’s not a gimmick, but there isn’t really all that much utility beyond some distracting, flashy Tamagotchi-esque minigames. It’s a risky addition. The old Glyph lights at least worked as an added camera soft-lighting option.
Nothing has done well to utilize so many high-end materials. The fit and finish are excellent. However, the display is the first noticeable area of divergence. The LTPO OLED that is used on the Pixel 9 Pro is a notable improvement over the Nothing Phone (3). It has a 6.8-inch screen while the Nothing handset has a 6.67-inch panel. If you didn’t know, at least initially, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that there is a major difference in quality, although the Gorilla Glass 7i means lower protection on the Phone (3).
For biometrics, Google went with an ultrasonic scanner and a more usual lower-middle display position, making it easier to grip your phone and unlock. The Nothing Phone (3) has an optical scanner but a very precarious bottom display edge position. For a big phone, it can require a little more grip of the device to ensure it doesn’t flop out of your hands. The Pixel 9 Pro has more reliable unlocking, but the speed from locked to unlocked is comparable.
Some of the other intangibles include the volume buttons switching sides, slightly different power button placement, and the addition of an extra “Essential Key” on the right side. The statue of each phone is eerily similar, making you feel right at home with either piece of hardware.
Software and experience
It doesn’t necessarily need to be reiterated just how important updates are to the Google Pixel lineup. You’re buying into the earliest updates and arguably the most frequent on the Android platform. Although still vastly different from AOSP, the “clean” experience is almost the yardstick by which we measure other versions of our favorite operating system.
Nothing OS is effectively the next best thing, but sadly, the Phone (3) is not running the latest public OS version while the Pixel 9 Pro is – obviously – the most up-to-date Android phone on the market. I’ve even been running the latest Android 16 QRR Beta on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is a huge visual departure from the previous versions.
Despite that, the core experience is fairly similar. The Nothing OS 3.5 build, based on Android 15, is one of the most comparable to what you’ll find on Pixel phones, but with Material 3 Expressive playing a more pivotal role moving forward, it’s unclear what this means for Nothing OS 4.0. That update doesn’t have a release date, but it is coming later this year and makes up one of the 5 Android version releases that the Phone (3) will get. Pixel 9 owners will get a further 6 years of updates.
Nothing OS already includes little visual tweaks and some extra functions, so while it’s a lightweight visual alteration, you do get some nice customization alongside some familiar elements, including options for the homescreen, lockscreen, and Quick Settings panel.
Pixel phones have a small suite of features, mostly limited to apps like Pixel Studio, Pixel Screenshots, and Pixel Weather. Gemini is ubiquitous across all of Android. Nothing OS 3.5 on Phone (3) has a few unique tricks, including the brand new Essential Space. This works in tandem with the Essential Key on the side of the phone to capture your screen or send photos directly from the camera app. It’s like an upgraded version of Pixel Screenshots with some added voice context if you want voice notes here too. You can let the on-device AI contextualize the content or group into “Collections.” It’s an interesting take on the AI organization controls we are starting to see more of on mobile.
Nothing wants us to believe that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a top tier chip, but it’s just a rung below on the ladder. It’s a very capable processor. One that surpasses the Tensor G4 in day-to-day and high intensity tasks. The only downside is that it does have a higher power draw for that approximate 20% gain in grunt.
The Qualcomm chip and faster onboard storage keep the Phone (3) snappy, while the Pixel is smooth through a combination of software tuning and refined animations. Objectively, the Phone (3) will handle more and will likely age better based on the initial metrics. Neither phone is racing up the performance charts, and they feel comparable when doing “phone things” in our testing. It would be remiss to mention that the Phone (3) is a millisecond faster when loading apps and opening files.
Battery and charging
A few things give the Nothing Phone (3) battery an edge over the Pixel 9 Pro. Firstly, the Qualcomm processor is more efficient. Secondly, it uses silicon-carbon battery tech. Thirdly, it’s larger at 5,150mAh, and finally, it has 65W charging with a supported power brick. Over the lifespan of a modern phone, the newer battery tech will be beneficial as it handles heat better than lithium-ion cells – which the Pixel series currently uses.
It’s a resounding whitewash and a night-and-day difference in day-to-day longevity. It’s the biggest sore point of practically any Tensor-powered Google Pixel, and that hasn’t changed.
One of the few areas in which the Pixel surpasses the Nothing Phone is the wireless charging speed. It has 23W wireless charging and 12W reverse wireless charging. Phone (3) has 15W wireless charging and 7.5W reverse wireless charging.
Camera
Despite the very different layouts, the Pixel and Nothing devices have similar core camera systems. To keep things simple, the Nothing Phone (3) has 50MP sensors on the front and back, a triple setup on the rear, and a selfie camera on the front. On the Pixel 9 Pro XL, the system has a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto. The selfie camera is rated at 42MP.
There is quite a distinct difference in camera quality between the duo. The Nothing Phone (3) is fine, but colors can be a little more muted. Images lack the depth of those you’ll get with the Pixel, but overall the cheaper device holds up well. It’s not one of the best cameras, but it doesn’t claim to be. I’d say the Pixel has a more natural look, while the Nothing handset produces images that feel artificial in some ways.
Zoom quality is also different. The Pixel 9 Pro has 5x optical zoom up to 30x, while the Nothing Phone (3) has 3x optical zoom capabilities. However, it has an AI-enhanced 60x zoom. I’ve been suitably impressed so far with the Phone (3). It’s a very capable setup that will produce great photos at all of its focal lengths. OIS does not appear to be available when using the Macro mode on either, which means you need steady hands to get high-quality close-up images.
Sadly, it lacks a few video modes. Most notably 8K video recording. The Pixel 9 Pro with the help of Video Boost has the best video on Android. Lots of this is subjective, but there are clear visual differences between what both camera systems are capable of. In a blind test, I believe most will pick what the Pixel is pumping out.
Final thoughts
The Venn diagram of Pixel fans and old OnePlus fans probably has Nothing slap bang in the middle, and that is both a positive and negative for the admittedly minuscule Android brand. The first few iterations of Nothing devices were decent mid-range market fodder, but we’ve anticipated a fully fledged top-tier phone worthy of the “flagship” moniker.
I’m not sure the Nothing Phone (3) quite hits all of the main bases, but it’s a very close approximation of a Pixel without being a Pixel. It’s eerily like the OnePlus we saw under Pei’s tutelage. There is a little bit of downgrade over a “true flagship phone” in practically every area. Enough not to diminish the experience all that drastically. Google has done something similar with the Pixel, but stat-padded in other areas to account for the downgrades.
The Nothing Phone (3) has a few more evenly spread downgrades. I do think it is marginally overpriced. Possibly only by $100 or so. For a company that is barely half a decade old, it’s hard not to be impressed. Without being disrespectful, the Nothing Phone (3) feels like a Pocophone aimed directly at Pixel fans. You get a little of everything expected from the big hitters, marginally cheaper, and with a few caveats. It’s a great alternative to the Pixel 9 Pro.
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