Nothing Phone (3) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Nothing Phone (3) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 50MP vs…
Nothing
Phone (3)
$699
6categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
13categories won
3 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra takes the overall win
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra proves superior overall against the Nothing Phone (3), outperforming on gaming and photography. For battery longevity and charging speed, the Phone (3) takes the lead, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the clear choice for demanding 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Phone (3) if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Phone (3) wins on endurance with 5,200 mAh and 65W fast charging.
Galaxy S26 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and 16GB RAM.
Galaxy S26 Ultra takes photography with 200MP optics and 5x optical telephoto capabilities.
Phone (3) provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $699 vs $1299.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Phone (3) vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 394 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3000 nitsWinner | 2400 nits |
Performance
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,850,000 | 2,400,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 6500 | 8900Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Maximum storage | 512GB | 1TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 50 MP | 200 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 4Winner |
| Optical zoom | 3x | 5xWinner |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 32 MPWinner | 12 MP |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,200 mAhWinner | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 65 WWinner | 60 W |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 201 gWinner | 214 g |
| Thickness | 8.3 mm | 7.9 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | 100% recycled aluminum midframe, transparent dual-layer glass back | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 15 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 4 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 5 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Phone (3) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $699Winner | $1,299 |
Nothing Phone (3)
Nothing matures its design language with full IP68 water resistance, a dedicated 3x periscope telephoto lens, and the bloatware-free Nothing OS 3.0 powered by Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 5,200mAh
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a premium 6.9-inch flagship built for power users and creators. Priced at $1299, it pairs a heavily upgraded Snapdragon processor and 60W charging with a versatile quad-camera array and the signature built-in S Pen stylus.
- Display
- 6.9"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
- Main camera
- 200MP
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
Other comparisons
- Phone (3) vs Phone (3) Pro
- Phone (3) vs Phone (2)
- Phone (3) vs Phone (3a) Pro
- Phone (3) vs Phone (1)
- Phone (3) vs Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Phone (3) Pro
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Phone (2)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Phone (3a) Pro
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Phone (1)
- Galaxy S26 Ultra vs Nothing Phone (2a) Plus