Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Compare Nothing Phone (3a) vs Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra side by side: MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, 50MP vs…
Nothing
Phone (3a)
$349
4categories won
Samsung
Galaxy S26 Ultra
$1,299
14categories won
3 categories tied · 21 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 (3a), outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with superior optics, while battery life remains closely matched. Choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Phone (3a) if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Both phones deliver comparable battery performance with 5,200 mAh.
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 (3a) provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $349 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 (3a) vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.7" | 6.9" |
| Resolution | 1084 x 2412 | 1440 x 3120Winner |
| Pixel density | 395 ppi | 498 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1800 nits | 2400 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 2,400,000 | 2,400,000 |
| Geekbench multi | 8900 | 8900 |
| Maximum RAM | 12 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 1TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 50 MP | 200 MPWinner |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 4Winner |
| Optical zoom | — | 5x |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP | 50 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 16 MPWinner | 12 MP |
| Max video | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,200 mAhWinner | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 45 W | 60 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 15 W | 25 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 189 gWinner | 214 g |
| Thickness | 8.4 mm | 7.9 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP54 | IP68 |
| Build | 100% recycled aluminum midframe, translucent polycarbonate rear panel with Glyph LEDs | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
Software and support
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 15 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 3 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 3 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Phone (3a) | Galaxy S26 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $349Winner | $1,299 |
Nothing Phone (3a)
Nothing continues its mission to make smartphones fun again with the Phone (3a), pairing its translucent Glyph LED aesthetic with custom Dimensity 7350 Pro power and a bloatware-free Android 15 experience.
- Display
- 6.7"
- Chipset
- MediaTek Dimensity 7350 Pro
- 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
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