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Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) vs Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro

Last updated · How Mars Score works
iPhone SE (3rd gen)APPLERENDER
Probe A
Apple
iPhone SE (3rd gen)
40.7/ 100D
Performance45· 25%
Battery35· 20%
Display35· 18%
Cameras45· 18%
Design· 8%
Connectivity· 7%
Operating System· 4%
Phone (3a) ProNOTHINGRENDER
Probe B
Nothing
Phone (3a) Pro
63.8/ 100C
Performance55· 25%
Battery63· 20%
Display70· 18%
Cameras70· 18%
Design· 8%
Connectivity· 7%
Operating System· 4%
Quick verdict

Between the iPhone SE (3rd gen) and Phone (3a) Pro, the iPhone SE (3rd gen) comes out ahead in weight and water resistance, while the Phone (3a) Pro wins on front camera and main camera. Overall, the iPhone SE (3rd gen) scores 40.7 and the Phone (3a) Pro scores 63.8 on our Mars Score.

Buying advice

Which should you buy?

The Phone (3a) Pro is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 23.1 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.

Pick the iPhone SE (3rd gen) if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, water resistance, promised os updates, among others.

Pick the Phone (3a) Pro if you photograph or shoot video regularly and want the better imaging pipeline of the two. Its strongest claims are front camera, main camera, ram, among others.

Both ship with comparable 5g support, optical image stabilization, headphone jack, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.

Bottom line: the Phone (3a) Pro is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.

Why Apple - iPhone SE (3rd gen) wins

  • Weight — 67.00 g less. 144 vs 211.
  • Water resistance: IP67 (vs IP64).
  • Promised OS updates: 5 (vs 3).
  • Wireless charging: 7.5 W vs 0 W.

Why Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro wins

  • Front camera — 614.29% more. 50 MP vs 7 MP.
  • Main camera — 316.67% more. 50 MP vs 12 MP.
  • RAM — 200.00% more. 12 GB vs 4 GB.
  • Wired charging — 150.00% more. 50 W vs 20 W.
  • Battery capacity — 147.77% more. 5000 mAh vs 2018 mAh.
  • Refresh rate — 100.00% more. 120 Hz vs 60 Hz.
  • Screen size — 44.04% more. 6.77 " vs 4.7 ".
  • Pixel density — 18.71% more. 387 ppi vs 326 ppi.
Full readout

Spec comparison

Design

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
Weight144 glead211 g
Thickness7.3 mmlead8.4 mm
Water resistanceIP67leadIP64
Form factorbarbar

Display

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
Screen size4.7 "6.77 "lead
Pixel density326 ppi387 ppilead
Refresh rate60 Hz120 Hzlead
Peak brightness625 nits3000 nitslead

Performance

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
RAM4 GB12 GBlead
Storage64 GB256 GBlead
AnTuTu780000850000lead
CPU total clock9.6 GHz11.0 GHzlead

Cameras

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
Main camera12 MP50 MPlead
Front camera7 MP50 MPlead
Optical image stabilizationtruetrue

Battery

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
Battery capacity2018 mAh5000 mAhlead
Wired charging20 W50 Wlead
Wireless charging7.5 Wlead0 W

Connectivity

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
5G supporttruetrue
Headphone jackfalsefalse
microSD slotfalsefalse

Operating System

SpecApple - iPhone SE (3rd gen)Nothing - Phone (3a) Pro
OSiOSleadAndroid
Promised OS updates5 yearslead3 years
Reader questions

Frequently asked

Which has better battery, iPhone SE (3rd gen) or Phone (3a) Pro?+

Phone (3a) Pro has 147.8% more battery — 2018 mAh vs 5000 mAh.

Which is lighter, iPhone SE (3rd gen) or Phone (3a) Pro?+

iPhone SE (3rd gen) is 67g lighter — 144g vs 211g.

Is iPhone SE (3rd gen) waterproof?+

iPhone SE (3rd gen) has an IP67 rating.

Does Phone (3a) Pro support 5G?+

Yes, Phone (3a) Pro supports 5G.

Which has more RAM, iPhone SE (3rd gen) or Phone (3a) Pro?+

Phone (3a) Pro offers 12GB of RAM.

Which has a better camera, iPhone SE (3rd gen) or Phone (3a) Pro?+

Phone (3a) Pro has a 50 MP main camera vs 12 MP.

Drill down

Spec-level deep dives

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