ASUS Zenfone 9 vs Nothing Phone (3a)
45.8Performance35.1
49.3Display58.8
42.6Camera54.7
39.8Battery59.2
60Features73.3
7 spec wins — ASUS Zenfone 99 spec wins — Nothing Phone (3a)
InnoReviews verdict
Nothing Phone (3a) wins this phone face-off, 52.4 to 46.1, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+19) and features (+13). ASUS Zenfone 9 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the ASUS Zenfone 9
- Stronger performance score: 46 vs 35
- 63% higher AnTuTu 10: 1,300,000 vs 800,000
- 57% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 1,800 vs 1,150
- 50% higher Ultra-wide: 12 MP vs 8 MP
- 42% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 4,600 vs 3,250
Reasons to pick the Nothing Phone (3a)
- Stronger display score: 59 vs 49
- Stronger camera score: 55 vs 43
- Stronger battery score: 59 vs 40
- Stronger features score: 73 vs 60
- 173% higher Peak brightness: 3,000 nits vs 1,100 nits
- Lower launch price: $379 vs $699
Display
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.9 ″ | 6.77 ″+15% |
| Panel type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2400x1080 | 1080x2392 |
| Pixel density | 445 ppi+15% | 387 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 1,100 nits | 3,000 nits+173% |
| Screen-to-body | — | 87.4 % |
Performance
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| AnTuTu 10 | 1,300,000+63%Top 31% | 800,000Top 61% |
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 1,800+57%Top 40% | 1,150Top 61% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 4,600+42%Top 40% | 3,250Top 61% |
| RAM (max) | 8 GB | 12 GB+50% |
| Storage options | 128GB / 256GB | 128/256GB |
| Storage type | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.2 |
Camera
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Main aperture | f/1.9 | f/1.88 |
| Ultra-wide | 12 MP+50% | 8 MP |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP |
| Optical zoom | — | 2 x |
| Max video | 8K@24fps | 4K@30fps |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 32 MP+167% |
| OIS | Yes | Yes |
Battery
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,300 mAh | 5,000 mAh+16% |
| Wired charging | 30 W | 50 W+67% |
| Wireless charging | — | 0 W |
| Active use endurance | — | 11 h |
Design
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 169 g+16% | 201 g |
| Thickness | 9.1 mm | 8.4 mm+8% |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP64 |
| Frame material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Connectivity
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.4 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| eSIM | No | Yes |
Software
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| OS at launch | Android 12 (ZenUI) | Android 15 (Nothing OS 3.1) |
| OS update pledge | 2 years | 3 years+50% |
Audio
| Spec | ASUS Zenfone 9 | Nothing Phone (3a) |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo speakers | Yes | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |