#45

The $400 Phone Fight

phonesMarch 29, 2026
Winner
Nothing Phone (3)

Nothing

Nothing Phone (3)

$400

Buy Now
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A56 5G

$400

Buy Now
Google Pixel 8a

Google

Google Pixel 8a

$499

Buy Now

Tale of the Tape

Nothing Phone (3)
Samsung Galaxy A56 5G
Google Pixel 8a
Design
10/10
6/10
7/10
Display
9/10
8/10
9/10
Camera
8/10
7/10
10/10
Performance
9/10
8/10
7/10
Software
8/10
8/10
10/10
Value
10/10
9/10
7/10

The Breakdown

Design

The Nothing Phone (3) is the most visually striking phone at any price. The transparent back with Glyph Interface 2.0 — customizable LED patterns that pulse for notifications, timers, and music — is genuinely innovative. No other phone looks like this. Samsung and Google both play it safe with conventional glass slab designs.

Display

All three have excellent OLED panels at 120Hz. The Pixel 8a hits 2,000 nits peak — the brightest in the group and visible in direct sunlight. The Nothing Phone (3) manages 1,600 nits with a larger 6.7-inch screen. Samsung's Super AMOLED is vibrant but trails on peak brightness. All three are sharp enough that resolution differences are invisible.

Camera

The Pixel 8a takes the best photos despite having the oldest hardware. Google's Tensor G3 computational photography — Magic Eraser, Best Take, Night Sight, and Photo Unblur — produces consistently stunning results. The Nothing Phone (3) has a 2x telephoto that adds versatility. Samsung's triple camera is decent but over-processes.

Performance

The Nothing Phone (3) with Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is the fastest in benchmarks — smooth gaming, fast app switching, and efficient multitasking. Samsung's Exynos 1580 is competitive. Google's Tensor G3 prioritizes AI over raw speed — it handles ML tasks faster but can feel sluggish in gaming.

Software

Google offers the purest Android experience with 7 years of updates and exclusive AI features — Gemini Nano runs on-device, Circle to Search, and AI-assisted call management. Nothing OS 3.0 is clean and fast with useful customization. Samsung One UI 7 has the most features but can feel bloated.

Value

The Nothing Phone (3) at $400 delivers Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, a 2x telephoto camera, 5,150 mAh battery, 45W charging, and the most distinctive design in smartphones — that is exceptional value. Samsung at $400 adds IP67 water resistance and microSD. Google at $499 is $100 more but the camera and AI justify the premium for photo-focused users.

The Verdict

The Winner
N

Nothing Phone (3)

The Nothing Phone (3) is the most exciting phone you can buy for $400 — and it actually backs up the hype.

The Nothing Phone (3) wins because it proves you do not need to spend $1,000 for a great smartphone. At $400, you get a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 that outperforms phones at twice the price, a 2x telephoto camera that mid-range phones rarely include, 45W fast charging, and a design that stops strangers in coffee shops. The Glyph Interface is not a gimmick — it is a genuinely useful notification system that lets you leave your phone face-down.\n\nNothing OS 3.0 is clean, fast, and free of bloatware. The 5,150 mAh battery easily lasts a full day of heavy use. And the transparent design makes every other phone in this price range look like a commodity. Google's Pixel 8a takes better photos, but at $499 it is 25% more expensive. The Nothing Phone (3) is the best balance of performance, design, and value in the mid-range.

But consider:Consider the Google Pixel 8a if camera quality is everything — Google's computational photography with Magic Eraser and 7 years of updates make it the best camera phone under $500.
Buy Nothing Phone (3)

Quick Specs