The Nothing Phone (1) and Apple iPhone SE 3 come at a very similar price point, although they are two very different devices. Why is that?
Nothing released Phone (1) at the 'Return to Instinct' event on July 12, 2022, whereas the iPhone SE 3 was unveiled in March, but how do both the smartphones compare? Since Nothing launched its first product, the TWS earbuds called Ear (1), the company has turned many heads in appreciation and criticism. While some users love the new, semi-transparent design language used by the company, some prefer to have their earphones in a solid white color, just like the AirPods (2nd Generation) and the AirPods Pro.
Rumors regarding Phone (1) started to surface on the internet late last year when the company announced its partnership with Qualcomm, the California-based chip manufacturer. After that, Nothing CEO Carl Pei was spotted with the phone during the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 conducted earlier this year, but it was not until March that the company released the Phone (1). Technically, the Phone (1) and iPhone SE 3 share a similar launch timeline, but it took Nothing longer to prepare for the final release.
Related: Nothing Phone (1) Vs. Xiaomi 12 Lite: Which Phone Is Worth Buying?
Before comparing Nothing Phone (1) and iPhone SE 3, it is essential to mention that the former is not available to purchase in the United States. The design is the most significant difference between the Phone (1) and iPhone SE 3. With flashy lights in the transparent rear panel, an aluminum frame, and symmetrical bezels, Phone (1) looks futuristic, unlike anything in the market right now. Although the iPhone SE 3 uses the same durable materials, the thick bezels make the device look outdated.
The second most obvious difference between smartphones is their size — Phone (1) has a 6.55-inch OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate, whereas the iPhone SE 3 has a 4.7-inch Retina IPS LCD with a 60Hz refresh rate. At 402 pixels per inch, Phone (1) 's display is not only sharper but produces more vibrant colors than the iPhone SE 3. However, Apple's entry-level iPhone supports True Tone technology and has a higher typical brightness at 625 nits. With a tiny punch-hole in the top left corner, the Phone (1) provides a better viewing experience, thanks to the large and punchy display, even though both the devices have stereo speakers. Regarding performance, iPhone SE 3 dominates the Phone (1) as it ships with Apple's most powerful mobile chipset to date, the A15 Bionic. Comparing the Geekbench score of both smartphones, the Phone (1) with Snapdragon 778G+ scores 823 points in the single-core score and 2,730 points in the multi-core CPU score, nearly half the score achieved by the iPhone. In real-world usage, both smartphones can handle day-to-day tasks with ease. However, when it comes to graphic-intensive apps such as games or video editors, the iPhone SE 3 is the winner.
Talking about cameras, the Nothing Phone (1) comes with dual rear cameras, including a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor (with OIS) and a 50MP Samsung JN1 secondary sensor (with EIS) for ultrawide/macro shots. In comparison, the iPhone SE 3 has a single 12MP camera (with OIS) at the back. On the front, the Phone (1) has a 12MP sensor, whereas the iPhone has a 7MP sensor (with EIS). Users can shoot videos in 4K at 60 frames per second with the iPhone SE 3's back camera, a setting that is not available on the Phone (1), which limits users to 4k videos at 30 frames per second. The iPhone lacks different photographic perspectives, but it comes with the image processing power of the A15 Bionic chipset. Hence, it turns out to be the more consistent and reliable performance of the two. However, Phone (1) is the right choice if one wants ultrawide and macro photography options. Furthermore, if someone wants to purchase a more water-resistant device, the iPhone SE 3 with IP67 is better than the Phone (1) with an IP53 rating.
In terms of battery life, Phone (1) comes with a 4,500 mah battery that supports 33W fast charging. Further, the smartphone also supports 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging at 5W. Against the Phone (1), the iPhone SE 3 has a 2.018 mAh battery that supports up to 20W of wired fast charging. With an OLED panel, a mid-range chipset and a dual-rear camera setup, the Nothing Phone (1) with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is available to purchase at EUR 399 in the United Kingdom. On the other hand, the iPhone SE 3 with 64GB of internal storage is available at EUR 419. Although the Nothing Phone (1) and the iPhone SE 3 come at a similar price point, the smartphones are very different regarding the overall set of features and software experience, which should be the ultimate deciding factor.
Next: Does The Nothing Phon (1) Come With A Charger?