After nearly two years of anticipation, the Nothing Phone 3 has officially launched in India. With its bold pricing and revamped design, the new flagship from Nothing is clearly positioned to take on heavyweights like the OnePlus 13s and even the iPhone 16e.
But does it justify its premium tag? Here’s a detailed comparison across price, design, performance, display, battery, and camera to help you decide which device fits your needs best.
Pricing in India
The Nothing Phone 3 enters the market as a premium contender. Its 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model is priced at Rs 79,999, while the higher 16GB + 512GB variant comes in at Rs 89,999. Available in Black and White, it clearly signals a shift towards the flagship segment for the brand.
On the other hand, OnePlus 13s remains aggressive with its pricing strategy. The base 12GB + 256GB model is available for Rs 54,999, and the 512GB storage option costs Rs 59,999. The phone is offered in three colour options, Black Velvet, Pink Satin, and an India-exclusive Green Silk finish.
Design: Bold vs Minimalist
Design remains a key differentiator. Nothing Phone 3 continues with the brand’s signature semi-transparent back but brings in a fresh Glyph interface, a new 25×25 matrix LED disc that can display the time, compass, battery status, and more. The triangular camera layout adds a unique touch to the rear.
The OnePlus 13s, however, opts for understated elegance. With a slim 8.15mm profile and a light 185g build, it features a metal frame and matte finish that offers a premium feel. The Green Silk variant, in particular, stands out for those preferring a sleek and compact flagship experience.
Display: Larger vs Sharper
The Nothing Phone 3 features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It also offers HDR10+, 10-bit colour depth, and Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
OnePlus 13s keeps it compact with a 6.32-inch LTPO ProXDR panel, also offering 1.5K resolution, adaptive 1Hz–120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and 2,160Hz PWM dimming. However, its brightness caps at 1,600 nits, which may impact outdoor visibility slightly compared to the Nothing Phone 3.
Performance & Battery
When it comes to performance, the OnePlus 13s takes a definitive lead. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, it boasts two prime cores clocked at 4.32GHz and six performance cores at 3.53GHz, making it one of the fastest smartphones on the market today. It’s designed for heavy gaming, multitasking, and high-efficiency workloads.
The Nothing Phone 3 runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, a powerful chip but not in the same league as the 8 Elite. With a mix of Cortex-A720 cores (up to 3.0GHz), it delivers solid performance but is typically seen in mid-premium devices under Rs 40,000. However, Nothing compensates with a clean, near-stock Android experience and unique software features.
Battery life is another battleground. OnePlus 13s includes a 5,850mAh battery with 80W fast charging, and the charger is included in the box. It also excels in heat management thanks to its Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber cooling system.
The Nothing Phone 3 houses a 5,500mAh battery with 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging, though it omits the in-box charger.
Camera: Quantity vs Processing
The Nothing Phone 3 introduces a versatile triple camera system — a 50MP main sensor (OV50H, OIS), a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, it houses a 50MP selfie camera, which is rare in this segment.
The OnePlus 13s comes with a dual rear setup — a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main sensor with OIS and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom. The front features a 32MP selfie camera with EIS support.
While the Nothing Phone 3 offers more camera versatility, OnePlus’s proven image tuning and processing make it a reliable shooter for everyday use.
Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
If you’re looking for raw performance, compact design, and better thermal efficiency at a lower price, the OnePlus 13s is a clear winner. It delivers flagship-level power without breaking the bank, and the inclusion of a charger adds further value.
However, if you value distinctive design, a feature-rich software experience, wireless charging, and a flexible triple-camera system, the Nothing Phone 3 offers a compelling, if pricier, alternative.
Your choice should ultimately reflect your priorities: performance and practicality vs design and innovation. Both phones serve different user needs and deliver solid experiences in their respective segments.
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