The Nothing Phone (3a) has a versatile camera and solid performance at an incredible price -- and it's easily the best phone at the price.

Nothing's Phone 3a Pro doesn't have iOS, but it does have a great camera and design — it also comes at a price that Apple's iPhone 16e can't beat.

With their sub-$500 prices, I pit the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Pixel 8a in a 10-round photo shootout to see which is the better camera phone on a budget.

In fact, for under $500, this is arguably the best phone available, especially for those who value a unique design, a capable camera setup, and a clean software experience. If you want a well-rounded smartphone without breaking the bank, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is a strong contender.

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro isn't all that different from the Nothing Phone 3a. Here are some real-world differences we observed.

The Phone Battle 2025 Begins

Despite is affordable cost, the Nothing Phoner 3a Pro has a camera performance that rivals some of the best phones, so I tried astrophotography on it.