Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) vs Nothing Phone 3
The Verdict
The Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) and Nothing Phone 3 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) is the cheaper of the two at $499 versus $799, a difference of about $300. Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) stands out for first se with an oled display, a generational leap over prior lcd, while Nothing Phone 3 is praised for unique glyph interface design with customizable led patterns. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) if…
- →First SE with an OLED display, a generational leap over prior LCD
- →A18 chip enables Apple Intelligence at the entry price point
- →Face ID replaces Touch ID with modern full-screen front design
Buy the Nothing Phone 3 if…
- →Unique Glyph Interface design with customizable LED patterns
- →50 MP triple camera with 3x periscope telephoto
- →Clean Nothing OS with 5 years of Android upgrades
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone SE (4th generation)
Pros
- First SE with an OLED display, a generational leap over prior LCD
- A18 chip enables Apple Intelligence at the entry price point
- Face ID replaces Touch ID with modern full-screen front design
- USB-C replaces Lightning for universal compatibility
- Most affordable iPhone with A18 performance
Cons
- No telephoto or ultrawide camera — single rear lens only
- Capped at 60Hz with no ProMotion
- No Dynamic Island; uses standard notch
- No MagSafe support, only standard Qi wireless
- Modest battery life compared to standard iPhone 16
Nothing Phone 3
Pros
- Unique Glyph Interface design with customizable LED patterns
- 50 MP triple camera with 3x periscope telephoto
- Clean Nothing OS with 5 years of Android upgrades
- 65W fast charging and 15W wireless charging
- IP68 water and dust resistance
Cons
- 218g is on the heavier side
- USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.x
- Camera post-processing behind top flagships
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone SE (4th generation) | Nothing Phone 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 18 | Android 15, Nothing OS 3.5 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 167 g | 218 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 138.7 x 67.3 x 7.9 mm | 160.6 x 75.6 x 9.0 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 48 MP | 50 MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.3", OIS, PDAF |
| Front camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@30/60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/2.7, 3x optical zoom, periscope, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP, f/2.2, 114-degree |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 12 GB / 16 GB |
| Storage options | 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | ~3279 mAh | 5150 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 65W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 15W wireless, 5W reverse |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.67 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | OLED, HDR10+ |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1260 x 2800 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 4500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.21 GHz Cortex-X4 + 3x3.0 GHz A720 + 2x2.8 GHz A720 + 2x2.0 GHz A720) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core) | Adreno 825 |
| Chipset | Apple A18 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | USB-C 2.0 | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 (tri-band) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 6.0 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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