Nothing Phone 3a Pro
SD7s Gen 3 · Periscope 3× · Glyph
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A19 Pro · 6.9″ OLED · IP68
iPhone 17 Pro Max takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Nothing Phone 3a Pro lands at 84 and iPhone 17 Pro Max at 96. That puts iPhone 17 Pro Max ahead by 12 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Nothing Phone 3a Pro if…
- ✓Periscope 3× tele rare at this price
- ✓Glyph interface genuinely useful
- ✓Distinctive design
Pick iPhone 17 Pro Max if…
- ✓A19 Pro chip
- ✓Up to 39 hours video playback
- ✓Up to 2 TB storage
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPhotography
iPhone 17 Pro MaxStills and video quality across lenses
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on camera (95 vs 86).
Battery life
iPhone 17 Pro MaxScreen-on time and charging
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on battery (92 vs 86).
Performance
iPhone 17 Pro MaxChipset speed for gaming and heavy apps
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on cpu (98 vs 80).
Display
iPhone 17 Pro MaxPanel quality, brightness, refresh rate
iPhone 17 Pro Max leads on display (95 vs 86).
Value for money
Nothing Phone 3a ProSpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Nothing Phone 3a Pro more score per dollar ($459 vs $1,199).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Nothing Phone 3a Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.77″ AMOLED, 120Hz | ▲ 6.9″ OLED, 2868×1320 at 460 ppi |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Apple A19 Pro chip |
| RAM | 12 GB | — |
| Storage | 256 GB | 256 / 512 GB / 1 / 2 TB |
| Rear camera | 50 MP + 50 MP 3× tele + 8 MP UW | — |
| Battery | 5000 mAh | — |
| Charging | 50W wired, 15W wireless | 50% in 20 min with 40W adapter; MagSafe up to 25W |
| OS | Nothing OS 4 | iOS 26 |
| Weight | ▲ 211 g | 233 g |
| IP rating | IP64 | IP68 (6 m, 30 min) |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 39 hours |
Nothing Phone 3a Pro
- +Periscope 3× tele rare at this price
- +Glyph interface genuinely useful
- +Distinctive design
- −SD7s Gen 3 trails Pixel 8a in CPU
- −Camera processing inconsistent
- −IP64 only
iPhone 17 Pro Max
- +A19 Pro chip
- +Up to 39 hours video playback
- +Up to 2 TB storage
- −Premium price
- −Weighs 233 g
- −Wired charging requires 40W+ adapter
FAQ: Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max
Which is better, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 12. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Nothing Phone 3a Pro worth the price? +
At $459, Nothing Phone 3a Pro delivers a Specdex score of 84 — strongest in design.
Is iPhone 17 Pro Max worth the price? +
At $1,199, iPhone 17 Pro Max delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does Nothing Phone 3a Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for photography, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on camera (95 vs 86). Stills and video quality across lenses.
Which is better for battery life, Nothing Phone 3a Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max? +
iPhone 17 Pro Max — leads on battery (92 vs 86). Screen-on time and charging.