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The smartphone market is set to welcome three highly anticipated mid-range contenders in 2025: the iPhone SE 4, Nothing Phone 3a, and Pixel 9a. Each of these devices brings unique strengths, making the competition fierce. With Apple’s commitment to performance, Nothing’s focus on design and innovation, and Google’s mastery of computational photography, consumers will have compelling choices. Examining these devices based on display, performance, camera capabilities, software experience, and battery life will provide insight into their potential impact on the market.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to feature a 6.06-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1170 x 2532 pixels. While Apple’s Retina display ensures vibrant colors and sharp visuals, the 65.4% screen-to-body ratio and 16:9 aspect ratio indicate a more traditional design. The True Tone and wide color display features aim to enhance user experience, but the larger bezels may feel dated compared to competitors.
The Nothing Phone 3a is set to impress with a 6.8-inch AMOLED display boasting a 1084 x 2728 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. With an impressive 87.2% screen-to-body ratio and a punch-hole notch, this device offers a more modern look. The 2160Hz PWM frequency and high brightness levels ensure an excellent viewing experience even in bright outdoor conditions.
Google’s Pixel 9a features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2424 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. With an 83.9% screen-to-body ratio, it strikes a balance between form and function. The always-on display feature further enhances usability, making notifications and essential information easily accessible.
Apple’s iPhone SE 4 is powered by the A18 Bionic chip, featuring a Hexa-core CPU with a clock speed of 4.04 GHz. Apple’s proprietary GPU ensures top-tier performance, making it one of the fastest mid-range phones in the market. The device lacks expandable storage, but iOS optimization ensures smooth performance with the available 64GB storage.
The Nothing Phone 3a relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen3 chipset, coupled with an octa-core processor featuring Cortex-A715 cores. The Adreno 732 GPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage promise a seamless experience for multitasking and gaming. While it may not match Apple’s A18 in raw performance, Nothing OS 2.5, based on Android 15, ensures a fluid experience.
Google’s Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4 chipset, with an octa-core CPU that includes a Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.1GHz. The Mali-G715 MC7 GPU and 8GB RAM, combined with 128GB UFS 3.1 storage, deliver smooth performance. Google’s AI-powered optimizations in Android 15 further enhance the efficiency of the device.
Apple’s iPhone SE 4 comes equipped with a 48MP primary rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture. The inclusion of Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles ensures high-quality images with excellent detail. The front-facing 24MP camera supports Retina Flash and 1080p video recording, catering to selfie enthusiasts.
Nothing’s Phone 3a raises the bar with a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP wide-angle lens, a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 50MP telephoto lens. The AI-driven scene detection, Ultra XDR, and night mode features promise excellent photography. The 32MP front camera with punch-hole design ensures crisp selfies, and the device supports 4K video recording.
Google’s Pixel 9a follows the brand’s reputation for computational photography with a 48MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide camera. Features such as Pixel Shift, Ultra HDR, and Best Take enhance the overall imaging capabilities. The 13MP front camera supports 4K video recording, making it an excellent option for vloggers and content creators.
The iPhone SE 4 runs on iOS 18, which guarantees software longevity and timely updates. The Apple ecosystem ensures seamless integration with other devices, while features like Face Unlock and Haptic Touch add to the premium experience. However, the lack of customization options in iOS may be a drawback for some users.
The Nothing Phone 3a ships with Nothing OS 2.5, built on Android 15. The lightweight UI, coupled with glyph interface enhancements and minimal bloatware, provides a clean and efficient user experience. Nothing’s promise of three years of Android updates and four years of security patches makes it a long-term investment.
Google’s Pixel 9a, running on stock Android 15, guarantees a pure Android experience with timely updates. The seamless integration of Google’s AI features, enhanced security measures, and software optimizations provide a user-friendly and efficient environment.
The iPhone SE 4 is equipped with a 3279mAh battery, which, though smaller than its rivals, benefits from Apple’s hardware-software optimization. The 18W fast charging and wireless charging support ensure convenience but may fall behind in terms of battery endurance compared to Android competitors.
Nothing’s Phone 3a features a substantial 5000mAh battery with 65W fast charging and 5W reverse charging. This combination ensures all-day battery life with the ability to quickly recharge when needed. The inclusion of advanced liquid cooling technology also helps maintain performance efficiency during intensive tasks.
The Pixel 9a takes the lead in battery capacity with a 5100mAh cell, complemented by 18W fast charging and 7.5W wireless charging. Google’s adaptive battery management further extends usage, making it a solid choice for users seeking longevity on a single charge.
Choosing between the iPhone SE 4, Nothing Phone 3a, and Pixel 9a depends on individual preferences and priorities. The iPhone SE 4 stands out for its raw performance, iOS ecosystem, and software longevity but falls behind in display design and battery capacity. The Nothing Phone 3a impresses with its high-refresh-rate display, versatile triple-camera setup, and fast-charging capabilities, making it an excellent choice for multimedia enthusiasts. The Pixel 9a offers superior computational photography, a clean Android experience, and a robust battery life, making it an ideal option for users seeking software excellence and reliable performance.
Each of these devices brings something unique to the table, ensuring that consumers will have strong contenders to choose from in the mid-range smartphone segment in 2025.
