Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a: Which Is Better?

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a: Which should you buy? Knowing both smartphones are priced alike, which of these two offers more value for money? The Nothing Phone 1 is the company’s first device and it’s limited in availability. For example, it is not available in America, unlike the Pixel 6a which is widely available in most regions except Africa. Well, let’s get straight to the comparison below.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a Specs

Specs	Nothing Phone 1	Pixel 6a
Display	6.5-inch OLED, 120Hz	6.1-inch OLED, 60Hz
RAM	8/12GB	6GB
Storage	128/256GB	128GB
Back Camera	50 + 50MP	12.2 + 12MP
Front Camera	16MP	8MP
Chipset	Snapdragon 778G+	Google Tensor
Software	Android 12	Android 12
Battery	4,500 mAh (33W)	4,410mAh (18W)
IP Rating	Unspecified	IP67

Display, Design, and Durability

One outstanding thing about the Nothing Phone 1 is the design. It is so easy to separate it from the bunch, even from afar. This is because of its unique design. It brings a transparent back cover that has about 900 mini LED bulbs. Those LED lights can be configured to serve as a notification or fill up for close-up pictures when you want to take macro images. The “Glyph Interface” is cool but I won’t wish it for all companies though. The Google Pixel 6a has a familiar design with a plastic back cover.

When it comes to the display, these two midrange smartphones have good panels. However, the Nothing Phone 1 is better. It brings a 6.55-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. When in comparison to the Google Pixel 6a – you will get a more compact size of a 6.1” FHD+ Super AMOLED display but with no high refresh rate. The Nothing Phone 1 gives you a smoother display experience.

Durability-wise, the back, and front of the Nothing Phone 1 are protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5. And it is IP53 dust and splash resistance. While the Pixel 6a front is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, plastic back but with a better IP rating- IP67 water and dust resistance. As far as display, design, and durability are concerned, the Nothing Phone 1 checks many boxes than the Pixel 6a. But let’s go further in the comparison before we pass our judgment.

Camera

Google can hardly go wrong when it comes to its camera. This is because of the software optimization. The hardware may be old, but Google has a way of doing its thing. Although both the Pixel 6a and Nothing Phone 1 have something in common- they have a dual rear camera setup.

Google Pixel 6a has a 12MP OIS main camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. While upfront is an 8MP for a selfie. Nothing Phone 1 on the other hand, features a 50MP OIS main camera and a 50MP ultrawide lens with a 16MP selfie camera. You can get an awesome photography experience on both smartphones.

The rear camera on both phones can record video in 4K but the front is capped at 1080p. Overall, you’ll be satisfied with the camera of whichever of these two smartphones you decided to go for.

Performance | 5G | Configuration

When it comes to Performance, the Nothing Phone 1 is better for intensive work. It can sustain a heavy workload for a longer period without it lagging unnecessarily. The Google Pixel 6a is decent but not at par. The difference here between these two is the chipset capability. Nothing Phone 1 is powered by the Snapdragon 778G+ 5G chipset, while Google Pixel 6a has a Tensor chipset.

Another area where Nothing phone 1 has an upper hand is the memory. It comes in 8/12 GB RAM + 128/256 GB storage. But the Pixel 6a is only available in a single configuration- 6GB RAM + 128GB storage.

Software

Nothing company copied Google when it comes to the software aspect and I’m glad they did. The skin software is bloatware less, and UI is fast, especially on the Nothing Phone 1. Additionally, both phones run Android 12 out of the box with up to three years of major OS upgrades.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a: Battery

Nothing Phone 1 has a 4,500 mAh battery capacity with up to 45W wired fast charge and a 15W wireless charge. While the Google Pixel 6a has a smaller battery of 4,410 mAh capacity with 18W fast charge support. The Nothing Phone 1 charge faster and it’s more user-friendly because of its reverse wireless charging system for earbuds or even smartwatches.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a: Price

The Prices of both smartphones are the same but the value you get is different. Google Pixel 6a is priced at £399 for 6GB RAM + 128GB storage. While with a similar cost you can get 8GB RAM of the Nothing Phone 1.

Buy Pixel 6a and Nothing Phone1

Pixel 6a	Price	Nothing Phone1	Price
Buy on Amazon	$449	Buy on Amazon	£399
Buy on Amazon	£399	Buy on Giztop	$499

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a: Verdict

The Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6a comparison is proof that midrange devices are getting better each year. But as far as this comparison goes, the Nothing Phone gives more value for money. It has a smoother display, better performance, unique design, battery longevity, and good software plan as the Pixel 6a.

Google Pixel 6a is a good phone but sentiment aside, the Nothing Phone 1 is superior. It checks all the boxes of what we expect from a 2022 midrange device. If you are not scared of trying something new, you can check it out.