Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Vivo V50: Which flagship truly delivers, and is Vivo still worth the price?

The first months of 2025 are shaping up to be packed with smartphone launches. In February, Vivo introduced its flagship V50, and on Tuesday, Nothing unveiled its Phone 3a series. We compare how the Nothing Phone 3a Pro stacks up against the Vivo V50, a brand that has dominated a significant share of the Indian smartphone market in recent quarters.

First things first: Getting the fundamentals right

Both the Vivo V50 and Nothing Phone 3a Pro come equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, but their CPU clock speeds differ slightly. The V50’s octa-core processor can clock up to 2.63GHz, whereas the 3a Pro reaches 2.5GHz. A higher clock speed generally means faster processing, but performance also depends on cooling, battery efficiency, and software optimisation. Since the difference in clock speed is minor, both phones should feel similar in everyday use. However, the 3a Pro may last slightly longer due to its lower clock speed, which helps reduce power consumption.

Both devices feature identical 6.77-inch (17.2 cm) displays, with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro sporting a flexible AMOLED panel. A major distinction lies in battery capacity—the Vivo V50 packs a 6,000 mAh battery, while the 3a Pro has a 5,000 mAh battery. Charging speeds also vary: the 3a Pro supports 50W fast charging, whereas the V50 offers 90W flash charging.

Both run on Android 15 but come with their respective custom UIs—Vivo’s Funtouch OS and Nothing’s in-house Nothing OS—which significantly influence the user experience.

Beyond performance, the Vivo V50 justifies its price by being lighter, thinner, and offering better GPU performance, higher screen brightness, and water resistance. The V50 is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants, while the Nothing 3a Pro is limited to 128GB.

Who takes better pictures?

On paper, both phones feature a 50 MP primary camera with an f/1.88 aperture, meaning similar low-light performance. However, some key differences influence image quality.

The Vivo V50 has a slightly better aperture and wider field of view, making it more suitable for landscapes and low-light shots.

The Nothing 3a Pro, with its narrower field of view, may have an edge for portraits and standard framing.

However, real-world results will depend heavily on software processing, including AI enhancements, HDR, and night mode.

When it comes to video, the Nothing 3a Pro captures 120 frames per second (fps) at FHD resolution, offering smoother motion—ideal for fast-moving objects and slow-motion effects—compared to the Vivo V50’s 30 fps.

In terms of zoom capabilities

The Nothing 3a Pro stands out with its 50 MP periscope telephoto camera (70mm focal length, 3x optical zoom), allowing for high-quality zoomed-in shots, especially for portraits and distant subjects.

The Vivo V50 lacks a telephoto lens but compensates with a 50 MP ultra-wide camera, which is far superior to the Nothing 3a Pro’s 8 MP ultra-wide sensor, delivering significantly better detail and clarity.

Which one is the better choice?

For zoom photography, the Nothing 3a Pro is the clear winner due to its periscope telephoto lens, which the V50 lacks. However, the Vivo V50 is the better all-rounder, thanks to its larger primary sensor and superior ultra-wide camera.

That raises a final question: If Nothing offers a more professional touch to your pictures, why would someone pay more for the Vivo V50? The answer lies in versatility—while the 3a Pro excels in zoom, the V50 delivers a more balanced photography experience with better ultra-wide and primary camera performance.