Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Battle for the mid-range

The newly launched Google Pixel 6A and the Nothing Phone 1 are the two of the most hyped phone launches of 2022 and are some of the best mid-range devices currently available. But which of the two is a better device for the money? Does the Pixel justify its Rs 10000 higher price? Let's make them compete head-on and see which is the better deal for your money.

Nothing Phone (1)

The Nothing Phone 1 is the first smartphone from Carl Pei’s new venture Nothing. It is a design focus phone with many unique features.

Google Pixel 6A

The Pixel A devices from Google have been some of the most successful mid-range android devices. Featuring the same flagship-level Tensor SoC from its bigger brother the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6A delivers the cleanest Android experience.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Design

The Google Pixel 6A features a similar design language to the other devices from the Pixel 6 series. Compared to the older Pixel 4A and the Pixel 5A, the latest phone looks way more premium and high-end.

There have been several attempts on using transparent back panels in smartphones but none were as visually appealing as the Nothing Phone 1. Combined with the Glyph interface, Nothing has created one of the most unique-looking devices ever. The shape of the Nothing Phone looks identical to the iPhone 12, which is not a bad thing.

Winner: Nothing Phone 1

Even though with the Pixel 6 series, Google has come a long way from the industrial design, the Nothing Phone 1 is the device to go with if you want to stand out from the crowd.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Display

The Google Pixel features a 6.1” OLED HDR display that runs at 60 Hz. Though lack of a high refresh rate might be a deal breaker for many, there are no complaints when it comes to the quality of the display. Unlike Google, Nothing did not cut any corners when it comes to the display, featuring a 120Hz 6.55” HDR10+ display, the Nothing Phone 1 has a far superior display compared to the Pixel. Moreover, it uses curved OLED displays, similar to iPhone X and later, to eliminate the chin that is even present in many flagship Android devices.

Winner: Nothing Phone 1 Manufacturers usually cut corners to stay within a required budget for mid-range devices and the display is the area where Google has done so.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Performance

Unlike the display, Google has not cut any corners when it comes to the specifications of the device. Pixel 6A features the same custom Tensor SoC as seen in the flagship Pixel 6 Pro and the Pixel 6. Combined with 6 GB of RAM and a focus on AI enhancements, the phone delivers flagship-level performance both in benchmarks and in real-world usage.

On paper and in benchmarks, the Nothing Phone 1 does not seem to have anything to write home about. But the engineers from Nothing have worked closely with Snapdragon to create a custom version of the 778G+ for Phone 1. Compensating with more RAM, 8 GB for the base and 12 GB for the top variant, Phone 1 packs enough power for the majority of tasks you might do on your phone.

Winner: Google Pixel 6A

While most people may find both the devices adequate for daily use, the more powerful Tensor SoC in the Pixel packs a lot more punch for the intensive tasks one might use their phone for.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Camera

The Google Pixel is equipped with a 12.2 MP primary and a 12 MP ultrawide camera, the same camera system Google has used for years in their A devices, but with industry-leading image processing, the images from the Pixel can compete with many flagship devices.

With a dual 50 MP sensor, the Nothing phone packs superior camera hardware and outputs decent images in broad daylight, but as the availability of light drops, so does the quality of the image coming from Nothing. Moreover, the bare-bones camera app is subpar.

Winner: Google Pixel 6A Google Pixels camera outputs some of the best images irrespective of the camera hardware.

Nothing Phone 1 vs Google Pixel 6A: Software

Both the devices come with Android 12 from the box, where the Pixel uses stock Android, Nothing comes with a Glyph-Interface that mostly provides a similar user interface to the Stock Android with several features and UI elements baked on the top.

Winner: 'Tie'

When it comes to software, it is mostly a personal preference. With both devices providing a clean and smooth experience, the decision falls solely upon the user.

Miscellaneous

With the help of the AI capabilities of the custom Tensor SoC, Google Pixel devices have been able to have several unique features such as Real Tone, Face Unblur, Live captions and Magic Eraser. The back of Nothing Phone (1) consists of 900 individual LEDs. These are primarily used as LED notifications for phone calls or changing animations. These can also be used as halo light for taking macro shots of really close objects.

Verdict

While both the devices are solid mid-rangers, the Google Pixel 6A priced at Rs 43999 is overall the superior device and justifies the higher price tag with the display being its primary disadvantage. But if you are on a tight budget the Nothing Phone 1 priced at Rs 31999 is still an excellent option.