Nothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: India price, design, specs compared in detail

India Today

02-07-2025

The Nothing Phone 3 has finally made its debut in India after nearly two years, and it's already turning heads — not just for its design, but also for its flagship-level pricing. This move has surprised many existing Nothing Phone users who were expecting a more affordable upgrade. But the company had made it clear from the start that this would be its first true flagship, and the specs suggest it means business. With decent hardware and a unique design, the Nothing Phone 3 is now positioned to compete with high-end devices like the OnePlus 13s and iPhone 16e. In this comparison, we take a closer look at how the Nothing Phone 3 stacks up against the OnePlus 13s in terms of design, performance, battery, camera, and pricing to help you decide which one suits your needs better.advertisementNothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: India PriceThe Nothing Phone 3 is clearly being pitched as a premium device, with prices starting at Rs 79,999 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model and Rs 89,999 for the 16GB + 512GB variant. The phone is available in Black and White colour options.In contrast, the OnePlus 13s is much more competitively priced. The 12GB + 256GB model is available for Rs 54,999, while the 12GB + 512GB variant will cost Rs 59,999. It comes in three colour variants — Black Velvet, Pink Satin, and a Green Silk version that is exclusive to India.Nothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: Design
Design continues to be Nothing's biggest talking point. The Phone 3 sticks to the brand's signature semi-transparent rear panel but has overhauled the Glyph interface. Instead of scattered LED strips, it now comes with a new 25x25 matrix LED disc that can display functions like time, stopwatch, compass, and battery level. The rear cameras are placed in a triangular layout, a distinctive and fresh design approach.advertisementOn the other hand, OnePlus takes a more subtle and compact route with the 13s. It's just 8.15mm thick and weighs 185g, featuring a metal frame and a minimalist look. The Green Silk version stands out in particular with its classy matte finish and slim profile, appealing to those who want a flagship that doesn't feel bulky in hand.Nothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: DisplayThe Nothing Phone 3 sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (dynamic from 30Hz), and peak brightness of up to 4,500nits. It also supports HDR10+, 10-bit colour depth, a 1000Hz touch sampling rate, and Gorilla Glass 7i protection.Meanwhile, the OnePlus 13s goes with a smaller but offers a solid 6.32-inch LTPO ProXDR panel. It also offers a 1.5K resolution and supports a 1Hz–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 2,160Hz PWM dimming, and Dolby Vision. The peak brightness tops out at 1,600nits.The major difference lies in form factor preference. The Nothing Phone 3 is ideal for large-screen lovers, while the OnePlus 13s caters to compact phone enthusiasts without sacrificing on performance.Nothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: Performance and BatteryWhen it comes to sheer processing power, the OnePlus 13s takes a commanding lead. It is powered by the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which includes two prime cores with a clock speed of 4.32GHz, which is among the highest in the mobile industry. This is paired with 6 performance cores at 3.53Ghz. You can expect excellent gaming and multitasking performance.advertisementIn contrast, the Nothing Phone 3 runs on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip. While powerful in its own right, it isn't positioned in the same league as the 8 Elite. The 8s Gen 4 features a single prime core and 7 Cortex-A720 cores at varying frequencies (3.0GHz, 2.8GHz and 2.0GHz). This chip is found in phones under Rs 40,000. However, Nothing is betting on its software experience and unique features to justify the premium price.Battery-wise, the OnePlus 13s packs a slightly larger 5,850mAh unit with 80W fast charging and, impressively, includes a charger in the box. The Nothing Phone 3 houses a 5,500mAh battery and supports 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging — but skips the in-box charger.Another advantage of the OnePlus 13s is its thermal management. It features a 4,400mm Cryo-Velocity Vapor Chamber and additional cooling materials on the back panel. There's no mention of a dedicated cooling system in the Nothing phone, which could matter for prolonged gaming sessions.advertisementNothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: CameraNothing steps up its camera game with a triple rear camera setup. The Phone 3 includes a 50MP OV50H primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera (3x zoom, OIS), and a 50MP ultra-wide shooter. Selfies are handled by a 50MP front camera, which is a rare inclusion in this segment.The OnePlus 13s features a dual-camera system: a 50MP Sony LYT-700 primary sensor with OIS and a 50MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and EIS. The front has a 32MP shooter with EIS.While both phones seem to have capable camera hardware, the inclusion of a dedicated ultra-wide and higher-res selfie shooter gives the Nothing Phone 3 a more well-rounded setup. But for most users, especially those more focused on point-and-shoot experiences and clean processing, the OnePlus cameras will perform reliably too.Nothing Phone 3 vs OnePlus 13s: Which one to buy?In conclusion, the OnePlus 13s comes across as a better value-for-money choice for users who prioritise top-end performance, compact design, and practicality — especially with features like a bundled charger and better thermal management.advertisementThe Nothing Phone 3, while clearly more expensive, targets a different set of buyers — those who appreciate aesthetics, unique software integration like the Glyph matrix, and features like wireless charging and an advanced triple camera setup.If your focus is on gaming and raw power, the OnePlus 13s is the phone to pick. If you are after standout looks, good performance and a clean Android experience with useful extras, the Nothing Phone 3 makes a good case despite the premium pricing. So, the choice ultimately depends on user needs.- Ends