Nothing Phone (3a) Series to Feature a Snapdragon Chip—Is It the 7s Gen 3?

• Nothing has confirmed that its upcoming Phone (3a) series will feature a Snapdragon processor.
• The exact Snapdragon chip remains unconfirmed, but speculation points to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3.
• The Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro are expected to deliver a notable performance upgrade with improvements in CPU and NPU speeds.

Nothing is shaking things up with its upcoming Phone (3a) series, ditching MediaTek in favor of a Snapdragon processor, as confirmed in a recent post. The previous Nothing Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus used the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro and 7350 Pro, while the upcoming (3a) and (3a) Pro are both anticipated to use the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3.

Is It the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3?

The biggest question surrounding the Nothing Phone (3a) is undoubtedly what’s powering it under the hood. While Nothing remains silent about the specific processor, all signs point to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 as the most likely candidate.

Several factors contribute to this theory:

• First, the 7s Gen 3 is a relatively new mid-range Snapdragon chip. CEO Carl Pei’s impressive claims—a 25% faster CPU and a 72% faster NPU compared to the Phone (2a) Plus—suggest a substantial leap in processing power, and the 7s Gen 3 seems to fit the bill. It’s designed to offer a balance of performance and efficiency, ideal for a mid-range device like the Phone (3a).
  
• Second, the timing aligns perfectly. The 7s Gen 3 is a recent release, making it a prime candidate for inclusion in a new device launching shortly.

Finally, despite limited official details from Qualcomm, leaks and reports suggest the 7s Gen 3 features a powerful architecture, including a Kryo CPU and an Adreno GPU. These components are crucial for delivering smooth performance in everyday tasks, gaming, and other demanding applications.

While we await official confirmation from Nothing or Qualcomm, the evidence strongly suggests the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is the leading contender to power the Phone (3a).

Performance and Benchmarks: How Does the 7s Gen 3 Stack Up?

While we’re yet to see benchmark scores for the Nothing Phone (3a), we’ve seen other phones running the same processor, which gives us an idea of the upcoming phone’s performance. Here are Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 benchmark scores based on the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ as tested by 91Mobiles.

The 7s Gen 3 is expected to offer improvements in everyday tasks, such as browsing, social media, and multitasking. Gaming performance should also see a boost, thanks to the Adreno GPU. While it might not rival top-tier flagship chips, the 7s Gen 3 should provide a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience at 1080p resolution for most users.

Nothing has highlighted a 72% faster NPU compared to the Phone (2a) Plus, making NPU performance an important consideration. This suggests a significant focus on AI capabilities, which could translate to improved camera features, enhanced voice recognition, and other AI-driven functionalities.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 appears to offer a noticeable edge over the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (found in phones like the iQOO Z9s and CMF Phone 1), generally scoring higher in AnTuTu v10. This suggests better overall performance, resulting in snappier everyday tasks and the potential to handle more demanding applications.

We’ll have to wait for official benchmarks and real-world reviews for a complete picture of the Phone (3a)’s performance, but based on the available information, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 appears to be a solid choice for a mid-range device, offering a compelling combination of performance, efficiency, and AI capabilities. Once the Phone (3a) is released, we can expect a more detailed analysis.

What Else to Expect from the Nothing Phone (3a)

Having already detailed the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro’s specifications in a previous post, we now turn our attention to the Nothing Phone (3a), which is also expected to boast a compelling set of features.

• Display: 6.2-inch display with up to 1300 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode), 1800 nits peak brightness
• Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
• Software: Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15; Three major Android updates and four years of security updates
• Memory and Storage: 8GB RAM + 128GB/256GB storage
• Camera: Triple rear camera with 50MP main sensor, 16MP selfie camera
• Battery: 5,000 mAh
• Other Features: Signature transparent design and Glyph Interface retained, pill-shaped camera module, iPhone-like Action button (expected), IP64 rating
• Color Options: Black and White
• Pricing (Rumored): ₹25,000 – ₹30,000

Nothing’s gone all in with Snapdragon, promising a great mix of performance and features. Now it’s time to see what users think. Will this big change work out for them? We’ll be checking out the Phone (3a)’s capabilities and will have a full review coming soon, so stick around.