Nothing Phone (3) and Xiaomi 15 Pro are two flagship smartphones launched in 2025 that target tech-savvy users but take very different approaches. One focuses on bold, standout design with innovative LED features, while the other pushes boundaries in performance, camera versatility, and battery technology. This comparison is important because both compete in the same price range, yet offer unique strengths that could appeal to entirely different types of buyers.
Design and Display
Build and Feel:
Both phones have premium glass and metal builds with IP68 water and dust resistance. The Nothing Phone (3) stands out with its unique monochrome LED back (489 LEDs) for notifications, timers, and creative lighting effects, making it visually distinctive. The Xiaomi 15 Pro opts for a sleeker design without LED flair but offers a more refined curvature and slightly slimmer profile. While the Xiaomi feels more classic, the Nothing Phone (3) is better for those who want their device to double as a style statement.
Display Quality:
The Xiaomi 15 Pro’s 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel offers 1440p resolution, Dolby Vision, and higher 1920Hz PWM for reduced eye strain, making it sharper and more comfortable for prolonged use. The Nothing Phone (3) has a 6.67-inch OLED with a slightly lower 1260p resolution but reaches a higher peak brightness of 4500 nits, ideal for outdoor visibility. Xiaomi’s wider color support (68B colors) and HDR10+ with Dolby Vision deliver richer visuals for media.
Verdict:
For design uniqueness, the Nothing Phone (3) wins with its LED system. For pure display quality and multimedia experience, the Xiaomi 15 Pro edges ahead thanks to sharper resolution, Dolby Vision, and better color depth.
Specifications
Performance:
The Xiaomi 15 Pro packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) with advanced Oryon cores, outperforming the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in the Nothing Phone (3). It offers superior processing speeds, GPU performance (Adreno 830 vs 825), and better sustained multitasking power. This makes it more future-proof for gaming and heavy workloads. The Nothing Phone (3) is still very capable but leans toward efficient flagship performance rather than absolute peak power.
Battery and Charging:
Xiaomi’s 6100 mAh battery is larger than the Nothing Phone (3)’s 5150/5500 mAh, paired with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging for faster top-ups. The Nothing Phone (3) offers 65W wired and 15W wireless charging, which is decent but notably slower. Xiaomi also supports higher reverse wireless power at 10W versus 7.5W. For users seeking quicker and more flexible charging, Xiaomi takes the lead.
Verdict:
The Xiaomi 15 Pro is ahead in both performance and battery technology, delivering faster speeds, longer endurance, and quicker charging, making it a more robust daily driver for power users.
Camera
Main and Secondary Lenses:
The Xiaomi 15 Pro features Leica-tuned triple 50 MP sensors, including a f/1.4 wide camera with dual-pixel PDAF and a 5x periscope zoom, giving it a major advantage in low light and telephoto performance. It also supports advanced video formats like 8K HDR and Dolby Vision 10-bit recording. The Nothing Phone (3) offers triple 50 MP sensors too, but with a 3x periscope and fewer pro-grade features, making it solid but not as versatile.
Selfie Camera:
The Nothing Phone (3) has a higher-resolution 50 MP selfie camera capable of 4K@60fps video, making it excellent for sharp, high-detail self-portraits and vlogging. Xiaomi’s 32 MP front camera is lower in resolution but still offers 4K video and strong HDR, with slightly better stabilization for video calls and streaming.
Verdict:
For main camera versatility and video capabilities, the Xiaomi 15 Pro dominates, especially for zoom and cinematic shooting. However, for selfie quality and detail, the Nothing Phone (3) edges ahead, appealing more to vloggers and social media creators.
Pricing
The Xiaomi 15 Pro is priced around $750, while the Nothing Phone (3) is about $799. Considering the Xiaomi 15 Pro offers a more powerful processor, larger battery, faster charging, better main camera system, and richer display, it delivers higher value at a lower cost.
The Nothing Phone (3) justifies its price through unique design, brighter screen, and higher-res selfie camera, but for pure performance-to-price ratio, Xiaomi is the stronger deal.
Disclaimer:
Prices are approximate and may vary based on country, region, and applicable taxes.
Conclusion
The Nothing Phone (3) stands out with its monochrome LED back for functional aesthetics, extremely bright 4500-nit display, and high-resolution 50 MP selfie camera. The Xiaomi 15 Pro counters with Leica camera tuning, Dolby Vision video recording, 5x optical zoom, 90W charging, and two-way satellite communication for emergency connectivity.
Verdict:
The Xiaomi 15 Pro is the better choice for those prioritizing raw performance, professional-grade photography, and battery endurance at a lower price. The Nothing Phone (3) is ideal for buyers who value standout design, a brighter display for outdoor use, and top-tier selfie quality. Both are premium, but their strengths cater to very different types of users.
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