Smartphones
iPhone 16 Plus vs Nothing Phone 3
iPhone 16 Plus and Nothing Phone 3 are large-screen smartphones aimed at different buyers. iPhone 16 Plus focuses on iOS, Apple Intelligence, long video playback, Face ID, satellite safety features, and MagSafe, while Nothing Phone 3 offers a lower starting price, a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 platform, a 6.67-inch flexible AMOLED display, IP68 protection, a new Glyph Interface, Essential Search, and an all-50MP camera system.
Last updated: June 30, 2026
Apple
iPhone 16 Plus
A large-screen iPhone built for iOS, Apple Intelligence, long video playback, Face ID, MagSafe charging, and reliable everyday camera use.
VS
Nothing
Nothing Phone 3
A distinctive Android phone built for a lower starting price, Glyph Interface controls, Essential Search, Snapdragon performance, and all-50MP camera hardware.
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Specifications
Pros & Cons
iPhone 16 Plus — Pros
✓Apple lists up to 24 hours of streamed video playback for iPhone 16 Plus.
✓Supports Apple Intelligence, Face ID, satellite safety features, MagSafe, Qi2 wireless charging, UWB, Thread, and Apple Pay.
✓Records 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 60 fps with both the rear camera system and TrueDepth front camera.
✓Has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with up to 2,000 nits peak outdoor brightness.
✓Uses Wi-Fi 7 and Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.
✓Runs iOS and integrates deeply with Apple Watch, AirPods, Mac, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, and AirDrop.
iPhone 16 Plus — Cons
✕Starts at $899 with eligible carrier activation, which is $300 higher than Nothing Phone 3’s current $599 US starting price.
✕Apple lists 128GB and 256GB capacities on Apple's tech specs page, while Nothing Phone 3 starts at 256GB.
✕Display refresh rate is not listed as 120Hz on Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus specs page.
✕Rear camera system has two physical cameras, while Nothing Phone 3 highlights an all-50MP multi-camera system.
✕USB-C is limited to USB 2 speeds up to 480Mb/s.
✕Uses eSIM only in the United States and does not support a physical SIM tray on US models.
Nothing Phone 3 — Pros
✓Starts at $599 in the US with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.
✓Base storage is 256GB, while iPhone 16 Plus starts at 128GB on Apple’s specs page.
✓Nothing highlights a four 50MP camera system and all 4K 60fps video recording.
✓Uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 mobile platform, with Nothing Training Center listing CPU speed up to 3.2GHz.
✓Nothing lists a 6.67-inch 1.5K+ flexible AMOLED display.
✓Adds a distinctive Glyph Interface and Essential Search, which iPhone 16 Plus does not offer.
Nothing Phone 3 — Cons
✕Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a mid-to-high tier mobile platform rather than a flagship chip; it sits below the Snapdragon 8 Elite used in premium Android competitors and Apple A18 Pro in iPhone 16 Pro.
✕No MagSafe, Qi2, Face ID, Apple Pay, AirDrop, iMessage, or Apple Watch ecosystem support.
✕Satellite safety features are not officially specified on Nothing's official pages.
✕Wireless charging speed, USB transfer standard, Wi-Fi version, exact Bluetooth version, and UWB support are not published on Nothing's official US product page, making direct wireless spec comparisons with iPhone 16 Plus harder to confirm.
✕Nothing lists IP68 but also warns that water resistance applies only under controlled laboratory conditions and is not guaranteed in typical use.
✕Nothing has not published a confirmed number of guaranteed OS updates or Android version upgrades for Nothing Phone 3 on its US product page, unlike Apple which has a stated multi-year update policy for iPhone 16 Plus.
Best used for
✦Use iOS, iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop, Find My, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch integration as your daily phone ecosystem.
✦Watch video, browse, and travel with Apple’s official iPhone 16 Plus streaming battery claim of up to 24 hours.
✦Capture 4K Dolby Vision video at up to 60 fps with the rear cameras and the TrueDepth front camera.
✦Use Camera Control for faster access to exposure, zoom, cameras, styles, tone, and other camera controls.
✦Unlock securely with Face ID instead of an in-display fingerprint reader.
✦Use Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite where supported.
✦Charge with USB-C, MagSafe, or Qi2 wireless charging accessories.
✦Keep the phone inside Apple’s long-running iOS app, accessory, service, and support ecosystem.
Best used for
✦Use Android and Nothing OS when you want a phone outside the Apple ecosystem.
✦Shoot with Nothing’s all-50MP camera system, including all 4K 60fps video recording as listed by Nothing Training Center.
✦Use the new Glyph Interface for visual alerts and a more distinctive phone design.
✦Use Essential Search inside Nothing OS 3.5 for faster on-device search workflows.
✦Choose 256GB storage at the base price instead of paying more for a higher-capacity iPhone.
✦Use Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 performance for gaming, multitasking, and Android apps.
✦Carry a phone that Nothing lists with IP68 water and dust resistance.
✦Pick a phone that starts $300 below iPhone 16 Plus on official US product pages.
⚖️
Our Verdict
iPhone 16 Plus is the better choice if you want a large-screen iPhone with iOS, Apple Intelligence, Face ID, MagSafe, Qi2, satellite safety features, Wi-Fi 7, UWB, and stronger official battery-life claims. It is also the safer pick if you want Apple’s ecosystem and a technical spec sheet that clearly documents more connectivity, charging, video, and safety details. Nothing Phone 3 is the better choice if you want to spend less, start with 256GB storage, use Android, get a distinctive Glyph Interface, and prioritize Nothing’s all-50MP camera story. The Nothing phone offers stronger value on paper, while the iPhone offers the more complete ecosystem, safety, wireless, and accessory package. Buy iPhone 16 Plus if the Apple ecosystem matters most; buy Nothing Phone 3 if price, storage, Android, and distinctive design matter more.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose iPhone 16 Plus if...
→You want iOS, iMessage, FaceTime, AirDrop, Find My, Apple Pay, and Apple Watch support.
→You want MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.
→You want Face ID instead of relying on Android biometrics.
→You want satellite safety features for supported regions.
→You want Apple’s official up to 24-hour streamed video playback claim.
→You want Wi-Fi 7, UWB, Thread, and stronger documented wireless features.
→You record a lot of Dolby Vision video.
→You already use AirPods, Apple Watch, Mac, iCloud, or other Apple services.
Choose Nothing Phone 3 if...
→You want the lower official US starting price.
→You want 256GB storage at the base price.
→You prefer Android and Nothing OS over iOS.
→You want the Glyph Interface and Essential Search.
→You want Nothing’s all-50MP camera system.
→You want Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 performance.
→You do not need MagSafe, Face ID, Apple Pay, AirDrop, or iMessage.
→You want a phone that looks and feels less conventional than iPhone 16 Plus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: iPhone 16 Plus vs Nothing Phone 3: which is better?
A: iPhone 16 Plus is better for Apple ecosystem users who want iOS, Face ID, MagSafe, satellite safety, and strong official battery claims. Nothing Phone 3 is better if you want a lower starting price, 256GB base storage, Android, Glyph Interface, and Nothing’s all-50MP camera system.
Q: What is the main difference between iPhone 16 Plus and Nothing Phone 3?
A: The main difference is ecosystem and value. iPhone 16 Plus is a large-screen iPhone built around iOS, Apple services, and MagSafe. Nothing Phone 3 is a lower-priced Android phone with a distinctive design, 256GB base storage, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and Glyph Interface.
Q: Which phone is cheaper, iPhone 16 Plus or Nothing Phone 3?
A: Nothing Phone 3 is cheaper at the official US starting price as of June 2026. Nothing lists Phone 3 from $599, while Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus starts from $899 with eligible carrier activation.
Q: Which has more base storage, iPhone 16 Plus or Nothing Phone 3?
A: Nothing Phone 3 has more base storage. Nothing lists the base Phone 3 at 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, while Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus specs page lists 128GB and 256GB capacity options.
Q: Which has better cameras, iPhone 16 Plus or Nothing Phone 3?
A: Nothing Phone 3 has the stronger hardware headline because Nothing highlights a four 50MP camera system and all 4K 60fps video recording. iPhone 16 Plus has fewer physical rear cameras, but Apple documents a polished camera system with 48MP Fusion, 12MP Ultra Wide, Dolby Vision video, Camera Control, and strong software processing.
Q: Which has better battery life, iPhone 16 Plus or Nothing Phone 3?
A: Apple provides clearer official battery claims for iPhone 16 Plus: up to 27 hours video playback and up to 24 hours streamed video playback. Nothing's official pages do not publish an equally detailed battery-life table, so this comparison should not assume Phone 3 is better.
Q: Does Nothing Phone 3 have MagSafe like iPhone 16 Plus?
A: No official Nothing source lists MagSafe support for Phone 3. iPhone 16 Plus supports MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W and Qi2 wireless charging up to 25W
Q: Does iPhone 16 Plus or Nothing Phone 3 have better water resistance?
A: Both phones are listed with IP68 protection in official sources. Apple specifies maximum depth of 6 meters for up to 30 minutes under IEC 60529, while Nothing lists IP68 with a laboratory-condition disclaimer.
Q: Which phone is better for Android users?
A: Nothing Phone 3 is the better pick for Android users because it runs Nothing OS and uses Snapdragon hardware. iPhone 16 Plus is the better pick only if you are ready to move into Apple’s iOS ecosystem.
Q: Which phone should I buy in 2026?
A: Buy iPhone 16 Plus if you want the Apple ecosystem, MagSafe, Face ID, satellite safety, and stronger documented wireless and battery specs. Buy Nothing Phone 3 if you want to spend less, get more base storage, use Android, and prefer Nothing’s distinctive design and all-50MP camera approach.
Sources & References
Prices, features and specifications in this comparison were verified from official sources.
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