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Neither phone is clearly better on paper. The Nothing Phone (3a) lists a dedicated telephoto camera and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. The Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G lists a much larger 9000mAh typical battery and 67W charging. The price difference cannot be calculated from the published figures, because the two prices come from different countries and currencies.
What these figures do and do not show
Every specification and price below comes from the manufacturers’ own pages, checked in 2026. Nothing’s specifications page is the UAE version of its site (ae.nothing.tech/en/pages/phone-3a), and Xiaomi’s specifications are from its India site (mi.com/in/product/redmi-note-17-pro-5g/specs/). Neither page states a publication date. No independent laboratory measurements or side-by-side camera, performance, or battery-life tests are cited here, so this article describes what each phone is listed to have, not how it performs in use.
Price: why no direct difference can be stated
Nothing’s UK product page lists the Phone (3a) in its 8GB+128GB configuration at £289. Xiaomi India’s product listing shows the Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G from ₹36,999, with an 8GB+128GB configuration shown. These are prices in different markets, with different taxes, offers, and stock conditions. Converting one into the other’s currency would produce a figure that no buyer actually pays.
To get a usable price comparison:
- Compare the same memory and storage configuration (8GB+128GB) in the same country.
- Check the official store page and at least one local retailer on the day you buy, because prices, discounts, and availability change.
- Include local taxes, bundled offers, and any regional model differences before deciding which phone costs less.
Specifications side by side
| Feature | Nothing Phone (3a) | Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G |
|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50MP main camera | 50MP main camera with OIS |
| Telephoto camera | 50MP telephoto, 2x optical zoom | Not listed in the cited specifications |
| Ultrawide camera | 8MP | 8MP |
| Display | 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED | 17.34 cm flat AMOLED |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | Up to 120Hz |
| Display resolution | Not stated in the cited specifications | 2772 × 1280 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 9000mAh typical |
| Charging | 50W | 67W |
| Storage type | Not stated in the cited specifications | 128GB variant uses UFS 2.2; 256GB variant uses UFS 3.1 |
| Software update commitment | Six years for the Phone (3a) series, counted from first availability (UK product page) | Not stated in the cited specifications |
Dimensions and weight are not part of the cited specification pages, so they are not compared here.
#1 Best Overall
- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
Camera: the clearest hardware difference
The Phone (3a) is the only one of the two whose listed camera system includes a telephoto lens, rated at 2x optical zoom. The Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G’s cited specifications list a 50MP main camera with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide, with no telephoto. That makes the Nothing the better match if you regularly frame distant subjects, portraits, or tighter crops. Whether either camera produces better photos cannot be judged from the listings alone.
Battery and charging
On listed figures, the Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G has the larger battery at 9000mAh typical, compared with 5000mAh on the Phone (3a). Its charging rate is also higher, at 67W against 50W. The “typical” qualifier matters: it is Xiaomi’s own rating, and real endurance depends on screen use, network conditions, and software settings. Capacity alone does not tell you how many hours a phone will last.
Rank #2
- Google Pixel 10a is a durable, everyday phone with more[1]; snap brilliant photography on a simple, powerful camera, get 30+ hours out of a full charge[2], and do more with helpful AI like Gemini[3]
- Unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Pixel 10a is sleek and durable, with a super smooth finish, scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 7i display, and IP68 water and dust protection[4]
- The Actua display with 3,000-nit peak brightness shows up clear as day, even in direct sunlight[5]
- Plan, create, and get more done with help from Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[3]; have it screen spam calls while you focus[6]; chat with Gemini to brainstorm your meal plan[7], or bring your ideas to life with Nano Banana[8]
Processor and performance
The two phones use different chip platforms. The Phone (3a) is listed with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, and the Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G with the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4. Chip names alone do not establish which one is faster in everyday use, and no independent benchmark is cited for either. Treat the processor line as a specification difference, not a performance ranking.
Display
Both phones list AMOLED panels with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is the most similar pair of figures in the comparison. The Phone (3a) uses a 6.77-inch flexible AMOLED display. The Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G uses a 17.34 cm flat AMOLED with a listed resolution of 2772 × 1280. Nothing’s cited page does not state a resolution. These are manufacturer figures, not measured results for brightness, colour accuracy, or outdoor visibility.
Rank #3
- Transparent Design: Ear (3a) features Nothing's signature technological codes in vibrant new colours. A wider range of ear tips means the buds sit comfortably in everyone's ears, and a new status bar lets you see everything on the case.
- Hi-Res Audio: Ear (3a) delivers stronger sound with a bigger 12 mm driver. Improved wideband Active Noise Cancellation at up to 45 dB lets you ignore the boring things, and Clear Voice Technology means you sound good on calls. On the Nothing app X, you can boost bass, treble and vocals, or use the advanced 8-band EQ.
- Wideband Active Noise Cancellation: Nothing Ear (3a) delivers up to 45dB of Active Noise Cancellation. These Bluetooth wireless earbuds recalibrate every millisecond to block a wide range of noise (up to 5000Hz) for clear audio. Switch to Transparency Mode to stay aware of your surroundings without removing the earbuds. Low Latency mode ensures lag-free gaming.
- Bluetooth 6.0 & Smart AI Features: With Bluetooth 6.0, Ear (3a) stays connected in more places than before. Easy swapping with dual-device connnections compatible with both iOS and Andoid. And with one-touch AI features like ChatGPT and Essential News, you're always ready to go without touching your phone.
- Audio Snapshot and Call Recording: Audio Snapshot and call recording let you save what you hear directly onto Ear (3a). You can record up to a minute of media or up to two hours of calls and meetings. With the Nothing X app, you can sort and transcribe using AI. With Pro Transcription, you can also identify speakers, get reminders and send quotes to your friends. Note: Call recording is available only in supported countries/regions due to local regulations. For the current list of supported countries/regions, please refer to the Product Description.
Storage and memory
Storage tier affects the comparison in two ways. First, Xiaomi uses different flash standards by capacity: the 128GB variant uses UFS 2.2 and the 256GB variant uses UFS 3.1, which is the faster standard. Second, a price comparison is only meaningful when both phones are the same memory and storage configuration. For the Nothing, the cited pages do not state the storage type.
Software updates
Nothing states six years of updates for the Phone (3a) series, counted from when the device first became available, according to its UK product page. That page does not separate operating system upgrades from security updates, so do not assume a specific number of each. The Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G’s cited specifications do not state an update commitment.
Which phone fits your priorities
- Choose the Nothing Phone (3a) if a telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and a published multi-year update commitment matter most to you.
- Choose the Redmi Note 17 Pro 5G if battery capacity and fast charging are the priority, and you can accept the absence of a listed telephoto camera.
- Decide on price last, using only same-country prices for the same memory and storage configuration.
If you are shopping in the UK, the Nothing listing is the relevant price reference. If you are shopping in India, the Xiaomi listing is. Neither figure applies to the other market.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
