The OnePlus Nord 5 and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro come in at a similar price point and feature comparable main cameras on paper. The Nord 5 uses the Sony LYT-700 (1/1.56-inch, f/1.8), while the Phone 3a Pro sports the Samsung GNJ (1/1.56-inch, f/1.9).
Both phones also include an 8MP ultrawide camera, but the real hardware difference lies in the 3a Pro’s inclusion of a dedicated 3x periscope telephoto (LYT-600, 1/1.95-inch, f/2.55), something the Nord 5 lacks entirely. This comparison focuses purely on real-world results from the main, ultrawide, and some zoom (excluding portrait mode). Let’s begin.
1. Main Camera, 1X, Indoors
In this shot, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro came in with higher exposure levels out of the gate, while the Nord 5 maintained more natural colors and better color tuning. Punching into the image revealed similar levels of detail, but the Nord 5 had cleaner noise correction.
Highlight management was just a bit better on the 3a Pro, but the difference wasn’t significant. Overall, the Nord 5 produced a more pleasing image, though both were competent.
2. Zoom, 3X
This one was straightforward. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro, using its dedicated periscope lens, completely outperformed the Nord 5, which relied on a digital crop from its main camera.
Details are crisper, chromatic aberration is lower, and the shot is noticeably more usable. The drawback was that sharpness and exposure could still be improved on the Phone 3a Pro, but it wasn’t a close contest.
3. Zoom, 2X
At 2X, both phones used digital crop, and this time the results were much closer. The 3a Pro went heavy on artificial sharpening, introducing noise, while the Nord 5 kept things more balanced. Still, the colors on the 3a Pro look more appealing to me. Details are slightly better on the Nord.
ALSO READ: OnePlus Nord 5 vs. realme 15 Pro: Camera Comparison
4. Main Camera, 1X, HDR
In this HDR-heavy scene, the Phone 3a Pro handles blooming around bright highlights better than the Nord 5. It produces stronger contrast, whereas the Nord 5 offers a flatter but more neutral take. Looking into the background, especially the tree line, the 3a Pro controls chromatic aberration more effectively. It’s a close call, but the 3a Pro edges ahead.
5. Zoom, 2X
The Nord 5 takes the lead here. It manages noise more effectively and produces a more natural-looking image overall. Highlight control is also better. Meanwhile, the 3a Pro’s white balance shifts too far into cooler tones, giving the photo an unnatural hue. Nord 5 clearly wins this round.
6. Main Camera, 1X
This scene challenges both phones with dynamic lighting. The Phone 3a Pro maintains more highlight detail and recovers more information from shadow areas. However, its white balance is off, which affects color accuracy. Still, the overall result is more detailed and visually engaging, giving the 3a Pro a slight win.
7. Zoom, 3X
The Phone 3a Pro flexes its periscope capabilities here. The background, where the focus lies, shows stronger detail, and the texture of water stands out clearly. Foreground leaves blur naturally, showcasing solid depth. Noise control could be better, but the 3X optical advantage puts the 3a Pro ahead.
8. Ultrawide
The 3a Pro’s ultrawide photo suffers from over-sharpening and blown-out highlights. The Nord 5 keeps things more controlled, offering better contrast and exposure. This one clearly goes to the Nord 5.
ALSO READ: Nothing Phone 3a Pro Review with Pros and Cons
9. Main Camera, 1X
Back on the main sensor, the Phone 3a Pro shows inconsistent color science compared to its ultrawide counterpart. While both deliver decent detail, the Nord 5 handles chromatic aberration better and avoids overexposure. It takes the win for consistency and tonal balance.
10. White Balance Consistency Test
Looking at white balance across the main and ultrawide cameras, the Nord 5 offers more uniform color tones. The 3a Pro shifts between warm and cool temperatures depending on the lens, making color shifts more noticeable. The Nord 5 holds an advantage in consistency.
11. Low Light, 1X
In low-light conditions, the Nord 5 steps ahead with cleaner processing, less noise, and better highlight control. The 3a Pro introduces more visible grain and occasionally overexposes light sources. Nord 5 performs more reliably here.
ALSO READ: OnePlus Nord 5 Review: Is This the Best All-Round Mid-Range Phone for Buyers in 2025?
12. Ultrawide
Both phones struggle in low light with their ultrawide lenses. The Phone 3a Pro retains more noise, while the Nord 5 smooths things out to the point of looking like a painting. Highlights are better controlled on the Nord 5. It comes down to preference: cleaner or more detailed but noisy. My pick would be the latter and hence, the winner is the Nord 5.
13. Zoom, 2X
Neither phone excels here. Detail is underwhelming on both ends. However, the Phone 3a Pro controls highlights slightly better, while the Nord 5 handles text sharpness with more clarity. The Nord 5 comes out just slightly ahead overall.
Conclusion
While both phones perform well, the Phone 3a Pro stands out for its telephoto zoom and better results in some scenarios, making it a better choice for camera-focused users or pro users. The Nord 5 delivers good, consistent results, especially if zoom isn’t a priority. Let us know your pick in the comments.
I’ve put up a quick poll on Twitter comparing the two devices. You can feel free to check it out, cast your vote, and see which one people are leaning towards.
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much needed comparison