iPhone 13 vs Phone (3a)

Phone 1

Phone 2

Winner

Nothing Phone (3a)

Lifespan decides this one: the Phone (3a) is supported until Mar 2031 at $6.16 per month of safe use, while the iPhone 13 runs out in Sep 2028 ($9.09/month). On a which-lasts-longer question, that's not a tie — it's the whole answer.

Value Score: iPhone 13 60 · Phone (3a) 75 — methodology

The lifespan decider

When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.

Apple iPhone 13 $249

Buy with care$9.09/mo

2021◆ Buy-by Sep 20262028

Nothing Phone (3a) $349

Safe to buy$6.16/mo

2025◆ Buy-by Mar 20292031

Category by category

Display

iPhone 13 50Phone (3a) 80

The Phone (3a)'s screen is the better one — 6.77-inch amoled, 1080×2392 (fhd+), up to 120hz, 3000 nits peak.

Performance

iPhone 13 74Phone (3a) 64

The iPhone 13's Apple A15 Bionic is simply the faster chip.

Camera

iPhone 13 52Phone (3a) 79

The Phone (3a) has the stronger camera system (3 real rear lenses vs 2).

Battery

iPhone 13 45Phone (3a) 80

5,000mAh vs 3,240mAh — the Phone (3a) lasts longer between charges.

Software longevity

iPhone 13 33Phone (3a) 67

The Phone (3a) is supported until Mar 2031 — 29 months longer than the iPhone 13.

Value

iPhone 13 60Phone (3a) 75

Overall value goes to the Phone (3a) at $6.16 per month of safe use.

Full spec table

Spec	iPhone 13	Phone (3a)
Price (street)	$249	$349
Display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz	6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak
Chipset	Apple A15 Bionic	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
RAM	4GB	8GB/12GB
Storage	128GB/256GB/512GB	128GB/256GB
Battery	3,240 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging	20W wired (50% in ~30 min), MagSafe 15W wireless	50W wired, no wireless
Rear cameras	12MP main, 12MP ultra-wide	50MP main, 50MP telephoto 2x, 8MP ultra-wide
Dimensions	146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65 mm	163.52 × 77.50 × 8.35 mm
Weight	174 g	201 g
Water resistance	IP68	IP64
Supported until	Sep 2028	Mar 2031

iPhone 13 full verdict →Phone (3a) full verdict →Longevity master board →

Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.