iPhone SE (3rd gen) vs Phone (3a)

Phone 1

Phone 2

Winner

Nothing Phone (3a)

Lifespan decides this one: the Phone (3a) is supported until Mar 2031 at $6.18 per month of safe use, while the iPhone SE (3rd gen) runs out in Mar 2029 ($3.03/month). On a which-lasts-longer question, that's not a tie — it's the whole answer.

Value Score: iPhone SE (3rd gen) 56 · 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 SE (3rd gen) $100

Buy with care$3.03/mo

2022◆ Buy-by Mar 20272029

Nothing Phone (3a) $349

Safe to buy$6.18/mo

2025◆ Buy-by Mar 20292031

Category by category

Display

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 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 SE (3rd gen) 74Phone (3a) 64

The iPhone SE (3rd gen)'s Apple A15 Bionic is simply the faster chip.

Camera

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 40Phone (3a) 79

The Phone (3a) has the stronger camera system (3 real rear lenses vs 1).

Battery

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 20Phone (3a) 80

5,000mAh vs 2,018mAh — the Phone (3a) lasts longer between charges.

Software longevity

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 39Phone (3a) 67

The Phone (3a) is supported until Mar 2031 — 24 months longer than the iPhone SE (3rd gen).

Value

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 56Phone (3a) 75

Overall value goes to the Phone (3a) at $6.18 per month of safe use.

Full spec table

Spec	iPhone SE (3rd gen)	Phone (3a)
Price (street)	$100	$349
Display	4.7-inch Retina HD LCD, 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	64GB/128GB/256GB	128GB/256GB
Battery	2,018 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging	20W wired, Qi wireless 7.5W	50W wired, no wireless
Rear cameras	12MP main	50MP main, 50MP telephoto 2x, 8MP ultra-wide
Dimensions	138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3 mm	163.52 × 77.50 × 8.35 mm
Weight	144 g	201 g
Water resistance	IP67	IP64
Supported until	Mar 2029	Mar 2031

iPhone SE (3rd gen) 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.