Phone (3a) Pro vs 12 Pro+

Phone 1

Phone 2

Winner

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

Lifespan decides this one: the Phone (3a) Pro is supported until Mar 2031 at $7.57 per month of safe use, while the 12 Pro+ runs out in Jan 2028 ($15.35/month). On a which-lasts-longer question, that's not a tie — it's the whole answer.

Value Score: Phone (3a) Pro 71 · 12 Pro+ 63 — methodology

The lifespan decider

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

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro $429

Safe to buy$7.57/mo

2025◆ Buy-by Mar 20292031

Realme 12 Pro+ $300

Buy with care$15.35/mo

2024◆ Buy-by Jan 20262028

Category by category

Display

Phone (3a) Pro 8012 Pro+ 70

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

Performance

Phone (3a) Pro 6412 Pro+ 56

The Phone (3a) Pro's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is simply the faster chip.

Camera

Phone (3a) Pro 7912 Pro+ 79

Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.

Battery

Phone (3a) Pro 8012 Pro+ 80

Battery capacities are close enough not to decide this.

Software longevity

Phone (3a) Pro 6712 Pro+ 23

The Phone (3a) Pro is supported until Mar 2031 — 37 months longer than the 12 Pro+.

Value

Phone (3a) Pro 7112 Pro+ 63

Overall value goes to the Phone (3a) Pro at $7.57 per month of safe use.

Full spec table

Spec	Phone (3a) Pro	12 Pro+
Price (street)	$429	$300
Display	6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak	6.7-inch curved AMOLED, 2412x1080, 120Hz
Chipset	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
RAM	12GB	8GB/12GB
Storage	256GB	128GB/256GB/512GB
Battery	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Charging	50W wired, no wireless	67W wired
Rear cameras	50MP main, 50MP periscope telephoto 3x, 8MP ultra-wide	50MP main, 64MP telephoto 3x periscope, 8MP ultra-wide
Dimensions	163.52 × 77.50 × 8.39 mm	161.5 × 74.0 × 8.8 mm
Weight	211 g	196 g
Water resistance	IP64	IP65
Supported until	Mar 2031	Jan 2028

Phone (3a) Pro full verdict →12 Pro+ 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.