Nothing’s Phone (3a): Camera Improvements Unveiled, but a Video Comparison Slip-Up Surfaces
In a recent video showcasing its upcoming Phone (3a) series, Nothing spotlighted the significant camera advancements. However, an astute observer may have noticed a subtle slip-up in the video quality comparison with the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Nothing’s Camera Teaser Video: A Comprehensive Preview
Nothing’s video teaser for the Phone (3a) series provides an in-depth look at the enhanced camera capabilities, juxtaposing them with Apple’s latest iPhone. The comparison reveals impressive performance overall, with Nothing’s offerings outshining the iPhone in the video department.
Video Comparison: A Surprising Revelation
Historically, Apple’s iPhones have excelled in video quality compared to Android devices. Consequently, it raised eyebrows when the Phone (3a)’s video clip appeared superior to the iPhone’s. The comparison occurs around the 5-minute mark in the video.
The Slip-Up: iPhone’s Ultrawide Lens Usage
After further scrutiny, it became apparent that the apparent disparity was not due to superior camera quality but rather a slip-up that diminished the iPhone’s video prowess.
Eagle-eyed viewers (and Nothing’s own community members) pointed out that the iPhone was capturing its video footage with its ultrawide lens, while Nothing’s Phone (3a) series device utilized a standard lens. While this distinction may not be readily discernible in the brief video clips shared, Nothing’s subsequent release of full samples confirmed the iPhone’s use of the ultrawide lens.
Why the Ultrawide Lens Matters
The ultrawide lens found on iPhones is generally considered inferior for video quality, resulting in shaky, noisy footage as seen in the camera comparison. In the video, Nothing acknowledges lowering the iPhone’s settings to 4K30 to match the Phone (3a), but fails to address the differing video quality.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Revealing the Differences
To illustrate the stark contrast, four side-by-side comparisons from the video are presented below:
Image 1: Focus on the sign between the two columns. The columns appear significantly farther apart in the iPhone video, indicating the use of the ultrawide lens.
Image 2: The same widening effect is visible in this image, further supporting the ultrawide lens theory.
Image 3: As the biker exits the tunnel, the iPhone video captures a wider field of view, with the exit sign farther removed from the column.
Image 4: The distance disparity between the pink bus in the two shots is particularly noticeable, with the iPhone’s shot revealing a much greater distance.
An Unfortunate Oversight
The use of the ultrawide lens represents an unfortunate oversight in the video comparison. While Nothing’s mid-range Phone (3a) should not be directly compared to a high-end iPhone, a fair video comparison would have been more informative.
The Phone (3a): A Promising Release
Despite the video comparison slip-up, the Nothing Phone (3a) series remains a promising upcoming release. Teasers have hinted at the addition of a telephoto lens, an upgrade to Snapdragon processors, and various other advancements. The full release is scheduled for March.
