Okay, this is a review/comparison between the Nothing Phone 3 and the Xiaomi 15T Pro Global Version. I know it’s not a “fair” comparison on paper, but these are the two phones I currently own and use as my daily drivers. And honestly, this might serve as useful feedback for Nothing. If Nothing ever decides to copy other companies by adding adware, well… Xiaomi or Apple would be the first ones to study.
Nothing Phone 3 — My Experience
After 4 months with the Nothing Phone 3, I was genuinely impressed. The fluidity, the clean UI, the overall battery performance—everything felt top-notch. Before the NP3, I owned the Nothing Phone 3a, which actually pulled me away from Samsung’s ecosystem. I dropped my Flip 6 and S24 Ultra for Nothing, and I didn’t look back.
Nothing’s promise of a clean, simple operating system with a unique look is what won me over…
Until the NOS 4 Beta arrived.
Everyone was hyped for the beta launch, and… what a disappointment.
It was full of bugs, poorly optimized, and battery drain was awful—even when the phone wasn’t being used. On top of that, the company remained silent—no clear communication about patches, fixes, or timelines.
And honestly, I think I speak for many when I say:
I shouldn’t need to open a terminal or run ADB commands just to make my phone function properly.
Basic Android features—like independent audio sources for different apps, and many other fundamental functions that other brands have had for YEARS—are simply missing in Nothing OS.
Because of all this, I rolled back to version 3.5, and even then the issues remained.
That’s when I decided to order the Xiaomi 15T Pro.
---
Xiaomi 15T Pro (Global Version) — My Experience
After just one week with the 15T Pro, the difference was obvious.
Even with a 5500 mAh battery, the endurance beat the NP3 easily, and the phone actually entered Deep Sleep according to AccuBattery—something the NP3 struggled with. It didn’t overheat while using hotspot and performing another task at the same time (which I’m literally doing right now while writing this).
The Dimensity 9400 isn’t just better than the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4…
It destroys it.
(Which is why I said this isn’t a “fair” comparison.)
And let’s not forget: the 15T Pro includes every basic Android feature the NP3 is missing—plus an infrared sensor.
Both phones struggle with update timing, though. The Global version of the 15T Pro also receives updates late.
Specs Breakdown — Main Differences
Nothing Phone 3
Battery: 5160 mAh
Cameras: Triple 50MP
Processor: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
Display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 960Hz PWM, HDR10+, 4500 nits peak
Storage: 512GB (UFS 4.0)
Charging: 65W
Xiaomi 15T Pro
Battery: 5500 mAh
Cameras: 50MP + 50MP + 12MP
Processor: Dimensity 9400
Display: AMOLED, 68B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 3200 nits peak
Storage: 1TB (UFS 4.1 — my model)
Charging: 90W
---
Conclusion
I genuinely like both phones. But due to Nothing’s current direction and poor software optimization, I’ve switched to the 15T Pro as my main device.
I’m giving Nothing until the end of the year to change my mind… but to be honest, I’m not very hopeful. They’re not addressing issues reported by users across the board, and the lack of communication makes it feel like the company has stopped caring about its customers.
Meanwhile, Xiaomi prioritizes its local markets (China and the EEA), and even then, I still haven’t been able to reach any team member for questions.
Just a reminder:
Understanding is not the same as accepting, and aesthetics are not the same as optimization.
Let me know your thoughts—especially if you’ve compared your Nothing device with other brands.
