The smartphone market under ₹25,000 in India is always buzzing with exciting options, and 2025 is no different. Last year, the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and Nothing Phone 2a were massive hits, flying off the shelves due to their impressive features and value for money. This year, their successors, the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion and Nothing Phone 3a, are here to continue the legacy. Both phones promise premium features, great performance, and unique designs, but which one is the better choice for you? In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down their design, display, performance, cameras, battery, software, and more to help you decide. Let’s dive into this epic showdown and find out which phone deserves your hard-earned money!
Design: Premium Look vs Playful Style
When it comes to design, both the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion and Nothing Phone 3a bring something unique to the table. The Edge 60 Fusion feels more premium with its vegan leather back and an all-curved design. This gives it a sleek, sophisticated look that’s comfortable to hold. It’s also slimmer and lighter than the Nothing Phone 3a, making it easier to carry around. The phone comes with Gorilla Glass 7i for better scratch resistance and boasts an impressive IP68 and IP69 rating, meaning it’s dustproof and can handle water submersion like a champ.
On the other hand, the Nothing Phone 3a sticks to its signature transparent glass back with the iconic Glyph Lighting. This playful design is a head-turner, especially for younger users who love a futuristic vibe. However, it has a boxy shape and is slightly heavier due to the glass back. The phone uses Panda Glass for protection and has an IP64 rating, which offers basic splash resistance but isn’t as robust as Motorola’s offering. The Nothing Phone 3a also introduces an Essential Key, a customizable button that’s handy but needs more refinement to feel truly useful.
Verdict: The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion wins here for its premium feel, better water resistance, and lighter build. However, if you love a bold, unique design, the Nothing Phone 3a’s Glyph Lighting might steal your heart.
Display: Curved Elegance or Flat Practicality?
The display is a crucial factor when choosing a smartphone, and both phones deliver solid panels with slight differences. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion sports a 6.7-inch 1.5K pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Its all-curved design (33.5° at the top/bottom and 45° on the sides) looks premium and immersive, especially for videos and gaming. The higher resolution (1.5K vs Full HD+) and Pantone color validation ensure vibrant, accurate colors. It also supports HDR10+ and has a peak brightness that performs well outdoors. However, some users might not like the curved edges due to accidental touches, though Motorola’s palm rejection tuning minimizes this issue.
The Nothing Phone 3a, in contrast, has a slightly larger 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Its flat panel is more practical for everyday use, avoiding the ghost touch issues sometimes associated with curved screens. The display is bright and color-accurate, but it lacks the higher resolution and HDR finesse of the Motorola. Both phones support LHDC and LDAC audio codecs for high-quality wireless audio and have in-display fingerprint scanners that are fast and reliable.
Verdict: The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion takes the lead with its higher resolution and premium curved display, but the Nothing Phone 3a’s flat panel is a safer choice for those who prioritize practicality.
Performance: Powerhouse or Balanced?
Performance is where things get interesting. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, paired with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage. It comes in 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB variants, offering more storage for the price. In benchmarks like AnTuTu and Geekbench, the Edge 60 Fusion scores higher, and its storage write speeds are faster, indicating better optimization. However, it throttles performance slightly to keep temperatures in check, which means it doesn’t get as hot during intense tasks.
The Nothing Phone 3a runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, also with LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, but it’s limited to 8GB+128GB in this price range. Its GPU performance is stronger, making it a better pick for gaming. In titles like BGMI, the Nothing Phone 3a achieves 90 FPS, while the Edge 60 Fusion caps at 60 FPS. The Nothing Phone 3a also has NFC support, which is missing on the Motorola, a slight disappointment for contactless payment users.
Both phones handle daily tasks smoothly, support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4, and deliver similar battery efficiency during gaming. However, the Nothing Phone 3a’s GPU edge gives it a slight advantage for gamers.
Verdict: The Nothing Phone 3a is better for gaming and NFC users, but the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion offers more storage and better thermal management for all-around use.
Camera: Color Accuracy vs Zoom Versatility
Cameras are a big deal in this segment, and both phones bring capable setups. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion features a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide (which doubles as a macro lens), and a 32MP selfie camera. It also includes a 3-in-1 light sensor for real-time exposure adjustments, especially in low light. Thanks to its Pantone collaboration, the Edge 60 Fusion delivers color-accurate photos, especially for skin tones and vibrant objects like food. Its ultra-wide camera captures sharper details, and it supports 4K 30 FPS video recording on both the main and selfie cameras, with better stabilization and HDR.
The Nothing Phone 3a, however, has a more versatile setup with a 50MP main camera, a 50MP 2x telephoto lens, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 32MP selfie camera. The telephoto lens is a game-changer, offering better zoom performance at 2x, 5x, and even 10x. It also excels in portrait shots, with more natural edge detection and bokeh. However, its color tuning can be inconsistent, sometimes producing orangey tones. The Nothing Phone 3a is limited to 1080p 30 FPS for ultra-wide videos and 1080p 60 FPS for selfies, which is a step behind Motorola.
Verdict: The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is the better all-rounder for color accuracy, ultra-wide shots, and video recording. The Nothing Phone 3a shines for zoom and portrait photography.
Battery and Charging: Endurance and Convenience
Battery life is critical, and both phones perform well here. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion houses a 5500mAh battery, which is larger than the Nothing Phone 3a’s 5000mAh. Both offer similar screen-on time, around 8 to 8.5 hours, depending on usage. However, Motorola has a clear edge in charging. It includes a 68W GaN charger in the box, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 50 minutes. This charger is versatile enough to power other devices like a MacBook Air.
The Nothing Phone 3a supports 50W USB PD PPS charging, but you’ll need to buy a compatible charger separately, and it takes around 56 minutes to fully charge. This added hassle and cost give Motorola a significant advantage.
Verdict: The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion wins for its larger battery, faster charging, and included charger.
Software: Clean and Feature-Packed
Both phones offer clean, bloatware-free software experiences, which is a big plus. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion runs Hello UI based on Android 15, with 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. It includes Motorola staples like Moto Gestures, Ready For, and Family Space, plus new Moto AI features. The Prompt Bar (activated by double-tapping the power button) offers tools like notification summaries, voice note transcription, memory saving, and Magic Canvas for AI-generated images. However, the UI can stutter occasionally, which Motorola needs to address.
The Nothing Phone 3a runs Nothing OS 3.1 on Android 15, also promising 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. Its design is more cohesive, with beautiful widgets (including quick settings) and smooth animations. The Essential Key allows quick access to features like voice recording and memory saving, but it’s less feature-rich than Motorola’s AI suite. Nothing OS feels slightly more polished with fewer stutters.
Verdict: Motorola offers more AI-driven features, but Nothing OS 3.1 is smoother and visually appealing.
Specification Comparison
| Feature | Motorola Edge 60 Fusion | Nothing Phone 3a |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch 1.5K pOLED, 120Hz, Curved | 6.77-inch Full HD+ AMOLED, 120Hz, Flat |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 7400 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM/Storage | 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB | 8GB+128GB |
| Main Camera | 50MP (Main), 13MP (Ultra-wide/Macro) | 50MP (Main), 50MP (2x Telephoto), 8MP (Ultra-wide) |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP | 32MP |
| Battery | 5500mAh | 5000mAh |
| Charging | 68W | 50W (Charger not included) |
| OS | Hello UI (Android 15) | Nothing OS 3.1 (Android 15) |
| Price | ₹22,999 (8GB+256GB) | ₹24,999 (8GB+128GB) |
| IP Rating | IP68, IP69 | IP64 |
| Build | Vegan Leather, Gorilla Glass 7i | Glass Back, Panda Glass |
Price and Availability
The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is priced at ₹22,999 for the 8GB+256GB variant, making it more affordable than the Nothing Phone 3a, which costs ₹24,999 for the 8GB+128GB model. Both phones are available on major platforms like Flipkart and Amazon, with festive discounts potentially lowering the price in 2025.
Should You Buy the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion or Nothing Phone 3a?
So, which phone should you pick? The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is the better all-rounder for most users. It offers a premium design, a larger battery, faster charging with an included charger, a refined camera system, and more storage for a lower price. Its IP68/IP69 rating and Pantone-tuned display make it a great choice for those who value durability and color accuracy. If you want a phone that feels complete and value-driven, the Edge 60 Fusion is hard to beat.
The Nothing Phone 3a, however, is ideal for gamers and photography enthusiasts. Its Snapdragon chipset delivers better gaming performance, and the 50MP telephoto lens is a standout for zoom and portrait shots. The unique Glyph design and polished Nothing OS 3.1 appeal to those who want a stylish, modern experience. If you’re willing to spend a bit more and don’t mind buying a charger, the Nothing Phone 3a is a strong contender.
Final Verdict: If budget and overall value matter most, go for the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion. If gaming, zoom photography, and a bold design are your priorities, pick the Nothing Phone 3a. Both are excellent choices under ₹25,000, so you can’t go wrong either way!
What’s your pick? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends to help them choose their next smartphone!
