Nothing Phone 3 vs Pixel 10 NZ

Two of the more interesting non-Samsung Android phones on NZ shelves right now — one built around design and a unique glyph interface, the other around Google's camera and AI software.

The pitch for each phone

The Nothing Phone (3) is for people bored of every Android phone looking the same — a transparent-inspired design, the signature rear Glyph lighting, and a clean near-stock Nothing OS. The Google Pixel 10 is for people who want the best computational photography on Android and the longest guaranteed software update runway of any non-Samsung phone.

NZ pricing

The Nothing Phone (3) typically sells for $1,099-$1,199 in NZ depending on storage, available through JB Hi-Fi, Noel Leeming and directly via Nothing's NZ web store. The Pixel 10 starts around $1,299 at JB Hi-Fi and through Google's own NZ store, with the Pixel 10 Pro pushing past $1,799 for higher storage tiers.

Camera comparison

Pixel remains the benchmark here — Google's computational HDR, Magic Eraser and Best Take features are a generation ahead of most competitors for casual photography, especially in mixed indoor lighting typical of NZ winter evenings. Nothing Phone (3)'s cameras have improved significantly over earlier Nothing models and are genuinely good in daylight, but low-light detail and portrait mode edge detection still trail the Pixel noticeably.

Software and updates

• Pixel 10: 7 years of OS and security updates guaranteed by Google, plus first access to new Gemini AI features
• Nothing Phone (3): 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches, with a distinctive but lighter Nothing OS skin
• Pixel's Gemini integration is deeper system-wide, including call screening features tuned for robocall-heavy markets
• Nothing OS is closer to stock Android with fewer pre-installed extras

Design and everyday feel

Nothing's glyph lighting and transparent back panel are a genuine talking point and the phone feels distinct in the hand compared to the fairly conservative Pixel design language. If you want your phone to look like nothing else on the bus, Nothing wins outright; if you'd rather it just disappear into your pocket and take great photos, Pixel is the more sensible pick.

Battery and performance

Both phones comfortably handle a full day of typical use, with the Pixel 10 slightly ahead on sustained gaming performance thanks to Google's latest Tensor chip, while Nothing's Snapdragon-based chipset runs a touch cooler under sustained load. Neither phone is a standout for multi-day battery life compared to larger-battery rivals from Samsung.

Which to buy

Choose the Pixel 10 if camera quality and long-term software support matter most and you don't mind paying a premium. Choose the Nothing Phone (3) if you want a genuinely different design at a lower price point and are comfortable with a shorter (but still solid) update window.