It is not uncommon for smartphone makers to compare the camera on their phones to the premium devices from Google, Samsung and especially Apple. However, Carl Pei-led Nothing has taken things a little further by releasing a video comparing the camera shots of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the unreleased Nothing Phone 3a.
In the video, posted on Nothing’s YouTube channel, two Nothing staff members take the Phone 3a and iPhone 16 Pro Max outdoors to test their camera systems in different environments and modes, including low-light conditions, macro shots, telephoto shots and 4K video recording.
Thankfully, Nothing hasn’t made any outlandish claims that its sub- ₹30,000 smartphone has better cameras than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, but the company officials can be heard comparing the shots from both phones and saying they look equally good.
iPhone 16 Pro Max vs Nothing Phone 3a: Did Nothing fake the camera comparison?
In its comparison video, Nothing showed the 4k 30fps output of both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Nothing Phone 3a, with the Nothing device’s footage looking better than the iPhone’s and offering superior stabilisation. Soon afterwards, however, some users on social media pointed out that the iPhone 16 Pro Max footage looked like it had been shot from the ultra-wide angle lens, while the Nothing video appeared to have been shot from the primary lens.
Following complaints from users, Nothing has admitted its ‘mistake’ in using the ultra-wide lens footage instead of the standard lens. The company claims there was no ‘intention to mislead’ and that it will be more responsible in the future.
Pinning a comment on the YouTube video, the Nothing team wrote: “Hey everyone, we shot across all lenses throughout the day (sometimes cycling one-handed on a bumpy road), and in editing, a clip shot using the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s ultrawide lens was mistakenly used in the video stabilisation comparison instead of one shot using its standard lens. There was no intent to mislead, and we’ll be more careful to ensure even greater scrutiny in future comparisons. Appreciate you all keeping us accountable!”
Notably, the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro are all set to make their debut globally on 4 March. Ahead of the official debut, the company has been trying to maintain hype around its new devices by teasing its processor brand and some design elements.
