Vivo V70 Elite vs Nothing Phone 3: Which Smartphone Are You Buying On A 50K Budget in India?

The Vivo V70 Elite is now available for purchase in India. The first ‘Elite’ smartphone to grace Vivo’s V series arrives with versatile cameras, reliable performance, excellent battery life, and a vibrant display. However, it isn’t the only value-added smartphone in and around India’s 50K segment.

While the Nothing Phone 3 fetches a starting price of Rs 79,999, it is usually available at a discount of Rs 30,000 on Flipkart. Given its current pricing, the Nothing Phone 3 is the ideal competitor to take on the newly launched Vivo V70 Elite. So let’s find out which one comes out on top in this full comparison.

Vivo V70 Elite vs Nothing Phone 3: Comparison

Design & Build

We’ve always believed design is subjective, but that’s not the case in this instance. The Nothing Phone 3 isn’t for the fainthearted with its transparent back panel, asymmetrical camera layout, monochrome display, and unconventional button layout. On the other hand, Vivo’s form factor is rather conventional, opting for a stylish yet minimalist design.

While the Phone 3’s design choices are questionable, the same can’t be said about its build quality, opting for Gorilla Glass 7i on the front and Gorilla Glass Victus on the back as well as an aluminum frame. Even though the Nothing Phone 3’s build quality is not on the same level as most flagships, it is among the best in the sub-50K segment.

The Vivo V70 Elite uses Schott Xensation Core glass on the front and an aluminum frame. Additionally, there’s unnamed glass protection on the back, although you can also opt for fiber-reinforced plastic. Both phones offer an IP68 rating for protection against dust and water, although the V70 Elite’s IP69 rating also gives it water resistance against high-pressure jets.

Display

Both the Vivo V70 Elite and Nothing Phone (3) are equipped with vibrant 1.5K AMOLED displays with smooth 120Hz refresh rates. The differences in the screens are few and far between, although the V70 Elite’s display is slightly brighter with slimmer bezels. Finally, the audio quality on the dual speakers of the Phone (3) is marginally better than those on the V70 Elite.

Performance

Nothing has an edge in terms of performance as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip is a successor to the older Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip on the V70 Elite, making it faster in terms of both CPU and GPU performance. Additionally, the base variant of the Nothing Phone 3 also comes with 12GB of RAM as opposed to 8 on the V70 Elite. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC can deliver up to 31% better CPU and 49% better GPU performance over its predecessor.

Moreover, the newer Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip also gains an advantage in AI performance and reaps the benefits of the flagship-level gaming features of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a focused refinement rather than a true generational upgrade, delivering its value through stronger AI performance, modest gaming improvements, and slightly enhanced connectivity over the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip.

Battery

The Vivo V70 Elite has a clear edge in the battery department, with a nearly 20% larger cell. Moreover, the V70 Elite also supports faster charging and includes an adapter in the box, giving it a major advantage in this area. On the flip side, the Nothing Phone 3 does offer 15W wireless and 7.5W reverse wireless charging support.

Software

This is one area where the Nothing Phone 3 clearly pulls ahead. Nothing OS offers a cleaner, more refined Android experience with minimal bloatware, thoughtful customisation options, and a strong focus on fluid animations and usability. More importantly, the Phone 3 promises an impressive six years of OS updates (Launched with Android 15) and six years of security patches, giving it a significant longevity advantage in this segment.

Vivo’s OriginOS on the V70 Elite has improved over the years, adding useful features and better optimisation, but it still comes with pre-installed apps that slightly dilute the experience. While Vivo guarantees four OS updates and six years of security updates, Nothing’s longer software support and cleaner interface give it a decisive edge here.

Cameras

For optics, the Nothing Phone 3 opts for three 50MP cameras on the back, including a 50MP OmniVision OV50H primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, OIS and a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN5 telephoto-periscope unit with OIS and an f/1.7 aperture. The Nothing Phone 3 also boasts a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 ultrawide lens and the same sensor for the selfie camera.

The Vivo V70 Elite also boasts a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor with OIS and an f/1.9 aperture and a 50MP Sony IMX882 periscope telephoto shooter with OIS and an f/2.7 aperture. However, it does get a downgraded 8MP selfie camera and a 50MP selfie camera with autofocus.

While the Nothing Phone 3 delivers greater uniformity with 50MP sensors across all cameras and consistent output, the Vivo V70 Elite offers more in terms of camera features and creativity. Vivo’s rich set of shooting modes, unique portrait styles, and its ZEISS collaboration make the camera experience more exciting and expressive, especially for portrait photography. Although the front camera hardware is weaker on paper, Vivo’s tuning and features help balance things out.

Finally, Nothing prioritises consistency, but for camera enthusiasts who value versatility, portrait modes, and imaging character, the Vivo V70 Elite is the better choice.

Vivo V70 Elite vs Nothing Phone 3: Conclusion

At around the ₹50K mark, both phones cater to slightly different priorities. The Nothing Phone 3, now effectively priced at ₹49,999, offers better raw performance, a cleaner software experience, longer OS support, and more uniform camera hardware, making it a great choice for users who value longevity, smooth performance, and minimalism. The Vivo V70 Elite, priced at ₹51,999, counters with superior battery life, faster charging with an in-box adapter, a brighter display, stronger durability ratings, and a more feature-rich camera system bolstered by ZEISS tuning.

Ultimately, the Nothing Phone 3 is the smarter all-rounder, while the Vivo V70 Elite is better suited for users who prioritise cameras and a more traditional smartphone.