Epic Battery Test: Realme P3 Ultra vs Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs OnePlus 12R vs OnePlus Nord 4 , Urdu Wirsa

The sub-Rs 30,000 segment in India is getting super exciting with the newly launched Realme P3 Ultra and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. The OnePlus 12R and the OnePlus Nord 4 are now available at their lowest prices, marking a direct competition. We decided to pit all four devices against each other in our Epic Battery Test to find out which phone offers the best battery life for gaming and other performance-centric tasks. Let’s dive in.

Our Testing Methodology

We charged each phone to a full 100% and let it cool down to room temperature. Every device was running on the latest stable software version available respectively to ensure a fair comparison. We conducted six different tests to analyse the battery drain while watching videos, benchmark testing, gaming, camera, and social media scrolling, along with idle power drain, and set a common timer. Before and after each test, we recorded the remaining battery percentage on each device to draw the final conclusion.

Before we get started with the testing, here’s a quick look at the battery capacity of all four devices:

Video Streaming and Speaker Test

To test the battery drain in video streaming, we played a 2 hour long YouTube video on each device. The speaker volume was set to 100% and the brightness was adjusted to 70%, a level that is comfortable to the eyes in indoor conditions.

All devices in this comparison feature an OLED screen. The Realme P3 Ultra, OnePlus Nord 4, and OnePlus 12R have a 1.5K resolution, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro has a Full HD+ resolution. The refresh rate is 120Hz in common.

The bezels are slightly thicker on the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, while the other devices have identical slim bezels. The Realme P3 Ultra has a quad-curved design which adds a more premium feel, while the rest three have a flat display. Each device produced excellent colours with ample contrast, offering a seamless viewing experience.

After streaming the same YouTube video for 2 hours, the OnePlus 12R showed the least battery drain and was left with a 95% charge. The Realme P3 Ultra and OnePlus Nord 4 were at 90% and 91% respectively. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro showed the highest battery drain as it only had 86% charge. The lower battery capacity on the Nothing had started to lag behind in the first round itself.

Performance Test

The objective of this test was to measure the endurance of the phone when kept under peak load for an extended duration. We conducted one round of Geekbench, AnTuTu, and 3DMark Wildlife Test. Here are the benchmark results of each phone:

In terms of power consumption, the Realme P3 Ultra consumed the highest amount of power in the performance test and was left with just 68% battery. The OnePlus 12R and OnePlus Nord 4 were at 74% and 72%. Impressively, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro consumed the least battery and ended the test with 73%.

However, it is important to note that the other three devices have more powerful chipsets that consume more power, which helped the Phone (3a) Pro achieve these results.

Idle Power Drain

After completing the performance test, we set aside all devices for 16 hours to check the idle power drain. Here’s how the results were:

The OnePlus 12R maintains its lead with 70%, followed by the Nord 4 at 69% and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro at 68%. The Realme P3 Ultra was left with a 65% battery.

If we calculate as per battery capacity, the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro had the highest idle power drain, while the Nord 4 consumed the least battery on standby mode.

Camera Test

For testing the battery drain while using the camera, we recorded a 2-hour long video in 4K resolution of each device. The Realme P3 Ultra, OnePlus 12R, and Nord 4 were set to 4K 60fps, but the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro was limited to 4K 30fps as that’s the maximum setting supported by the device.

The camera test consumed the highest amount of battery in our testing so far. The OnePlus 12R saw the biggest drain and was down to just 23%, while the Realme P3 Ultra went down to 27%. The OnePlus Nord 4 and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro used less power and were left with 34% and 30% battery respectively.

Gaming Test

This is the ultimate test as all of these devices have superior gaming potential considering the powerful processors. We played BGMI for 30 minutes, which is enough time to complete one classic match.

The Realme P3 Ultra, OnePlus 12R, and OnePlus Nord 4 were set to Smooth + Extreme+ 90fps, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro was at Smooth + Extreme 60 fps. These are the highest settings supported by each device.

After completing the gaming test, the OnePlus 12R was left with just 14%. The Realme P3 Ultra was at 20%, Nothing Phone (3a) Pro at 23%, and the OnePlus Nord 4 at 25%.

In terms of power consumption, the OnePlus 12R and Nord 4 consumed the highest amount of power, shortly followed by the Realme P3 Ultra. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro used less battery, but again, it was limited to 60fps instead of 90fps.

Social Media Test

Since binge-watching vertical videos has become more popular than ever, we streamed YouTube Shorts for 30 minutes on each phone.

The OnePlus 12R entered the single-digit range with just 9% battery. The other three devices were holding up decent as the Realme P3 Ultra was at 16%, and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro and Nord 4 both were left with a 20% charge.

Battery Drain: Conclusion

After completing each test, we repeated Geekbench, AnTuTu, and 3DMark benchmarking until each phone drained its battery to 0%. Here are the final results of MySmartPrice Epic Battery Test:

The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro wins the Epic Battery Test with a margin of 27 minutes. The OnePlus 4 and Realme P3 Ultra also faired well securing the second and third spots. The OnePlus 12R lagged by an entire hour.

If you look closely, the device with the most powerful processor drained first, and vice-versa. In simple words, the bigger the engine, the more fuel it will consume.

So if you want a device that provides the highest battery backup with the least power drain, then the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro should be your choice. If you want a balance of both high performance and decent battery, then the OnePlus Nord 4 and Realme P3 Ultra are good options to consider. But if you want the best performance, and you are fine with a small compromise in battery life, then the OnePlus 12R will prove a good fit.

Charging Test

We also conducted a charging test after draining each device to 0%. Every phone was charged using the respective fast charger that comes bundled. Here’s the time taken by each phone for a full 100% charge:

The OnePlus Nord 4 has the fastest charging speed, and it completes a full charge in almost half an hour. Despite having the same battery size and charging speeds, the OnePlus 12R took 20 minutes longer. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro has slower charging speeds, resulting in an hour-long time. The Realme P3 Ultra also takes over an hour, but it’s fair considering it has a larger battery.

Verdict: Which Phone Offers Best Battery Life Under Rs 30,000?

This can be a confusing choice to make, considering that each device has its own advantages, but equally withholding cons. Let’s simplify the facts based on our thorough testing to make the decision easier for you.