In India’s increasingly homogenous mid-range smartphone segment, Nothing’s Phone (4b) stands out with the longest software support, signalling a shift towards software longevity as a key differentiator amid similar specifications and pricing.
The mid-range smartphone market in India is narrowing around a familiar price band, with brands trying to differentiate through battery size, display quality and silicon rather than radical design changes. In this field, the Realme P4s 5G, iQOO Z11 and Nothing Phone (4b) are pitched at roughly the same level, but they pursue different buyers: Realme leans into endurance, iQOO into a more rounded hardware package, and Nothing into software and industrial design.
According to Gadgets 360’s comparison, the Realme P4s 5G starts at Rs. 34,999 for the 8GB and 128GB model, rising to Rs. 41,999 for the 12GB and 256GB variant. The iQOO Z11 also opens at Rs. 34,999, though its base trim uses 6GB of RAM, and the top model reaches Rs. 49,999. Nothing’s Phone (4b) again begins at Rs. 34,999, with a maximum price of Rs. 38,999 for the 8GB and 256GB configuration. On paper, that leaves the Nothing phone as the cheapest path to 256GB storage, while iQOO asks the most for its highest-spec version.
The display and software choices follow the same pattern of distinct priorities. Gadgets 360 says the Realme model carries a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and Realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16, with three years of OS upgrades and four years of security patches. The iQOO Z11 is listed there with a 6.83-inch 1.5K curved AMOLED screen, also at 144Hz, plus OriginOS 6 on Android 16 and five years of security updates. Nothing’s handset takes a different route, using a 6.77-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display at up to 120Hz, paired with Nothing OS 4.1 on Android 16 and six years of security support. That makes it the longest-supported device of the three in security terms.
Battery and performance are where the most important trade-offs emerge. Gadgets 360 describes the Realme P4s 5G as using MediaTek’s Dimensity 7400 Ultra with up to 12GB of RAM, an 8,000mAh battery and 80W wired charging. It places the iQOO Z11 on the Dimensity 7500 Turbo with a 7,050mAh battery and 44W charging, while the Nothing Phone (4b) is said to run Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 with a 6,000mAh battery, 33W charging and 7.5W reverse charging. However, separate launch coverage from Gadgets 360 and FoneArena on the iQOO Z11 gives a different specification set, citing a 165Hz display, Dimensity 8500 chip, a 9,020mAh battery, 90W charging and IP68/IP69 resistance. That suggests the iQOO device may exist in more than one market configuration, or that later reporting has superseded the comparison table.
Cameras and form factor complete the picture. Gadgets 360 says the Realme P4s 5G and iQOO Z11 both use dual rear cameras built around a 50-megapixel main sensor and an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, with the iQOO gaining a 32-megapixel selfie camera versus Realme’s 16-megapixel unit. Nothing’s Phone (4b) follows the same dual-camera formula, pairing a 50-megapixel main sensor with an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 16-megapixel front camera. On balance, the Realme is the obvious pick for battery life and fast charging, the Nothing phone is the choice for buyers who value design and longer software support, and the iQOO remains the hardest to pin down because the published specifications do not fully agree.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
