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In a crowded smartphone market, Nothing smartphones have carved out a comfortable niche for enthusiasts who want something unique and compelling from their handy pocket companion.
A Nothing smartphone, whether it is a Phone 2 or the upcoming Phone 3, runs Nothing OS out of the box. It’s a custom skin that doesn’t stray too far from Android — yet is unlike any other custom Android OS.
The company has also started testing the upcoming Nothing OS 3.0, following on from the previous two major iterations: Nothing OS 1.0 and Nothing OS 2.0.
While the software may not be available for download anytime soon, we’ve laid out everything you need to know, from its availability and compatible devices to new features and UI changes.
Key Takeaways
- Nothing OS 3.0 will roll out in December, with an open beta arriving for all Nothing phones before the official release.
- Nothing OS 3.0 brings Android 15 to Nothing phones and new features include a custom photo gallery, revamped lockscreen, and AI-powered app drawer.
- Customizable icons and clocks let users personalize their phone’s interface.
- Join the open beta for early access to Nothing OS 3.0 features.
What is Nothing OS 3.0?
Nothing OS 3.0 is the latest version of the company’s custom operating system, which debuted in 2022 with the Phone 1. While the first version was based on Android 12, this third iteration brings Android 15.
The update will introduce several features exclusive to Nothing phones. Generally, Nothing OS strikes a good balance between customization and a lightweight user experience, and the latest version is likely to follow suit.
You can expect a UI that aligns with previous versions, but includes a few good tweaks and additions. The software will be made available for every Nothing phone in the market, from the new Phone 2a Plus all the way back to the Phone 1.
When is Nothing OS 3.0 Coming To Your Phone?
| Model | Nothing OS 3.0 Beta Availability | General Release |
|---|---|---|
| Phone (2a) | Available now | December 2024 |
| Phone (2) | November 2024 | December 2024 |
| Phone (1) | December 2024 | December 2024 |
| Phone (2a) Plus | December 2024 | December 2024 |
| CMF Phone 1 | December 2024 | December 2024 |
Nothing OS 3.0 is now rolling out in open beta, with a general release promised for December.
The beta update is currently only available for the Phone 2, but it will likely be followed by the Phone 2a. The rollout is right on schedule and even ahead of giants like Samsung, which plans to announce the One UI 7 and Android 15 update in January next year.
Nothing OS 3.0 Features
Nothing OS 3.0 is expected to bring a host of new features on top of those announced by Google for Android 15. We discuss some of the major ones below.
Nothing Gallery
Nothing OS currently doesn’t have a native gallery or photos app for viewing and sharing pictures. You get Google Photos as the default app for this task.
That’s changing with the Nothing OS 3.0, which will introduce a new photo app with Nothing’s design language and faster access from the camera app.
The Nothing Gallery will offer improved transitions between the camera app and gallery, with Nothing claiming up to 1.4 seconds faster speeds. Processing times for complex cases like HDR and portrait effects will also be up to 25% faster.
The company says it has designed the gallery app to align with the rest of the OS. It starts with a simple grid, but you’ll also see easily identifiable key moments throughout your feed, allowing you to quickly find them when scrolling through your photo library.
The gallery app features artificial intelligence image segmentation to highlight key objects and separate them from the rest of the image, making them easier to locate.
Nothing says it will add more AI features to the app in the future, including AI upscaling and super-resolution, which will enhance details when you zoom into an image.
UI Changes
Nothing OS 3 is getting a few tweaks across the UI, with perhaps more to come as Nothing OS 3.0 becomes official.
What might upset some users is that the dotted font has been replaced with a more general sans-serif typography with some customization.
However, the dotted font has now been incorporated into animations, such as those in the fingerprint scanner and weather app. Nothing states that these animations are powered by the “Dot Engine.”
A Revamped Lockscreen
The lockscreen has been completely revamped in Nothing OS 3. Now you can edit features directly by long-pressing to enter edit mode. It also introduces more customization options for clocks and widgets.
These include the regular options we already had, such as the dotted clock, as well as new styles. One clock widget is inspired by the London Underground, featuring a typeface used by some of the older stations in the London Underground.
You’ll also find new widgets, like a countdown widget for important dates and “Shared Widgets” that sync content and sticker reactions between users.
Quick Settings Changes
Nothing OS 3 is bringing full customization of icons in quick settings, allowing users to adjust not only their appearance but also their size, much like the home screen widgets.
Plus, the quick settings menu will now include an auto-brightness toggle directly in the brightness slider.
Smart App Drawer
The Smart App Drawer in Nothing OS 3 uses AI to suggest apps you might want to use. It looks a lot like iOS App Library, making it super easy to find your go-to apps without scrolling through everything.
Plus, if you want, you can pin your favorite apps right at the top of the traditional Android app drawer.
How to Install Nothing OS 3.0
Nothing OS 3.0 is set to drop as an OTA update in December. You won’t be able to download it just yet, but once the update is available for your phone, you can install it by going to Settings > Software Updates.
If you don’t want to wait until December, you can join the ongoing Nothing OS 3.0 open beta program for the Phone 2a. The second stage of the beta program starts in November, and you can sign up for that if you have a Phone 2.
To participate in the beta program, make sure your Nothing Phone 2a is running Nothing OS 2.6 with the build number Pacman-U2.6-240828_1906.
Then, download the official APK from the Nothing OS 3.0 beta download page. Once downloaded, navigate to Settings > System > and select Update to Beta version.
The Bottom Line
Nothing OS 3.0 appears to be a decent update. It addresses the issues users faced with previous versions, such as the lack of a gallery app.
Plus, it also introduces new UI changes, a bunch of AI features, and lockscreen customizations.
We commend Nothing for bringing Android 15 to all of its models — current and previous models alike — in a more timely fashion than most of the larger manufacturers.
FAQs
When will Nothing OS 3.0 release?
What are the new features of Nothing OS 3.0?
Which Nothing phones will get the Nothing OS 3.0 update?
How do I join the Nothing OS 3.0 beta program?
References
- Nothing OS 3.0 | Open Beta 1 for Phone (2a) – Nothing Community (Nothing Community)
