Nothing
Nothing Phone (2) Performance After September Nothing OS 2.6 Update
The recent update Nothing OS 2.6, launched in September for Nothing Phone (2), has turned the interest of active users to whether it is performing better than its earlier version. Detailed review and tests unveiled quite a lot of improvements and modifications of the work of this smartphone.
The UI and system stability were the top things focused on in Nothing OS 2.6, but it was the performance adjustments that really seemed to catch tech-savvy people’s attention. One of the most disappointing things for the users anticipating some photographic improvements was surely related to no camera setup changes after this update.
Performance Benchmarks
Performance tests show subtle yet striking improvements. Scores in Geekbench after the update are: Single-core-1700, multi-core-4390. Comparing these with some previous benchmark results – 1701 for single-core and 4487 for multi-core, it may be concluded that performance remains largely identical, though multi-core results are slightly lower.
GPU and Gaming
The update has tended to improve the performances of GPU tests. In comparison, the fresh new updated scores were increased, showing a better score against the previous benchmark of the device. It simply means that graphics rendering and gaming have become better. In the Wild Life Extreme Test, it gave a stability score of 78, competitive yet still below the power that comes in some other high-end devices.
System Throttling and Heat Management
One of the critical areas tested was the CPU Throttling Test, which monitors performance under prolonged stress to simulate intense gaming or heavy application use. The test showed that the CPU maintains up to 75% of its max performance after the update-a slight improvement over previous scores. This hints at improved heat management and sustained performance under load, important for users who put great demands on their devices.
Beyond the numbers, though, the general user experience has improved: system animations are snappier, responsiveness is better, and interaction speeds are higher. This is an update that seemingly optimized the performance better to use the hardware in a better manner, hence making things pretty smooth across various applications and other tasks.
While the performance metrics have improved with the September Nothing OS 2.6 update for the Nothing Phone, it has retained some solid system stability with minor tuning in the UI and its responsiveness. The Nothing OS update might not have been a game-changer, but the gradual improvements promise to create a better user experience, making sure this Nothing Phone stays up to date in the ever-competitive market.
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Nothing Phone and CMF users now have a new way to keep track of software updates. Nothing Firmware, an Android app developed by TechiBoy Studios, is now available on Google Play.
The app brings firmware update tracking, changelogs, Nothing OS OTA package downloads, and information on Nothing app updates into one place. It is designed for users who want to stay informed about the latest software releases for their devices.
What Is the Nothing Firmware App?
Nothing Firmware is an independent app built to help Nothing Phone and CMF users follow firmware releases without having to search across multiple sources.
Users can check available firmware updates, read changelogs to understand what’s changed, and download OTA packages through the app. It also tracks Nothing app updates and provides direct links to their Google Play listings.
Nothing Firmware App Features
The app includes several features designed to make software update tracking easier.
- Firmware tracking: Follow firmware releases for Nothing Phone and CMF devices.
- Detailed changelogs: Check update details and learn about new features, improvements, and bug fixes.
- OTA downloads: Download firmware packages with progress tracking.
- Update notifications: Receive alerts when new firmware releases are available.
- Nothing app updates: Track Nothing app releases and open their Google Play listings directly.
- Home screen widget: View the latest firmware information from the home screen.
- Custom alerts: Choose notification sounds and enable voice announcements for update alerts.
- Theme options: Switch between Auto, Light, and true-black Dark themes.
- Device information: Check device details, build numbers, and security patch information.
The app also includes a warning for firmware packages that do not match the detected device, helping users avoid selecting an incorrect package.
Is Nothing Firmware an Official Nothing App?
No. Nothing Firmware is an independent community project developed by TechiBoy Studios. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Nothing Technology Limited or CMF by Nothing.
How to Download Nothing Firmware
Nothing Firmware is available on Google Play. Users can download it to keep track of firmware updates, read changelogs, and follow Nothing app releases.
Download: Nothing Firmware on Google Play
If you’re already running an incremental build of Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta, you can’t directly roll back to the stable version through a regular incremental OTA update. Nothing Firmware currently provides stable incremental updates only. Once Nothing releases the Nothing OS 5.0 stable update for your device, it will appear in the app when available. Until then, you may need to follow Nothing’s official rollback instructions if you want to return to a stable build.
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Nothing has teased another Pokémon on its official X account and Nothing Community, hinting that a new product could be on the way. This time, the company has shared Kingdra, Pokémon #230 in the National Pokédex.
Kingdra is a Water/Dragon-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II. The teaser features the Pokémon alongside a cryptic description about sleeping deep on the ocean floor to build energy and causing tornadoes when it wakes up.
What Could Nothing Be Launching Next?
Nothing has not revealed which product the new Pokémon teaser refers to. However, the company has previously used Pokémon-themed teasers to build anticipation for upcoming devices, making this latest post worth watching.
An audio product, such as new Nothing Ear earbuds or headphones, could be one possibility. A new smartphone or another product category cannot be ruled out either.
For now, the product name, specifications, pricing and launch date remain unknown. More details may emerge through future teasers from the company.
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Nothing has started rolling out the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta update for the Nothing Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus, bringing Android 17 along with a refreshed user interface, new customisation options, camera improvements and several other features. The update started rolling out on October 21, 2026, with a reported download size of 3.14GB.
One of the biggest surprises in this update is the addition of the translucent theme and Micrographics clock face, giving users more ways to personalise their devices.
Nothing OS 5.0 Brings Translucent Theme and Micrographics Clock
The Nothing Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus receives the new translucent theme as part of the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta. The updated design introduces translucent elements and wallpaper-inspired accent colours, offering a refreshed look across the interface.
The update also brings the Micrographics clock face, along with additional lock screen customisation options, including the ability to change the clock colour and choose a new clock design.
Other New Features in Nothing OS 5.0
Apart from the visual changes, the update introduces several new features and improvements:
- Separate Quick Settings and Notifications: Users can enable a split layout for easier access to notifications and system controls.
- New Glyph app: A dedicated app provides quicker access to Glyph Interface features.
- Home screen improvements: Users can arrange multiple app icons at once.
- New status indicators: Three-colour indicators show sensitive access, location and AI processing activity.
- New widgets: Collector, Away Time and Glyph Timer widgets expand home screen functionality.
- Updated system design: The Geist typeface, refreshed Settings interface and redesigned status bar icons improve the overall appearance.
- Smoother animations: Updated transitions improve the experience across widgets and recent tasks.
Camera Improvements
Nothing OS 5.0 brings several camera enhancements to the Nothing Phone (2a). These include Tuning with seven adjustable effects and a reset option, improved Presets editing, richer preset cards and Playground integration.
The update also introduces a new 2×2 camera widget and support for Filters and Tuning during video creation. Other improvements include video recording, zoom, close-up shooting, QR scanning, Google Lens and Motion Photo playback, alongside refinements to the camera interface, controls and animations.
Dark Theme, HDR and Other Improvements
The update expands Dark Theme support to many apps that do not offer a native dark mode. Users can also customise Enhanced HDR Brightness to adjust the intensity of HDR content.
Depth wallpapers now support pinch-to-shrink, while Live Updates receive an improved status bar experience. The update also adds Noto 3D Emoji support in Gboard, improves lock screen shortcut interactions and enables one-tap Bluetooth connection or disconnection through Quick Settings.
Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta: How to Update
Nothing Phone (2a) and Phoen (2a) Plus users can check for the update through the software update section in Settings. The rollout is happening in stages, so it may take some time to appear on all eligible devices.
As this is a beta release, users should back up their important data before installing it. Beta software may contain bugs and could temporarily cause increased battery consumption or heating.
What do you think of the new Nothing OS 5.0 design? Let us know in the comments.
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