Nothing
Nothing OS 2.6 September Update Rolls Out for Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing has begun releasing the recent software update for Nothing Phone (2a). The build number is Pacman-U2.6-240828-1906-IND for this update and it is integrated with a bunch of exciting features, improvements, and bug fixes to enhance the user experience.
The software version remains the same as Nothing OS 2.6 and the update size is now 0.96 GB which is huge. It will take almost 10-15 minutes for the installation.
Nothing OS 2.6 September Update for Nothing Phone (2a)
This update introduces the News Reporter Widget. Now, have your daily news read aloud by Tim, the CFO of Nothing. The feature is still in beta and leverages several generative AI models.
Finally, it is now possible for users to display the Battery and Pedometer Widgets on the lock screen and Always On Display. The date widget has been updated to allow for auto-update via toggles in settings.
The update allows swiping down on an incoming notification to enter Pop-up view to have easy access to information without necessarily having to leave an app. This feature can be enabled from Settings under System > Pop-up view.
Other added functionalities include the ability to delete wallpaper history in Wallpaper Studio and new notifications in Charging Assistant that inform about the charging status.
Now you will see more clarity in 2x zoom in Portrait Mode Camera. This update also optimizes the compatibility for specific chargers. An update of Google Mobile Services has been included. It improves audio delay in some call scenarios along with stability of Bluetooth connection.
Vibration has now been enabled while the device is on Power Saving Mode, and the device has been updated to the September 2024 Android Security Patch for improved security.
This update fixes the following bugs: auto-rotation not working in some cloned apps and the Media Player Widget not playing music when switching from guest to the main user. It also makes sure that the Bluetooth tile will show proper information about the earbuds and screen flickering upon long-press of the power button at low battery levels is fixed.
Other fixes include the fix for the system crash brought on by the animation of windows; the display issue of the Atmosphere Wallpaper Effect shown on the lock screen was rectified; and so on.
Earlier, users of Nothing Phones were able to activate the Essential Search Bar by updating the Nothing Launcher to the latest version. While it brought some improvements, a few features were still missing — especially the useful AI Search option.
Actually, it’s from the Nothing Phone (3), which is running the latest Nothing OS 3.5 update and already has all the Essential Search features fully functional.
This new Essential AI Search (Universal Search) allows users to search for anything directly from the home screen or app drawer — no need to open Google Chrome. It shows relevant results, including images, and sometimes gives quick answers in paragraph form. However, in some cases, it may not show images.
Now, older Nothing Phones can also get this feature! We have extracted the APK (installation file) from the new Nothing Phone (3), and it works smoothly on older devices too.
Important:
Before installing the APK, make sure your phone already has Nothing Launcher version 3.3.4 or later.
Essential Search – Download
This small tweak brings the latest smart search experience to older Nothing devices without needing to wait for an official update.
Nothing has officially hinted at the release of its upcoming major software update – Nothing OS 4.0, which will be based on Android 16. This update is expected to bring a fresh experience with new features, design improvements, and better performance across several Nothing smartphones.
The first sign of this update was spotted during the launch event of the Nothing Phone (3). A screen at the event showed the message: “Nothing OS 4.0 coming soon with Android 16.” This gave a clear hint that Nothing is preparing to roll out Android 16 in the coming months, starting with its newest phone.
According to sources and recent tweets, the Nothing Phone (3) will be the first device to get this update. The open beta version of Nothing OS 4.0 could be released in September 2025, followed by a stable rollout in October. This makes sense as Phone (3) is the company’s latest flagship device.
The Phone (3a) series and the Nothing Phone (2) are expected to receive the stable update in November, while the Phone (2a), Phone (2a) Plus, CMF Phone 1, and CMF Phone 2 Pro may get it between November and December. However, it is confirmed that the Nothing Phone (1) will not receive the Android 16-based Nothing OS 4.0 update.
Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to be a major update with significant changes. The quick settings panel may get a refreshed design, and users can expect smoother animations throughout the interface. The app drawer layout might also be improved. In addition, the update could bring new features to the Game Mode, making gaming more efficient and immersive.
One of the most exciting expected features is Live Alerts, introduced in Android 16. This will show real-time updates like delivery progress directly on the lock screen. With Nothing’s Glyph Interface and Glyph Matrix, users may also see a progress bar in the LED lights for tracking activities like food deliveries, app alerts, and more.
Nothing’s founder Carl Pei also tweeted about Android 16’s Live Alerts, stating that it opens up new possibilities for the Glyph system. This shows that the company is working on deeper integration between software and its signature hardware features.
In short, the update rollout will begin in autumn 2025, starting with Phone (3) in October, followed by other models. If you’re using a newer Nothing phone, you can expect the Android 16 update before the end of the year.
Stay connected for more updates and hands-on coverage as soon as the beta rolls out!
The much-awaited Nothing Phone (3) is finally here, and we got our hands on the device through the Community Review Program. The community box unboxing experience felt premium right from the start, with a clean white box featuring the Phone (3) back design and Nothing branding. Inside the package, we also received a 100W GaN fast charger by CMF.
The variant we received comes in white with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. The manufacturing date is June 2025, and the phone feels solid and heavy, giving a truly premium impression. The design of the box is similar to previous Nothing phones, keeping a consistent identity.
As we opened the phone, the first look felt different and unique. It features a triple rear camera setup, including a periscope lens, and the design around the camera area is eye-catching. The Glyph lights have been replaced by a new Glyph Matrix system, which now supports multiple interactive tools and mini-games like stopwatch, battery indicator, and even a rock-paper-scissors game. The company them as a Glyph Toys.
The in-hand feel is excellent, with a metal frame body, and the phone includes five physical buttons, including a new Glyph button placed on the back under the glass. It comes with a transparent USB-C cable, a phone case, and a SIM ejector tool, though there’s no charger in the main box.
On the front, the device has a 6.7-inch LTPS AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. The display is bright and vibrant, making it great for watching videos or using outdoors. It offers 800 nits of normal brightness, 1600 nits with High Brightness Mode (HBM), and reaches up to 4500 nits peak brightness for HDR content. It also supports HDR10+, giving users a rich and smooth viewing experience. For the first time, a Nothing phone has IP68 water and dust resistance.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, the phone runs on Nothing OS 3.5 based on Android 15, and the animations and performance felt smooth during the setup. Nothing has promised 5 years of major Android updates and 7 years of security updates, making it future-ready.
The camera system includes:
- 50MP main sensor
- 50MP periscope lens with 3x zoom
- 50MP ultra-wide sensor
- 50MP selfie camera
Here are some camera samples from the Nothing Phone (3):
It supports dual SIM, eSIM, USB Type-C 2.0 port and UFS 4.0 storage. The phone has a 5500mAh battery with 65W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging support.
The official price of the Nothing Phone (3) is Rs. 80,000, but with bank offers and exchange bonuses, buyers can get it for as low as Rs. 53,000–Rs. 54,000. This is just for pre-orders.
Open sales starts on July 12 at 12 PM, likely on Flipkart.
With a fresh design, smart software features, and solid hardware, the Nothing Phone (3) looks like a true flagship experience with a different story. More videos and testing coming soon.