Nothing
Nothing OS 3.0 Android 15 Open Beta Released for Phone (2a)
Carl Pei’s tech company Nothing has announced the launch of its latest software update, Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta 1 for its Nothing Phone (2a). The new update is based on Android 15, gives users a chance to try out new features and improvements before the official release planned for December 2024. It comes with many enhancements, including better customisation options, new widgets, and camera upgrades.
Nothing has announced in a community post that this Nothing OS 3.0 beta will also be available soon for other devices, such as the Phone (2), Phone (1), Phone (2a) Plus, and CMF Phone (1), which are expected to receive the update by the end of the year.
Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta Release Schedule
- Phone (2a): Available now
- Phone (2): November 2024
- Phone (1): December 2024
- Phone (2a) Plus: December 2024
- CMF Phone 1: December 2024
The update focuses heavily on customisation, especially for the home and lock screens. Users can now edit their lock screens by simply long-pressing the screen. The update also adds new clock faces, typefaces, and layouts to give users more options and personalise their devices.
One of the most standout features is the smart app drawer, powered by artificial intelligence (AI). This AI-powered tool arranges apps into categories based on how often they are used and lets users to pin their most-used apps to the top for quicker access.
The update also focuses on improving the camera experience and several improvements can be seen too. These include faster HDR processing reduced launch time through the camera widget better performance in low-light situations and a more user-friendly zoom slider. Multi-tasking is also smoother now with a feature that lets users move and resize pop-up windows which can be pinned to the screen’s edge for easy access.
Nothing has also redesigned the fingerprint animation sticking to its dot-matrix design. Another useful feature is the new auto-archiving tool, which helps free up storage space without deleting important data or apps.
Still, there are some missing features which we have seen earlier in the Nothing OS 3.0 announcement video such as Nothing Gallery app with AI features, new charging animation, shared widgets and private space. These all features will be added in upcoming updates.
How to participate in Nothing OS 3.0 Open Beta – Phone (2a):
- Make sure you’ve installed NOS version 2.6 with the build number Pacman-U2.6-240828_1906.
- Download and install the provided APK from your downloads.
- Go to Settings > System > Update to Beta version.
- Tap “Check for new version” and follow the instructions to begin.
The update size is 1.4 GB and it will take 10-15 minutes for the installation as you transition from Android 14 to Android 15 by installing Nothing OS 3.0 open beta on your device.
Edited by: Akash Ramsakha
Nothing has rolled out a new update for its Essential Space app (version 1.0.13), bringing some useful features and improvements for users.
One of the biggest highlights is the transcription feature, now available on the Nothing Phone (3). With this, users can get a complete transcription of their Flip to Record content, making it easier to keep track of recordings in written form.
The update also adds a Select All option within individual modules, giving users better control and convenience while managing their content.
Apart from new features, the update also focuses on improving the overall experience. It includes several bug fixes and stability enhancements to make the app run smoother and more reliable.
Nothing continues to improve Essential Space with regular updates, ensuring users get more value and a seamless experience on their devices.
Nothing has rolled out a new software update for the Nothing Phone (2a). The update is called Nothing OS 3.2 (September Update) and is now available to users. It comes with a download size of 158 MB and also includes the latest September 1, 2025 Android security patch.
One of the most notable changes in this update is the introduction of the Nothing Gallery app as the default photo viewer in the camera app. Users now get the option to choose between Nothing Gallery and Google Photos, but the company recommends using its own gallery for faster previews and smoother performance. This move highlights Nothing’s efforts to strengthen its in-house ecosystem.
The update also adds new features to widgets. Along with the Photo widget, users can now share the Pedometer widget (step counter) and the Screen Time widget with others. The update further enhances interaction by introducing a set of new nine stickers that can be used to react when sharing widgets, giving users more expressive options.
In terms of the camera, Nothing claims to have improved stability and performance. The camera app version has been upgraded, and users may notice slight differences in colors and sharpness, particularly in ultra-wide shots. These refinements are aimed at delivering a more reliable photography experience on the Phone (2a).
The update also addresses several system issues and optimizations. Stability for the pop-up view feature has been improved, and a bug that prevented PDF files from opening in cloned apps like WhatsApp and Telegram has been fixed. The Voice over NR (VoNR) icon has been redesigned for better clarity in the status bar. In addition, battery usage has been optimized when connecting smartwatches, especially with the CMF Watch 2 Pro.
Other improvements include fixes for font display issues in apps such as Instagram and Reddit when using the Inter font, along with general system performance and stability enhancements.
Overall, the Nothing OS 3.2 September Update brings useful new features, smoother performance, and important fixes. For Nothing Phone (2a) users, installing this update is highly recommended to get the best experience on their device.
I tested Nothing’s Essential Space on the Nothing Phone (3) and OnePlus Mind Space on the OnePlus 11. Both look similar on the surface, but the way they work feels very different. Let’s break it down.
Nothing Essential Space has a dedicated Essential Key button. Just double press, and the app opens instantly. From there, you can create summaries, reminders, or even voice notes. Everything is simple and fast.
OnePlus Mind Space works with a three-finger swipe gesture. It opens smoothly and also creates summaries and reminders, but you need to do more manual steps compared to Nothing.
The big win for Essential Space is that it syncs directly with Google Calendar. Add a reminder once, and it’s already there. You can even record voice notes or use the camera app to analyze photos and auto-generate descriptions.
Mind Space, on the other hand, shines with app-wise sorting. For example, it can organize summaries by WhatsApp, Chrome, or Twitter, which is quite useful. But adding reminders is manual, and sharing options are limited.
Nothing also adds cool exclusive features like Flip-to-Record, where you just flip the phone, hold the key, and it records with Glyph animations. Later, the AI auto-summarizes your entire meeting or talk into English text. Super handy!
Sharing is also easier on Nothing. You can export your notes as an image, PDF, or Markdown and send them anywhere. On OnePlus, you only get the delete option, which feels basic.
Overall, Nothing Essential Space feels more polished and feature-rich, while OnePlus Mind Space is still catching up. The app-wise sorting on OnePlus is neat, but Nothing’s extra features make it the better option for now.
Also did a video for this. You can give it a watch on YouTube: