Nothing Phone (2a) Gets New Features with May Update: Nothing OS 3.0 Now Smoother and Safer

Nothing has rolled out a new update for its popular Nothing Phone (2a). The update brings Nothing OS 3.0 with several new features and improvements. However, many users were expecting Nothing OS 3.1 or 3.2, but the company has still kept it at 3.0.

New Features:

• Private Space:
  Nothing has finally added the much-awaited ‘Private Space’ feature. Users can now hide apps, files, photos, and even use a private camera inside this space. The best part is it uses a separate password and fingerprint from your regular phone lock, giving extra privacy.
• Separate Password for App Locker:
  Users can now set a different password for app locking, separate from their main lock screen password. This makes securing apps like Facebook and Instagram even safer.
• Hotspot Manager:
  Users can now limit the number of devices that can connect to their phone’s hotspot. It also shows which device is connected and allows you to block unwanted devices.
• Updated Security Patch:
  The phone now has the latest Android security patch for May 2025, keeping your device safe from new threats.

Small Improvements:

• Wi-Fi and System Stability:
  Users reported no major issues with Wi-Fi or hotspot connections after the update. Overall, the phone runs smoothly without noticeable bugs.
• Status Bar and Notification Center:
  The company improved accessibility and stability in the notification center and status bar, although these changes are small and may not be easily noticed.
• Cellular Network Stability:
  The update also tries to fix common issues like 5G to 4G switching and call drops. The experience has improved for some users.

Changes in Apps and UI:

• Nothing Launcher Updated:
  The launcher is now updated to version 3.2.2 (for some 3.2.3), with slightly smoother animations when opening apps.
• Camera App Version Changed:
  The camera app has been updated to version 14.0.03.26.08 While no major camera features were added, the app opens a bit faster. Users are still waiting for camera tuning improvements, which may come in future updates, possibly around the launch of the Nothing Phone (3) expected in July.
• Nothing Gallery:
  Although Nothing mentioned their own gallery app, users still see Google Photos as default. No clear changes were noticed in the gallery app yet.
• Touch Feedback for Face Unlock:
  Users can now disable the vibration that happens when using face unlock from the settings.

The May update for Nothing Phone (2a) brings useful privacy and stability improvements, but no major camera or design changes yet. The update size is around 1.04 GB and may take around 25-30 minutes to install depending on your internet speed. Users are still hoping for bigger updates like Nothing OS 3.1 with camera improvements soon.