Nothing
Nothing’s October: New Earbuds, Major OS Update, and Community Edition Phone Announcement
October 2024 – This month, Nothing has launched the highly anticipated Ear (open), its first open wearable stereo (OWS) earbuds, alongside announcing Nothing OS 3.0, setting new standards in user experience. Additionally, the company is gearing up for the launch of the Phone (2a) Community Edition, scheduled for October 30th.
The newly released Ear (open) earbuds are designed to deliver a superior audio experience while ensuring users remain aware of their surroundings. Featuring Nothing’s innovative Open Sound Technology, the earbuds allow users to stay connected to the environment, whether it’s the subtle chirping of birds or the bustling noise of city life, without compromising on sound quality.
Nothing OS 3.0 brings new improvements and features, in software developments, including refined typography, advanced dot matrix animations, and a more customizable lock screen. The OS update also boasts a revamped Quick Settings, an AI-powered Smart Drawer for better app management, and a new Nothing Gallery app to improve photo processing speeds with AI-driven features.
Looking forward, Nothing has announced the Community Edition of Phone (2a) will be unveiled on October 30th. This unique initiative is part of Nothing’s co-creation project, which involves the community in the design and development process of the smartphone. The project highlights collaboration on various aspects such as hardware, wallpaper design, and marketing strategies.
In community news, notable contributions include the launch of Nothing Ear (web) by community member @RapidZapper, a web-based application that allows comprehensive control of Nothing devices through chromium-based browsers. Another community member, @chris._.sin, introduced the Better Glyph Composer, a web-based tool that enables users to create custom Glyph patterns and animations, further personalizing user experience with Nothing devices.
Nothing is also introducing the ‘Nothing Library’ this month, sharing recommendations from team members to inspire the community. Highlights include “The Leviathan” recommended by the Soho Store Manager, and “Black Box,” a podcast about AI from the Guardian, recommended by the CMF Design Lead.
With these exciting developments, Nothing continues to innovate and engage its community, promising an enhanced and more interactive tech experience.
Nothing has released a new OTA update for the CMF Phone 1. This update is based on Nothing OS 3.2 (September patch) and mainly focuses on improving system performance and fixing minor bugs. Even though it’s already October, the company has rolled out the September update for CMF Phone 1 users.
The update size is 63.90 MB, and it installs successfully in about 10 minutes. After installing, users can see the updated build number ending with 18843-ID. The Android security patch is dated September 1, 2025, and matches the latest Google Play system update once updated manually.
What’s New in This Update
- Photo Widget Improvement:
The photo widget now fills the full space when resized to a 4×2 format, making it look more complete on the home screen. - Media Player Bug Fixes:
Issues related to album cover and song info display in the media player and widget have been fixed. Users can now see correct song details and album art while using apps like Spotify. - System Stability Improvements:
Overall system stability and smoothness have been slightly optimized, though most users won’t notice a major difference.
Why This Update Matters
This is likely a preparation update before the major Nothing OS 4.0 rollout. Currently, Nothing OS 4.0 has been released for Nothing Phone (2), Phone (2a), Phone (2a) Plus, and Phone (3). However, the CMF Phone 1 and CMF Phone 2 Pro are not part of the open beta program.
According to Nothing’s official community post, both devices will directly receive the stable Nothing OS 4.0 update later, instead of joining the beta phase.
When Will CMF Phone 1 Get Nothing OS 4.0?
Nothing has confirmed that CMF Phone 1 will get the stable Nothing OS 4.0 update at a later date, possibly between November and December 2025. This upcoming update is expected to bring Android 16-based features, design changes, and performance improvements.
Nothing has released a new OTA (over-the-air) update for the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. This update is part of the Nothing OS 3.2 September patch and mainly focuses on fixing bugs and improving system stability.
The update size is around 47.57 MB, and both the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro receive the same build number with Asteroids-V3.2-251013-1406-IND. The Android security patch remains from September 1, 2025, with no changes there.
After installing, users have reported that the phone feels smoother and more stable. Features like Wi-Fi and calling are working perfectly fine, and no major issues have been found so far.
What’s Fixed in This Update
- Glyph Interface Issue Fixed:
The problem where the Glyph lights didn’t turn off properly after using the Flip to Record feature has now been fixed. - Call Recording Notification Optimized:
The call recording notification now appears only during the first call, avoiding repeated pop-ups that previously appeared every time a call was made. - General System Improvements:
The overall performance has been optimized for smoother operation.
Important Notes
Nothing mentioned that call recording might not be available in all regions due to local regulations. Also, the phone may feel slightly warm during installation, which is normal. Performance returns to normal shortly after.
Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta Coming Soon
Nothing has confirmed through its community post that Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta for the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro will arrive by the end of October 2025. The update is expected to bring new features possibly some exclusive improvements such as a redesigned status bar.
Nothing has released a new update for its Nothing Gallery app, bringing some useful changes and a major upgrade in video editing tools. The new update, version 2.3, is now rolling out to users through the Play Store.
1. Upgraded Video Editing Tools
The highlight of this update is the new and improved video editing features. Users can now fine-tune colors, apply filters, rotate and crop videos, and adjust exposure, contrast, saturation, shadows, and more — all directly within the Nothing Gallery app. These tools work much like the existing photo editor, making video editing more powerful and flexible. HDR formats are also supported.
2. Updated Dialog Style
Nothing has also refreshed the Nothing OS-style dialogs inside the app. The new dialog boxes now match the design language of Nothing OS 4.0, giving the app a more modern and refined look.
3. Small But Useful Changes
While the overall layout and UI remain mostly the same, users will notice smoother transitions and improved visual consistency. However, there are no AI-based editing tools yet — those may arrive in a future Nothing OS 4.0 stable release.
How to Get the Update
The update size is around 1.78 MB, and users can download it directly from the Google Play Store. If you’re using a Nothing Phone, updating to version 2.3 will enable the new editing features automatically.