From its early days as a minimalist Android UI to becoming a distinctive and feature-packed interface, Nothing OS has evolved significantly. Nothing OS 2.5 (review), based on Android 14, was a standout release in 2023, setting high expectations for its successor. With Nothing OS 3.0 on the horizon, we’re already getting insights into what’s coming thanks to recent changelog leaks. Here’s all the thing you need to know about Nothing OS 3.0.
* Updated (September 24): Official Announcement of Nothing OS 3.0 and Confirmed Features
Nothing OS 3.0: Expected Release Date
In conjunction with the launch of the Ear (Open), Nothing officially unveiled Nothing OS 3.0, which is based on Android 15. The company has announced that the first open beta will be available in October 2024, with the stable update expected to roll out in December, provided everything goes as planned.
Nothing OS 3.0: Supported Phones
All Nothing phones released so far are guaranteed three years of major updates, except the CMF Phone 1, which is set to receive two major OS updates.
As the Nothing Phone (1) launched with Android 12, it is eligible for one additional major Android update. Therefore, all Nothing phones released so far will receive the upcoming Nothing OS 3.0 update, which is based on Android 15. The supported models include:
- Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Nothing Phone (2)
- Nothing Phone (1)
- CMF Phone 1
The Nothing Phone (2a) and Nothing Phone (2a) Plus are expected to be the first to receive the Android 15 update with Nothing OS 3.0, likely in September or October, as they are the newest models. Following them, the Nothing Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 should receive the update in November, with the Nothing Phone (1) likely getting it in December or January 2024. These timelines are based on our best estimates and may vary.
Nothing OS 3.0: Features Confirmed and Expected
The recent leak of Nothing OS 3.0’s changelog has unveiled a host of features set to be included in the stable update. The list highlights both exclusive Nothing OS enhancements and new Android 15 features, such as App Archiving, Partial Screen Recording, and Private Space.
1. Enhanced Lock Screen Customizations
Nothing OS 3.0 will elevate the current lock screen customizations. Initially previewed by Carl Pei on X, we now have an official glimpse of the feature, showcasing various clock styles.
Nothing OS 3.0 offers five distinct clock styles, some of which echo Apple’s designs, while others are original, including one inspired by London’s underground train stations. Additionally, users can toggle the Expand widget area to select between displaying clock styles with a few widgets or opting for more widgets with a compressed clock view.
2. Redesigned Quick Settings Panel
A redesigned Quick Settings panel has been one of the most requested features by Nothing users. It seems this may finally be addressed in Nothing OS 3.0. However, the new design seems to be quite similar to the current Quick Settings panel.
The redesigned Quick Settings panel is significantly cleaner compared to the current interface and aligns better with Nothing’s design language. Replacing the large Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tiles with smaller ones is a welcome improvement.
The red accent that appears on the active tile adds a striking contrast to the gray and black background of the tiles. Additionally, the bottom section of the Quick Settings panel features a gradient effect, drawing colors from the media player thumbnail for a more cohesive look.
Nothing OS 3.0 enhances Quick Settings customization by letting users adjust tile sizes to 1×1, 1×2, and 2×2, similar to home and lock screen widgets. Some tiles, such as Bluetooth and Volume, change their functionality based on their size.
For instance, a 1×2 audio tile provides options to set the sound profile to vibrate or mute. Similarly, the Bluetooth tile in the 2×2 size allows for expanded settings.
3. iOS-Style App Library and App Pinning
The Nothing launcher will introduce several features and enhancements in Nothing OS 3.0. One of these is app pinning, which allows you to pin applications at the top of the app drawer for quick access. This feature is especially useful for keeping your frequently used apps easily accessible without having to scroll through a long list.
Nothing OS 3.0 introduces an iOS-inspired App Library, now called the Smart Drawer, which automatically organizes apps into various categories. This feature combines smart suggestions on Android, displaying a row of recommended apps followed by categorized groups. Additionally, the company claims to utilize on-device AI to enhance the accuracy of these suggestions.
4. New Fingerprint and Boot Animations
New fingerprint unlock and boot animations have been introduced. The fingerprint animation features dots that move and expand outward when you press your finger. The boot animation, which is similar but in orange, is straightforward and not particularly noteworthy.
A new charging animation has been introduced, which aligns seamlessly with Nothing’s dot design language. Instead of the subtle breathing light effect seen previously, the new animation features dots that smoothly transition from the bottom to the top, offering a cleaner visual experience when the device is plugged in.
5. Revamped Settings App
The Settings app has undergone a redesign with two key improvements: options are now segmented for easier navigation, and Dot Matrix text has been replaced with Roboto for enhanced readability.
6. New Widgets, Features, and Improvements
Nothing OS 3.0 introduces a new Countdown widget, which is quite straightforward, along with a feature called Shared Widgets. This allows you to take certain widgets from your home screen and share them with friends and family.
For instance, you can share the Photos widget to display both your photos and theirs, share step counts through the step counter widget, or monitor screen time using the Screen Time widget. Additionally, users can overlay stickers on the widgets to convey their current mood or reaction to friends. Pretty neat!
7. Charging Assistant and Device Diagnostics
The battery settings now include two new options: Charging Assistant and Device Diagnostics. While Device Diagnostics is a feature introduced in Android 15, Charging Assistant is new. As its name implies, Charging Assistant alerts you when your charging speed is slower than optimal.
Additionally, a new Diagnostics app provides information on charge cycles and battery health. However, it still lacks a battery health percentage feature.
8. Interactive Dot Animations
Nothing has introduced a new feature called the Interactive Dot Animation engine. Given that dots are integrated throughout apps and widgets in Nothing OS, this animation engine will enhance the user interface by adding lively and dynamic dot animations. During the event, Nothing provided a brief demonstration of a weather app utilizing these dot animations.
9. Nothing Gallery App
The Nothing Gallery app has been one of the most sought-after standalone applications by fans, and the company has been diligently working on it for some time. We’re now getting a brief preview of what to expect.
According to Nothing, the Gallery app significantly speeds up photo access right after capture due to various optimizations. While the transition from the Camera to Google Photos may take longer, Nothing claims that switching to the Nothing Gallery will be 1.4 seconds quicker. Additionally, processing times for HDR and portrait effects will be 25% faster.
During the event, several features of the Gallery app were showcased, including “Key Moments,” which presents larger thumbnails for images deemed significant. Additionally, the app incorporates AI capabilities, introducing a feature called AI Image Segmentation that emphasizes key objects within images. The company also mentioned that more features will be rolled out soon, including AI categorization, natural language search, AI upscaling and super-resolution, and AI image generation.
However, there is no current information available regarding the Community and Dialer apps. At present, Nothing Community is exclusively web-based, and Carl has confirmed that the team is actively working on developing additional applications.
10. Private Space
Even though Private Space isn’t listed in the latest Closed Beta, it may be featured in the stable release of Nothing OS 3.0. Carl had previously sought opinions on Twitter about whether Nothing should transition to Private Space over its current features, and the majority of responses were in favor.
Private Space offers a triple benefit by allowing users to hide apps, lock them, and clone them. Integrating Private Space would ease the burden on Nothing’s developers by consolidating these features, allowing them to focus on other improvements instead of maintaining separate app hide and clone functions.
11. App Archiving
App archiving will be a key feature on all devices running Android 15, including those with Nothing OS 3.0. It allows you to remove apps that you don’t use frequently without completely deleting them.
When you archive an app, the base APK is removed, but its data remains on your device. If you later reinstall the app, Android will restore it to its previous state, preserving all of your data and in-app settings.
12. Miscellaneous Features
In addition to the features mentioned earlier, the upcoming version of Nothing OS might include:
- Partial Screen Recording
- Predictive Back Gestures
- Improved Setup Wizard
- Data Standby Battery Saver
- Option to Reset Home Screen Layout
- Refined Gesture Navigation
Partial Screen Recording and Predictive Back Gestures are features of Android 15, whereas the other features are specific enhancements in Nothing OS. We’re particularly intrigued by the Data Standby Battery Saver, as it could significantly boost the device’s overall battery life.
That’s the latest scoop on Nothing OS 3.0. What are your thoughts on the new and upcoming features? Are there any other features you’d like to see added to the UI? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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