The launch of Nothing’s new Phone (3a) series came with an unexpected addition a physical key designed to access the AI-powered Essential Space app. This app allows users to create tasks and reminders using screenshots and voice recordings. While the feature is still in its early stages, Nothing may soon introduce a subscription fee for Essential Space.
Android Authority conducted an APK teardown of the latest Essential Space app and discovered code strings suggesting paid features. Terms like “free trial” and “AI credits” indicate that Nothing may introduce a subscription model for the app in the future.
<string name="claim_free_trial">Continue</string><string name="claim_now">Enroll</string><string name="claim_price">(USD 120)</string>Another string of code found in the teardown mentions "claim_free_trial" and "claim_price">(USD 120). The latter is particularly intriguing, as it suggests that Nothing’s Essential Space subscription could be priced around $120. While it’s unlikely to be a monthly fee, this amount could correspond to a yearly or lifetime plan.
In addition to pricing hints, the teardown also uncovered several upcoming features hidden in the code. These include Smart Collections, Focused Search, and Flip to Record, which Nothing later confirmed as part of a future update to Nothing OS. Smart Collections likely organizes screenshots into categories automatically, while Focused Search could enable deep searches similar to Google Gemini. Flip to Record appears to allow users to start a voice recording simply by flipping their phone.
Having used Essential Space for a while now, I can say it still needs significant improvements before it’s ready for a paid subscription. After all, convincing users to pay for what is essentially a productivity-focused screenshot app won’t be easy. But perhaps Nothing has a bigger vision—one that could make Essential Space so indispensable that we won’t want to go a day without it.
These plans could still change over time. We’ve heard rumors about Samsung charging for its Galaxy AI features, yet that hasn’t happened—at least not yet. So, who knows what the future holds? That said, would you be willing to pay for Essential Space? Let us know in the comments below!
