Today Nothing has made the first public beta of Nothing OS 3.0 available for the Nothing Phone (2a). The new software is based on Android 15 and the finalized version is promised to be released in December.
It’s interesting to see the Nothing Phone (2a) getting this first, as it’s neither the most high-end device Nothing has ever produced, nor the latest one to launch. And yet, it got first dibs on this beta.
Nothing expects to release the beta for the Phone (2) next month, while the Phone (1), Phone (2a) Plus, and CMF Phone 1 will have to wait until December. This means the finalized Nothing OS 3.0 release will also hit the Phone (2a) first, then the Phone (2), and then the other devices. Nothing OS 3.0 is “the software we’ve always wanted to make” according to Nothing, and it brings a lot of new stuff.
There’s a new lock screen customization page, upgraded clock faces, expanded widget space on your lock screen, an AI-powered Smart Drawer which automatically categorizes your apps into folders, a Quick Settings redesign, a better widget library design, updated visuals in Settings, faster camera launch speed and reduced HDR scene processing time, optimized portrait effects, better camera performance in low light, a movable and easily resizable multitasking pop-up view, the ability to enter pop-up view by swiping down on incoming notifications, auto-archive to free up storage space without removing apps or data, partial screen sharing, an updated setup wizard, predictive back animations, and a new fingerprint unlocking animation.
Nothing Phone (2a)
If you’re interested in taking this open beta build for a spin on your Nothing Phone (2a), make sure you go to the Source linked below where the procedure is explained in detail. Basically, you need to download and install an APK which will show the beta version as an option in your Settings, and you can then choose to install it.
