The First Beta of Nothing OS 3.0 Based on Android 15: What's New?
The wait is over – Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15, has finally arrived in beta form. As expected, it brings a slew of new features, enhancements, and even some design changes. Some of these updates are welcome, while others might leave you scratching your head. Let's dive in and explore what's new.
1. N.font Consistency
One of the most noticeable changes is the improved consistency in the use of the N.font. From the setup screen to the clock above quick settings, and throughout the settings menu, the font is now unified. For anyone with OCD tendencies, this update is a relief, bringing a cleaner and more cohesive look.
2. Fingerprint Scanner Animation
Another aesthetic upgrade is the fingerprint scanner. The circle is slightly larger and comes with a fresh new animation. It’s a small change, but it adds a nice touch of personality, making unlocking your phone just a bit more fun. And when you restart your phone, you’ll now be greeted by a new smiley – a quirky, signature Nothing detail.
3. Lock Screen Customizations
Nothing OS 3.0 introduces a more customizable lock screen. By long-pressing, you can now access customization options, including five new clock styles. The last one is inspired by the iconic London Metro clocks. The new clocks also carry over to the Always-On Display (AOD), although they appear dimmer compared to Nothing OS 2.6. Hopefully, this dimness is just a bug that will be fixed in future updates.
4. Widget Upgrades
Widgets have received a significant upgrade as well. You can now expand the widget area to fit twice as many widgets as in Nothing OS 2.6. Additionally, the lock screen widget has been lowered for easier access, a thoughtful change for better usability.
5. PIN Unlock Redesign
The number layout for PIN unlock has also been refreshed. While it’s not a drastic change, it does improve the overall look and feel of the lock screen, even though there are no new wallpapers introduced with this beta.
6. Pinned Apps and App Sorting
On the home screen, you can now pin your most-used apps for quick access. However, once pinned, you can’t reorder them without unpinning and starting from scratch. Folders also benefit from an upgrade, allowing you to sort apps within them. It’s a useful feature, especially for those who prefer to keep things organized, and yes, it feels very iOS-inspired.
7. Quick Settings Overhaul
One of the biggest overhauls in this update is in the Quick Settings panel. It’s now fully customizable, allowing you to move network and Bluetooth tiles around freely. The pill-shaped tiles have been replaced by a round layout, giving you the flexibility to position them as you like – even at the bottom of the screen. Two new tiles for ring modes and glyph lights also make an appearance, offering more control over the phone's unique lighting system.
And if all this customization becomes too much, there's a handy reset button to return everything to default. Another much-requested feature that has finally arrived is the auto-brightness toggle, now accessible directly in Quick Settings.
8. Settings Redesign and Device Diagnostics
The settings menu has been redesigned for a cleaner, more organized experience. Gone are the n-dotted fonts, replaced by a more readable and consistent design. A new feature, Device Diagnostics, lets you manually test the display, touch functionality, battery health, and storage status. It also includes an evaluation mode, allowing you to send test results from one phone to another via QR code.
9. App Archive and Screen Recording
In line with Android 15, Nothing OS 3.0 now supports app archiving. Instead of deleting apps, you can offload them to save storage space. Additionally, predictive back gestures are turned on by default, and a new partial screen recording feature lets you record or share the screen of a single app.
10. Missing Features: What We’re Still Waiting For
Nothing teased a new Gallery app with AI upscaling, AI segmentation, and even AI image generation – but it’s not here yet. Many users were excited for these features, so it’s a bit disappointing that we’ll have to wait for the stable build.
There are also some long-requested features that still haven’t made the cut, such as asking for a password when turning off the phone from the lock screen (a security loophole), a more accessible brightness slider, and a native dialer app. Hopefully, these will be addressed in future updates.
Nothing OS 3.0 brings a lot of exciting new features, including a more customizable lock screen, better widget management, and an improved settings experience. However, some areas still need refinement, and certain eagerly anticipated features are still missing. It’s clear that Nothing is listening to user feedback, so here’s hoping the stable release will be even better.
For now, Nothing users can enjoy the improvements and get a taste of what’s to come!