Nothing Phone 1 Gets Android 15 Update: What is New and What to Expect

Nothing OS 3.0 nor a release of Android 15-based update for the Phone 1 has been officially rolled out. It is the last big OS update for the device as it approaches the end of its software lifecycle and introduces several new features and improvements.

A Faster Update Timeline

The history of Nothing’s software updates has usually been a mixed bag. The company steadily improved its update schedule after the release of Phone 1, but Phone 1 fell more than six months behind on its Android 13 update. Nothing has pledged to continue improving the overall user experience across its devices, as its Phone 1 release for Android 15 comes barely a month after the beta release.

Nothing OS 3.0 Key Features

The Android 15 update brings several fresh features to the Phone 1, focusing on customization, multitasking, and design enhancements:

Shared Widgets

• Connect with others: Share widgets with friends and family who use Nothing devices.
• Interactive reactions: Get started with shared Photo Widgets directly from your home screen.
• Limitations: Currently, photo widgets support only squares. All other widget types are in development.

Lock Screen Customization

• New clock styles: They have different clock faces to choose from.
• Expanded widget space: To upgrade your lock screen, add more widgets.
• Intuitive access: Press the lock screen or go to the Customization page.

AI-Enhanced App Drawer

• Smart categorization: Organizes and automatically puts apps into folders for easier navigation.
• Pinned apps: Pin your favourite apps to the top of the drawer for quick access.

Improved Multitasking with Pop-Up View

• Flexible positioning: You can drag and place the pop-up view anywhere on the screen.
• Resizable windows: Drag the corners to adjust the pop-up size.
• Quick access: You could pin pop-ups to the screen edge or swipe down notifications to activate pop-up mode.

Elevated Design Elements

• Quick Settings redesign: Write tailor shortcuts with an optimized editing experience.
• Widget library overhaul: Navigate through Browse Nothing effortlessly and third-party widgets.
• Updated UI visuals: Detailed network and Bluetooth information enhanced settings display.
• Fingerprint animation: New dot animation for unlocking and charging.

Other Enhancements

• AI app management: It prioritizes mostly used apps to get better performance.
• Auto-archive support: It frees something up automatically without deleting data.
• Partial screen recording: Instead of reading the entire screen, record app windows.
• Predictive back animations: Apps that support it are available.

How to Get the Update

To install the 1.46GB update, navigate to:

• It is accessed through Settings → System → System update → and install.
• Remember that installation may cause your phone to heat up and drain more battery, but that will be short-lived.

Camera Limitations

The update provides numerous improvements to Phone 1, yet it does not include several camera bells and whistles found in newer Nothing phones. The phone’s hardware is not old enough to handle these updates.

Nothing Phone 1 ends an era

It appears the Nothing Phone 1 will see the end of major OS upgrades with the Android 15 update. The device debuted with Android 12 and is now getting its promised three OS updates. But this Phone 1’s journey will end in terms of feature updates; users will have another year of security patches and bug fixes.

Conclusion

Features are now available to Phone 1 users as part of the Android 15 update. Nothing has capped off its software journey with one final flourish of a strong, solid, and all-over-the-place experience. For those using a Phone 1, this update allows you to experience what Nothing OS 3.0 offers before investing in a newer model.