Summary
- Nothing updates the Phone 1 to Android 15 with new features like shared widgets and improved lock screen customization.
- Users may experience temporary heat and battery consumption issues while installing the update, but this should stabilize after installation.
- The Phone 1 won’t receive any more major OS updates after Android 15, just another year of security patches and potential bug fixes.
Nothing let the Phone 1’s Android 13 update down, as it arrived almost six months after the operating system’s public release. With Nothing OS 2.5 based on Android 14, the company moved quickly, pushing the firmware to Phone 1 in about three months. Nothing has upped its game yet with the release of Android 15, already updating almost all of its devices to the new operating system. The Phone 1 was the only exception, but that now changes with the release of its Android 15 update.
Related
Nothing is ready to join the big leagues with its first flagship phone
And it happens in the first quarter of 2025
Nothing released the first open beta of Nothing OS 3.0 based on Android 15 for the Phone 1 in mid-December 2024. So, the company only took a month to release the stable update to the public. As seen on other Nothing phones, the new version will bring shared widgets, lock screen customization, and a revamped quick settings panel to Phone 1.
Other Android 15 features that are part of the update include auto-archiving of apps, partial screen recording, and predictive rear animations.
THE Nothing team notes that your phone may heat up and consume more power than usual while installing the update. However, this is only temporary and things should return to normal once the operating system completes the installation and optimization process.
You can download the 1.46GB update to your phone 1 by going to Settings → System → System Update → Download and Install. As previously revealed by Nothing, the Phone 1 will miss out on some camera improvements that have been made to its new devices. This is because the Phone 1’s aging hardware is unable to keep up with processing demands.
The full release note for the update, shared by Nothing, is below:
🔮 Use widgets to connect with friends and family. See another person’s widgets displayed on your home screen and interact with each other via reactions. A new way to stay connected.
Shared widgets are currently only supported between Nothing devices. And only photo widgets (square) can be shared. We’re quickly expanding support for other widgets, so stay tuned!
Notes: Since shared widgets are in beta, you may encounter issues. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve your experience.
🔒 Introduced a new lock screen customization page. Access by long press on the lock screen or through the personalization page.
🕰️ Choose from a range of new clock face styles.
🖼️ Expanded widget space, allowing you to place more widgets on your lock screen.
🤖 Added AI-powered Smart Drawer to automatically categorize your apps into folders, keeping your app drawer organized and making apps easy to find.
📌 You can now pin your favorite apps to the top of the app drawer for quick access to your favorite apps.
📱 Drag the pop-up view to any position on the screen, for convenient multitasking.
📐 Easily resize the popup view by dragging the bottom corners.
📍 Pin the pop-up view to the edge of the screen, for quick access.
🔔 Swipe down incoming notifications to access the pop-up view. Allows you to quickly view information without leaving your current application. Enable via Settings > Special Features > Popup View.
🧩 Redesigned quick settings and optimized editing experience. Allows you to effortlessly tailor your shortcuts to your preferences.
🖼️ Redesigned widget library. Choose your favorite Nothing widgets or swipe left to browse third-party widgets.
🎨 Improved settings with updated UI visuals. The Network & Internet and Bluetooth options now show the current connection.
👆 New Dot animation for fingerprint unlocking and loading.
🤖 Allow AI to learn your usage habits and prioritize your frequently used apps. Smartly keeps them active longer for a smoother, more efficient experience.
🗃️ Added support for auto-archive feature. Automatically frees up storage space without deleting apps or data from your device.
🖥️ New partial screen sharing, allowing you to record just an application window rather than the entire screen.
🚀 Setup Wizard updated to version 3.0 for smoother introduction.
⬅️ Enabled predictive feedback animations for apps that have registered.
Nothing is simultaneously rolling out the Android 15 update for the budget-focused CMF Phone 1.
More OS updates for Nothing Phone 1
The Nothing Phone 1 launched with Android 12 and is expected to receive three operating system updates. So, Android 15 is likely the last major OS update for the phone, with Nothing now only providing another year of security patches. It might roll out bug-fixing updates in the near future, but don’t expect anything else.
