The British smartphone maker Nothing announced the Nothing OS 3.0 update on Tuesday, alongside the release of its first open-style true wireless earbuds, the Nothing Ear Open. Initially teased earlier this year, the update introduces AI-powered features like natural language search and smart image categorisation, alongside enhanced customisation options, new apps and widgets, and performance upgrades.
In a video on Nothing's YouTube channel, several new features were highlighted, with speculation suggesting the update is based on Android 15, which was globally launched earlier this month.
A significant change in Nothing OS 3.0 is the introduction of a new font design. The updated Sans Serif font will work alongside the N-Dot font across the OS and apps, giving it a modern, clean aesthetic. Additionally, a new dot animation engine enhances dynamic activities like unlocking or charging the device, while icons in the weather app adopt a dot-matrix style.
The lock screen has been completely redesigned, offering more direct customisation options, including new clock faces, typefaces, and layouts. Quick settings have also been revamped to align with the home screen’s grid system. Users can now pin apps at the top of the app drawer and take advantage of a new Countdown widget, allowing them to track events and progress throughout the year. Additionally, widgets can be linked with friends and family, enabling shared content across devices.
AI is at the heart of this update. A smart app organisation system will automatically categorise apps based on usage. The new Gallery app, powered by AI, can identify and highlight key objects in photos. Upcoming AI-driven features include automatic image categorisation, more intuitive natural language search, AI upscaling, and super-resolution.
The Nothing OS 3.0 update will enter open beta in October, with a public release scheduled for December. The list of supported devices will be announced soon.