Nothing Phone 1 long-awaited upgrade to Android 13 halves app load times
>
Nothing has been beta testing an updated version of its own operating system since December last year, and the much-improved interface is now finally rolling out to Nothing Phone 1 users around the world.
Nothing OS 1.5 – which is powered by Android 13 – adds significant upgrades to the phone’s security, app library, visual appearance and, crucially, overall performance, bringing the Nothing Phone 1 one step closer to the best phones to bring out there. To do this, go to Settings on your device and then click on System update.
From a speed standpoint, Nothing says the new OS will cut app load times by up to 50% and give the Nothing Phone 1 the ability to “self-repair” by automatically clearing unused cache and expired system dumps.
The camera app interface has also been refined, and Nothing has added a new QR code scanner, a personal security app, and more Glyph ringtones and notification sounds. You can now create lock screen shortcuts for camera, flashlight, device controls, and wallet, and you can also close running background apps right from the notification center to save battery.
Watch Nothing OS 1.5 in action via the company’s announcement tweet:
Let’s go. The official rollout of Nothing OS 1.5 has begun. Powered by Android 13 for our smoothest and most secure user experience. To upgrade Phone (1), go to Settings > System Update. Learn more: https://t.co/qfnlBmEDxu pic.twitter.com/ATlYAzfz5bFebruary 21, 2023
Visually, Nothing OS 1.5 brings a new look to Media Control (album artwork is displayed with a wider set of music controls), and you can adjust the volume sliders without unlocking the phone’s screen. A live caption feature has also been added, and nothing says you’ll experience smoother animations when switching the screen between on and off.
You can view the full list of updates at Nothing is website (opens in new tab)but in a nutshell, Nothing OS 1.5 is big news for new and prospective owners of Nothing Phone 1. In our Nothing Phone 1 review, we said there were “signs that there was still work to be done regarding [the phone’s] stability”, but at least this OS update seems to address some of those concerns.
Once we’ve spent more time playing with Nothing OS 1.5 for ourselves, we’ll be able to make good judgments about its significance – but this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction for a brand with an exciting future.