Prakhar Khanna / Android Authority
TL;DR Following recent controversy over pre-installed apps on non-flagship devices, Nothing has shifted its stance slightly.
It recently announced that users will be able to uninstall pre-installed Meta apps, such as Facebook and Instagram, from their devices.
This change will be introduced with the upcoming Nothing OS 4.0 beta update, scheduled for release by the end of the month.
If there’s one peculiar characteristic of the Carl Pei-led tech brand Nothing, it’s the propensity for unusual choices and hot takes. The brand has consistently also maintained a strong stance on privacy. That is why its recent decision to include certain third-party apps on some of its phones from the factory sparked strong opposition from users. Now, it seems the brand is taking a half-step back and will allow users to delete some of these apps — but will continue to install them on some non-flagship phones.
Nothing just shared an update on the recent controversial change in the Android 16-based OS 4.0 for the Phone (3a) series. As per the new statement, while the updated interface will continue to come with pre-installed apps, users will have more control over them. In simpler terms, users will be able to uninstall certain pre-installed apps. Beyond that, Nothing will also allow users to delete Meta Services, which is a step forward from just being able to disable them.
The option isn’t immediately available, but Nothing confirms it is working on an update that will allow users to delete the apps from their phones and aims to deliver it by the end of the month.
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With its last update a couple of weeks ago, Nothing said it will continue to pre-install “partner apps,” including Facebook and Instagram, on its mid-range and entry-level devices in all regions except Japan. Meanwhile, devices in the UK, EU, and Japan will come with TikTok pre-installed by default. Nothing defended the decision, stating that the majority of users use these apps, and that pre-installing them on devices allows the apps to launch more quickly during a cold start (when the app is opened again after being terminated entirely).
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