GoKawiil
Tech News
Nothing is accepting applications through October 5 for its Community Review Program, which gives selected fans early hands-on access to unreleased hardware or software. Participants receive a device to test, provide direct feedback to Nothing's team, and must return the product once the review period ends.
An Android Authority writer describes keeping a four-year-old Nothing Phone 1 running after it reached the end of official software support. The fixes included a third-party battery replacement, switching to a slower 18W charger and thinner case to reduce heat, and moving to lighter, open-source apps to cut battery drain and improve speed.
Android Authority writer Megan Ellis describes how her HONOR 600 Pro, like Motorola's Razr, Edge and the Nothing Phone 4a, ships with a dedicated physical AI button on its frame. After finding the button's default AI-launching behaviour unwanted, she discovered a settings option letting her reassign it to trigger other phone functions instead of an AI assistant.
Android Authority polled over 2,200 readers on which phone they'd choose instead of the Pixel 11 Pro. The Galaxy S26 Plus won with 26.2% of votes, followed by the Pixel 10 Pro at 21.8%, the Nothing Phone 3 at 20.5%, and the Motorola Razr at 19.5%. The standard Pixel 11 finished last with just 12% of the vote.
Amazon is selling the Nothing Phone 3 for $599, a 25% cut from its $799 list price. The phone features a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, a triple 50MP rear camera system with periscope telephoto, and a roughly 5,000mAh battery with wireless and reverse wireless charging.
Nothing has opened its Android 17-based OS 5.0 beta to three more devices: the Phone 4a, Phone 3a Pro, and Phone 3a. The update brings a visual overhaul with a new Geist typeface, redesigned Settings and Camera apps, split notification panels, transparent widgets, and more customization options. Users have only one week to enroll before the beta window closes, after which they must wait for the stable release expected in early November.
Reviewers compared the Galaxy S24 against three newly released mid-range rivals—Google's Pixel 10a, Nothing's Phone 4a Pro, and Samsung's own Galaxy A37 5G—all priced near $450-$500. Each offers a distinct edge, from the Pixel's long software support and camera software to the Nothing phone's larger screen and periscope zoom, to the A37's battery life and display quality within Samsung's own lineup.
Android Authority argues that Samsung's new Galaxy S26 FE, now priced at $700 after a $50 increase, faces stiff competition despite carrying flagship-level performance with some cost-cutting on materials. The outlet points to alternatives including the Google Pixel 11, Pixel 10a, Samsung's own Galaxy S26, the Motorola Edge (2026), and the Nothing Phone 4a Pro as options worth weighing first. A reader poll cited in the piece shows the Galaxy S26 and Motorola Edge drawing the most votes as preferred alternatives.
In a Reddit AMA, Nothing CEO Carl Pei addressed criticism over the Phone 2's software support and monetization practices. He confirmed the Phone 2 will stop receiving major Android updates after Android 16, saying its aging chipset and kernel can't support Android 17, but insisted the company met its original promise of three major OS updates. Pei also conceded that pre-installed apps and games on Nothing devices have gone too far and need rebalancing.
Nothing has revealed early plans for Nothing OS 5.1, a minor update that will let users remap the Essential Key found on some of its phones, currently tied to the Essential Space app. The company also confirmed it's beginning work on a larger Nothing OS 6.0 release planned for 2027, while Nothing OS 5.0 remains in beta on the Phone 3 ahead of a stable rollout expected in mid-October.
Amazon is offering the Nothing Phone (3) for $499, a $300 markdown from its usual price. The device features a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor.
Nothing has unveiled Nothing OS 5.0, a major redesign of its Android skin built on Android 17, featuring a new Geist typeface, translucent UI layering, wallpaper-based adaptive theming, and dedicated apps for the Glyph Interface and Essential Apps Builder. Open Beta testing begins for the Nothing Phone 3 tomorrow, with a stable release planned for mid-October, but the Phone 1, Phone 2, and CMF Phone 1 will not get the update.