- Jul. 15th 2022 2:01 am PT
Very few Android phones stay close to AOSP these days, and while the Nothing Phone (1) won’t come to the US, it’s an interesting first entry for Carl Pei’s startup. Sold as clean and lightweight, just what is different in Nothing OS? Here’s everything you need to know.
While there are similarities, Nothing OS contains a few key tweaks to take advantage of the unique design and hardware on this brand-new Android entrant. There are certainly a few hints of early OxygenOS here that might have former OnePlus fans looking at the GV-backed brand.
Subscribe to 9to5Google on YouTube for more videos
Nothing OS is a very light skin atop Android 12, and you are likely happy to hear that bloat or pre-installed apps are kept to an absolute minimum.
Some of the most notable changes within Nothing OS over the Google Pixel series are found in the drop-down Quick Settings section or Notification Shade.
As spotted in the Nothing Launcher Beta ahead of launch, there are a number of widgets designed based upon the Dot Matrix aestethic cultivated by Nothing since the launch of the Ear (1) earbuds.
The Settings section of Nothing OS includes some minor alterations to accommodate some of the added hardware features.
Not all Android skins support Google’s wider Material You and Dynamic Color changes right away even after updating to Android 12. Nothing OS supports both core components within Android 12 right out of the box.
Of course, the Nothing Phone (1) camera needs an application and so Nothing OS includes a fairly standard suite of photography and videography options right out of the box. The dual camera setup consists of a 50-megapixel Sony IMX 766 main sensor and 50-megapixel Samsung JN1 ultrawide.
The most striking and biggest selling point of the Nothing Phone (1) is the “Glyph” lighting bands under the transparent glass panel at the back of the device. You cannot fully customize the lighting but, instead, use preset patterns for individual apps or contacts.
It’s not often we see new Android skins arrive with new brand-new companies being just as rare. Should Nothing OS continue to adopt an AOSP-like design and aesthetic? Or would you like to see more tuning and adjustments to tailor the hardware? Do you like what you see so far? Let us know down in the comments section below.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news:
Breaking news for Android. Get the latest on apps, carriers, devices, and more!
Damien is a UK-based video producer for 9to5Google. Find him on Twitter: @iamdamienwilde. Email: damien@9to5mac.com
Nothing OS: How close is it to Pixel? [Video]
Montblanc shows off Wear OS 3 without Samsung's skin
Chromecast breaks YouTube app after 6 months