Nothing OS 3.0 hands-on: Dot matrix re-reloaded

Nothing is well-known amongst Android followers. Its mixture of clear {hardware} design and dot-based software program zigs each time the bigger Android ecosystem would favor to zag. Generally, the ambition works, like within the case of the enjoyable, distinctive Glyph Interface. Different occasions, it merely confuses me, just like the ringtones and notification chimes that sound like nails on a chalkboard. However, as time passes, it’s clear that Nothing is studying. It’s getting nearer to what I feel Carl Pei needed when he spun off from OnePlus, and all of it begins with Nothing’s strategy to Android 15. I’ve spent a bit of time with the Nothing OS 3.0 beta and like what I’ve seen to date.

Main as much as the Nothing OS 3.0 beta launch, I noticed one factor repeated greater than another on Nothing’s group web site: Please don’t ditch the dots. In any case, the distinctive dot-based widgets and dot font have been what drew many individuals to the small Android model within the first place. Now, I’m blissful to report that the dots have certainly caught round — nicely, for probably the most half.

I wouldn’t say that Nothing OS 3.0 makes use of the basic dot font fairly as a lot as its predecessors did, nevertheless it makes up for it by including further dots elsewhere. It rolled out a brand new unlock animation, rippling dots outward from the optical fingerprint sensor everytime you open your cellphone. Nothing is engaged on a revamped climate app, too, which is able to change the present one-size dots with dots of a number of sizes, making the solar, rain, and clouds look extra pure and fewer like they’ve escaped a Tamagotchi. It’ll be a welcome replace to what’s already one of many higher climate apps, because of Nothing’s handy widgets for air high quality, humidity, and extra — I simply want you might reorganize them like you may on Google’s Pixel Climate app.

A lot of Nothing’s different widgets stay safely dot-based, too. The pedometer nonetheless exhibits a stick man slowly making his method throughout a dotted line, whereas the display time widget exhibits a smiling, dotted define of a cellphone to remind me that I don’t at all times want my display on. Even the fast digital camera launcher widget is an effective reminder that much less is extra, combining a crystal-clear serif font to indicate me my digital camera’s focal size whereas utilizing the dot font under it to remind me {that a} 35mm lens is finest for highway journeys and never portraits.

By the point Nothing OS 3.0 breaks free from its beta label on the finish of 2024, I feel it should in all probability have the best degree of dot-based design. I’ll admit that the dots aren’t at all times the simplest to learn or probably the most refined, however shuffling across the sizing ought to open up a brand new degree of flexibility to discover.

Talking of flexibility, a lot of the Nothing OS 3.0 beta is centered round having larger management over your consumer interface. From the lock display to the fast settings, it’s a lot simpler to make your cellphone really feel a bit of extra distinctive. I began my customization journey with the lock display, figuring I’ll as nicely make the format that I see all day on my always-on show really feel a bit of bit extra attention-grabbing. I rapidly jumped from the straightforward default clock model to certainly one of Nothing’s new layouts, a digital clock based mostly on the basic London Underground font. Beneath that, I arrange a small grid of widgets (most of that are the identical as I had on Nothing OS 2.5), itemizing the climate, my remaining battery, and a compass — extra for its extra dot-based detailing than for a continuing reminder of which method is North.

Nonetheless, as a lot as I like my new lock display, I feel it depends on among the identical points I discussed within the earlier part. Sure, I just like the dots, however the default climate widget solely exhibits a simplified solar with none further data — one thing I might determine simply as simply by looking the window. I’ve since swapped it for a extra detailed climate widget, which feels just like the one which Nothing ought to have used from the beginning. Nothing’s battery indicator is barely seen when your display is darkened, making it much less helpful when the Cellphone 2a already exhibits your remaining battery share on the backside of the show.

When you set your lock display up the best way you prefer it, it’s time to dive into the fast settings and app drawer to make them really feel a bit of extra private. This time, although, I can’t shake a way of deja vu whereas exploring a few of Nothing’s new choices. It rolled out a brand new fast settings format and remodeled the app drawer right into a usage-based Sensible Drawer, each of which really feel just a bit an excessive amount of like Apple’s iOS 18. I’m not saying that familiarity is a foul factor. I usually like iOS 18, nevertheless it’s simply related sufficient that I picked up on it inside a minute or two of updating to Nothing OS 3.0.

Really, I fairly just like the similarity within the fast settings, as controls are simpler to succeed in and resize. Nothing moved its brightness slider to the underside of the dropdown, which looks like it ought to be a no brainer, but so few Android skins do the identical. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however really feel a bit of misplaced with the Sensible Drawer. Like Apple, Nothing determined to type my apps into a number of smaller folders based mostly on utilization, however the divisions really feel half-baked at finest. It precisely separated the video games I’ve on my Cellphone 2a, however then dumped Gmail into the social folder and Chrome into the utilities folder whereas reserving a productiveness folder for Drive, Maintain Notes, and Google One. And sure, I can perceive why it put every of these apps into that folder, nevertheless it leads to an app drawer that takes up extra space than the basic design as a result of I’ve a number of folders with only one app in them.

I’ve solely spent a couple of hours exploring Nothing OS 3.0, however one factor is evident — that is the software program that Nothing needed to make from the beginning. It’s not completed but — I’m nonetheless ready on the Nothing Gallery and the up to date climate interface — however the broad strokes of Android 15 really feel good and easy. Nothing has teased a couple of AI-powered options which are coming as a part of Android 15, however they’re not prepared but, both. Key items of Nothing’s consumer interface are nonetheless there, just like the dot-based design, black, white, and purple shade scheme, and heavy reliance on widgets, nevertheless it seems like the general pores and skin is maturing and changing into cohesive quite than making an attempt to look cool and edgy.

I like (or am trying ahead to) virtually all elements of Android 15 on the Nothing Cellphone 2a. I feel individuals will bounce everywhere in the new fast settings and have loads of enjoyable mixing and matching the widgets on their lock screens. Longtime Nothing followers will respect the continuity of the dots all through the interface. On the identical time, new converts gained’t really feel overwhelmed by how completely different the general pores and skin seems to be in comparison with One UI or Pixel UI. Actually, that’s what I like finest: Nothing continues to be zigging, nevertheless it feels extra intentional and fewer prefer it’s making an attempt to be the alternative of mainstream Android. And but, it nonetheless zags only a bit too far typically. I’m already able to revert to the previous app drawer format, and I’m relying on the up to date dot-based design to make the widgets extra helpful.

In fact, I’ve to keep in mind that that is nonetheless the primary beta model of Nothing OS 3.0. I do know that there are nonetheless a number of options which have but to roll out, like the power to share widgets between mates with Nothing gadgets. At some point, you’ll be capable to ship pedometer counts backwards and forwards, pushing one another to be extra energetic, however proper now, you must belief that Nothing is engaged on it. It’ll nonetheless be a couple of months earlier than Nothing lifts that beta label, however when it does, I’m beginning to suppose it’ll climb even greater on our rating of Android skins — at the very least so long as Nothing improves its replace dedication, too.

Should you’re prepared to leap into Nothing’s public beta, you are able to do so on the Cellphone 2a proper now. In case you have the Nothing Cellphone 2, you’ll have to attend for November 2024, and Nothing Cellphone 1 and Cellphone 2a Plus customers must wait till December for his or her crack at Android 15.