Nothing OS 4.0 Beta Introduces Pre-Installed Apps to Phone (3a) Series: Co-Founder Akis Evangelidis Explains the Update

On Friday, Nothing launched the Open Beta of Nothing OS 4.0 for the Phone (3a) series, which introduces Lock Glimpse, dynamic lock screen backgrounds. For the first time, the brand has also bundled third-party apps on select devices. User reactions to this change remain to be seen. Nothing, the UK-based smartphone company founded by Carl Pei, has started rolling out the Open Beta of its latest operating system, Nothing OS 4.0, for the Phone (3a) series.(Nothing) Nothing, the UK-based smartphone company founded by Carl Pei, has started rolling out the Open Beta of its latest operating system, Nothing OS, Nothing, Phone. The update introduces a new feature called Lock Glimpse and marks the first time the company is experimenting with pre-installed third-party apps on some non-flagship devices. Will the tech giant introduce bloatwares in the near future? Time will tell. What’s new in the Nothing OS 4.0 update? Lock Glimpse is a new feature designed to refresh users’ lock screens with high-quality wallpapers curated across nine categories. Users can swipe left from the lock screen to access the feature, and it’s turned off by default. Nothing emphasized that the feature is optional and that no personal data is collected if users choose to enable it. The feature also has the potential to track timely updates and other useful content. Future updates are expected to allow users to completely replace default backgrounds with their own photos, giving each a personal touch. Akis Evangelidis, co-founder of Nothing, explained in a blog post on Friday that the feature is part of Nothing’s approach to redesigning everyday smartphone interactions. “We aim to integrate features in the most optimal way, while keeping everything under the user’s control,” he said. Bloatware incoming? In a shift from its previously strict focus on minimal pre-installed software, Niks will begin to include a curated set of third-party apps on some non-flagship devices. Evangelidis emphasized that these apps are carefully selected based on popularity and relevance—examples include Instagram, and in some cases integrations can improve device functionality, such as camera performance or content sharing. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro “We operate on razor-thin margins and must make deliberate choices to deliver a high-quality user experience while remaining financially sustainable,” he wrote. All pre-installed apps will remain easy to remove, and users will retain control over what appears on their devices, the co-founder added. “Building a new brand in a difficult market” Evangelidis acknowledged the difficulties of building a smartphone brand from the ground up in a market dominated by established players. High entry costs, complex supply chains and intense competition make innovation a challenge, especially for new entrants with limited resources. The co-founder concluded by emphasizing transparency: the company will continue to inform users about new features and pre-installed apps and welcomes feedback as it develops the operating system.