The Nothing Cellphone 1 launched to a lot fanfare final yr, with a polarizing design however a palatable software program pores and skin, making it stand out from the pack of the perfect Android smartphones round. It arrived operating Android 12 out of the field, wearing trademark Nothing taste. Final fall we began seeing progress on the telephone’s first main platform replace, as Android 13 testing received underway. Quick-forward to right this moment, and the secure Nothing OS 1.5 is now out for all Nothing Cellphone 1 customers.

With the primary Nothing OS 1.5 beta, the corporate managed to ship an impressively easy expertise, which we do not essentially anticipate from beta software program. On prime of that, the brand new OS comes full of some actually compelling options that you’ll need to use day by day — quite a bit is going on with Nothing’s tackle Android 13. So, right here is every part you might want to learn about Android 13 -based Nothing OS 1.5, coming to Nothing Cellphone 1 handsets close to you.

It makes you need to use the Nothing Cellphone 1 extra

Nothing OS 1.5 is a breath of contemporary air in a sea of ​​closely custom-made software program skins, loaded to the brim with superfluous options and extra annoyingly, bloatware. Barely harking back to the revered Pixel expertise, it is nonetheless recognizably Nothing software program, because of stuff just like the dot-matrix design and the distinctive Glyph interface that brings to life a literal gentle present on the again of your telephone. However quite than these gildings, Nothing OS’s strongest go well with must be its easy efficiency, similar to it has been proper from the primary beta.

After we first reviewed the Nothing Cellphone 1, we did like the general software program method, however the OS itself did not really feel optimized significantly properly for the {hardware}. It looks like the corporate has been listening to complaints like this, and this Android 13 replace feels way more polished than earlier than, with no main points with the OS crossing our path but.

The telephone feels snappy, the fingerprint reader is fast, and every part simply works. Nothing says that it has made fairly just a few adjustments underneath the hood which are chargeable for making the Cellphone 1 really feel smoother than earlier than. As an illustration, a self-repair function clears the cache and the system dumps robotically. Your Nothing Cellphone 1 can prioritize load instances for the apps that you just use most; Nothing claims a 50% enchancment over Android 12. All these inside tweaks actually do appear to be working in Nothing’s favor.

Nothing must also get some credit score for retaining the software program bloatware-free, which is not one thing you at all times get with telephones of its value — even from manufacturers like Samsung.

Moreover a clear and easy person expertise, Nothing OS 1.5 has added a ton of latest options that you just’d need to play with as soon as the Android 13 replace hits your telephone. These are a number of the prime Nothing OS options that you must check out first.

1. Nothing particular concerning the aesthetics

That eye-catching Glyph lighting impact is what makes the Nothing Cellphone 1 stand out from the group, and the corporate is embracing it to the fullest with its newest launch. The newly added Nothing Machines (2) is a library of over a dozen ringtones and notification chimes which are all coordinated with matching vibrations and Glyph patterns.

A number of of them are downright bizarre, whereas others supply some attention-grabbing retro tech sound results that you could be discover interesting. Though positively not everyone’s cup of tea, this eccentric effort does handle to face out and is simply the form of factor that many individuals in all probability purchased the Nothing Cellphone for.

This replace additionally will get you three units of minimalist, geometric wallpapers that use a mixture of grey, white, and pink to match Nothing’s design method. Every set has a pair of sunshine and darkish theme choices so that you can select from, relying in your liking.

2. High quality-of-life enhancements

I’ve lengthy complained that there is no method to rapidly change between knowledge SIMs on Pixel telephones — a necessity in areas the place two SIM playing cards are generally used. Fortunately, no less than the Nothing Cellphone 1 has addressed my concern by including a shortcut in Fast Settings to supply precisely that, which earlier required digging deep into the telephone’s community settings.

One other useful function coming to the Nothing Cellphone 1 is the assist for customizable lock display shortcuts. You’ll be able to select amongst Google Dwelling gadget controls, Google Pockets, flashlight, and digital camera, whereas additionally selecting the place they seem on the lock display to rapidly entry your continuously used options.

3. Nothing X is now a part of the OS

A rising variety of smartphone manufacturers have devoted software program for his or her first-party headphones constructed proper into the telephone OS, and Nothing is now following go well with. To manage and handle your Nothing Ear 1 and the Ear Stick earbuds, you will not must individually set up the Nothing X app. That is now a part of Nothing OS, saving you just a few faucets and a go to to the Play Retailer.

4. Materials You for the win!

Android 12 launched themed app icons together with the brand new Materials You styling, but it surely’s Android 13 that is bringing them to extra apps exterior the Google ecosystem. Meaning extra app builders and telephone makers are actually proactively bringing themed icons to their apps and units. Android 13 would not simply carry that to the Nothing Cellphone 1, but in addition takes it a notch greater.

On Pixel telephones, app icons can match the wallpaper’s colour scheme, however solely when positioned on the house display. The Nothing Cellphone 1 can now present themed app icons within the app drawer, delivering the form of uniformity that sticklers amongst us will love. And as you’d anticipate, the handset additionally will get the extra Materials You colour schemes that Android 13 launched on Pixel telephones, to make full use of app icon theming.

5. Nothing-style climate app

Whereas Android 13 has a contemporary vibe of its personal, Nothing has a aptitude for its distinctive dot-matrix design components which are additionally a part of the brand new climate app. Nothing’s current residence display widget can already present climate updates, but it surely now connects to the brand new app for Nothing OS 1.5.

With an unmistakable Nothing design, giant icons and dotted components are sprinkled throughout the interface. For its climate updates, the app depends on AccuWeather and may give you hourly and weekly predictions, together with the flexibility to ship excessive climate warnings. You should utilize the left menu to entry and handle your saved places, whereas the settings tab permits you to change between metrics and imperial measurements and alter app themes, amongst different choices.

6. All the things new from Android 13

Google loaded Android 13 with tons of tweaks and new options, and numerous that has been introduced over to the Nothing Cellphone 1. A number of the extra notable upgrades embody Android 13’s privateness controls, notification opt-in, and granular media permissions.

The useful clipboard preview device has made it to Nothing OS, and so has per-app language assist, which multilingual people are going to understand. Nothing has additionally spruced up the amount controls, permitting you to alter alarm and name settings from the identical window. Stay Caption is one other neat addition to Nothing OS.

Lastly, Nothing’s Sport Mode now integrates Google’s Sport Dashboard. So, while you launch a recreation in your Nothing Cellphone 1, you will now see a brand new overlay menu with choices for display recording, exhibiting the body charge, and going stay on YouTube with out leaving the app.

7. Some Nothing-exclusive software program magic

A brand new Bluetooth pop-up window reveals some fundamental info and controls in your linked headphones — it could even pull the OnePlus Buds Z2’s icon from Google’s Quick Pair servers, including a extra personal touch to the Bluetooth tile. Nonetheless, it will get even higher when you have a pair of Nothing Ear 1: In the identical pop-up window, you will notice the choice to alter the noise cancellation profile, together with the battery share. There’s additionally a brand new QR code scanner tile within the Fast Settings menu, powered by Google Play Providers.

Whereas one thing lower than a momentous change, Nothing has added some new transition animations that seem whereas locking and unlocking the telephone. Each animations monitor your faucets on the show, like within the instance GIF beneath. Whereas minor, it is nonetheless a pleasant contact that makes utilizing the telephone a tiny bit extra nice.

It is Nothing like something

Nothing wasn’t precisely tremendous fast to ship Android 13 to the Cellphone 1. Firms like Samsung have been quick to comply with Pixel telephones with their very own updates, but it surely took Nothing six months to come back out with its personal iteration. That is removed from ideally suited, particularly when it solely has the one smartphone mannequin. Nonetheless, the corporate considerably made up for the delay by delivering a stable Android 13 replace.

Its software program continues to be an ideal center floor between Pixel’s model of Android 13 and extra overwrought OEM skins. Nothing OS stays minimal with its Pixel-like look, but it surely nonetheless will get you some useful instruments and options. This will likely remind (former) diehard OnePlus followers of the good-old OxygenOS earlier than it was Oppo-fied.

When you have been ready for the large Android 13 replace in your Nothing Cellphone 1, your wait ends now. The Nothing OS 1.5 launch is out through secure channels and may hit your handset sooner quite than later. When you look forward to the replace to reach, take a peek on the ‘premium’ Nothing Cellphone 2 that may also make its method to the US.