Nothing OS 2.5 (Android 14) Open Beta 1 rolls out to the Nothing Phone (2)

The Nothing Phone (2) was announced earlier this year, the successor to the original Nothing Phone (1). The phone was launched with Android 13 on board but seeing as it is a 2023 flagship phone, it will obviously be updated to Android 14 (which has since been released for Google's Pixel phones).

For those who are curious about the update and want to see what they can expect, you might be interested to learn that Nothing has announced that Nothing OS 2.5 Open Beta 1 will be coming to the Nothing Phone (2).

The Nothing OS 2.5 update will be based on Android 14, so it should be able to give users an idea of what they can expect. According to Nothing, here are some of the changes users can look forward to in addition to the changes that Android 14 itself will be bringing to the table.

• Updated the widgets library interface so Nothing widgets appear more clearly.
• New photos widget, allowing you to display your favourite photos on both your Home Screen and Lock Screen.
• New screenshot editor and menu, allowing for more advanced editing features and quick deletions.
• Updated design of back gesture to be more in line with Nothing's style.
• Added the option to hide app icons on the Home Screen and app drawer. Swipe right in the app drawer to reveal hidden app icons.
• Capture screenshots quickly with a three-finger swipe.
• Customise the double-press power button to quickly access a chosen feature.
• Redesigned a joint Home Screen and Lock Screen customisation page for a more comprehensive view of options.
• Introduced the glass filter to make your favourite wallpapers extra unique.
• New solid colour wallpapers for a cleaner Home Screen appearance.

Users who are already enrolled in the beta can update to the beta via the System Update in the settings menu. For those who aren't enrolled, you can get yourself enrolled via Nothing's website. Keep in mind that this is a beta so there are bound to be bugs and issues that haven't been fully ironed out yet.

It might not be the best idea to use it as a daily driver unless you have a spare phone on you, but if you're curious you can check it out anyway. The company did not mention when the public release of Android 14 will be available for the Nothing Phone (1) and (2), but hopefully they will be able to push it out before the year is out!