📌 Idea: Bring Essential Key functionality to older Nothing phones via Power button remap
Hi team & fellow users! 👋
I love the new Essential Key + Essential Space feature on the Nothing Phone (3a). But as a Nothing Phone (1) user, I was thinking of a possible workaround that could also benefit other older models (Phone 1 / 2 / 2a):
✨ Idea:
Since the Essential Key is mostly used for quick actions (screenshot, voice memo, launch Essential Space),
And many of us don’t use the long-press on the power button (which by default opens Google Assistant or the power menu),
What if Nothing could add an option in settings to assign Essential Key functions to the power button’s long-press or double-tap?
That way: ✅ Older phones could still get a similar fast-capture workflow.
✅ Even if Essential Space AI features remain exclusive to new phones, at least we’d get the convenience of a dedicated quick-capture button.
✅ Makes better use of an underused hardware button.
Extra benefit:
For people who don’t want Google Assistant on long-press, this would be a meaningful, brand-consistent alternative.
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⚙️ Possible implementation
System Settings → Buttons → “Long press power button” → choose:
Launch camera
Launch voice recorder
Launch Essential Space (if available)
Take screenshot
Could also offer: double-tap to launch a custom app.
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💡 Why this matters
Keeps Nothing’s promise of useful design and minimalism, even for older loyal users.
Doesn’t require new hardware — only a software update.
Creates a unified experience across the Nothing lineup.
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If you like this idea, please upvote / reply so it can catch the team’s attention!
And Nothing team: if this is technically possible, it would be an amazing gesture to the early community. 🙌
