Nothing OS 4.0 Beta on Phone (3a) Series - Lock Glimpse & Future Plans

Akis · 2025-10-24T17:20:00+00:00

![](https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-10-24/1761326648-151450-glimpse.jpg "banner") Hi everyone, Today, we rolled out the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta for the Phone (3a) Series, which included Lock Glimpse and sparked a lot of questions. We had planned to cover this next week as part of a new product announcement, but we wanted to address it now to be transparent and provide you with the full context. Building Nothing from the ground up hasn’t been easy. We are the only smartphone brand in the last decade that has successfully launched, scaled and developed full end-to-end capabilities. This is no small feat in a market defined by high entry barriers, from massive capital requirements and complex supply chains to intense competition. One of the biggest challenges for any new entrant is managing the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost, which is higher than that of established players. On top of this, most brands also have software-based revenue streams, the most straightforward being pre-installed partner apps and services. This is a common approach across the industry, including for established brands like Samsung. For us, this means operating on razor-thin margins and making careful, deliberate choices for every aspect of the product while still delivering an optimal user experience. As we continue investing in hardware and software innovation as well as sustaining our growth, we need to explore sustainable revenue models to avoid passing costs and ensuring optimal pricings for our products - especially for entry- and mid-segment products. Moving forward, on select non-flagship devices, we’ll start including a carefully considered selection of third-party partner apps and services that don’t disrupt the Nothing OS experience you love. These are apps most people install on day one, like Instagram. They’re not random - we’re working with popular platforms many of you already use daily, and in some cases, these integrations can even enhance performance or provide tighter experiences, such as improved camera or sharing features. As part of this we have a new feature called Lock Glimpse being tested in the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta on the Phone (3a) Series. Lock Glimpse brings fresh, high-quality wallpapers to your lock screen, curated to your taste across nine categories. It can also surface timely updates and useful content, designed to enhance your experience, not distract you. A few important details: * On Phone (3a) Series, Lock Glimpse is off by default. * You can enable it anytime in Settings, or access it only by swiping left from your lock screen. * You can customize wallpaper categories, refresh anytime, or disable it completely. * In future updates, you’ll be able to use your own photos, replacing standard wallpapers entirely and making every unlock uniquely yours. * If you choose to turn it on, no personal data is shared. This is standard across the industry, but we’ll always do it the Nothing way - redesigning each element and integrating them into Nothing OS in the most optimal way (default designs look terrible…) - while keeping everything completely under your control, giving you the ability to remove things or turn features on and off as you wish. What’s not changing: our focus remains on delivering the best possible user experience while taking the steps needed to achieve our ambitions. We’ll always: * Keep partner apps minimal and easy to remove * Be upfront about what’s pre-installed and why * Give you full control over features like Lock Glimpse We’d rather be open and transparent about this change and hear your feedback and suggestions. We’ll keep you posted on any new developments regarding third-party apps and services. Thanks Akis **[ UPDATE ] - 30 OCT** Yesterday, we launched Phone (3a) Lite, the first entry-level smartphone from Nothing. As mentioned above, we want to remain open and transparent about the inclusion of third-party apps and services in Nothing OS, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions regarding this change. Continuing on that, we’ve made some new developments regarding third-party apps and services and have begun including a carefully selected range of third-party partner apps and app recommendation services in Phone (3a) Lite. These are some of the most widely used apps globally , the ones most users tend to install on day one. 1. TikTok - EU , UK and Japan 2. Instagram - All Regions ( except Japan ) 3. Facebook - All Regions ( except Japan ) Because these apps come pre-installed, they offer : * Faster startup: These apps launch 50 to 100 milliseconds quicker. * Smarter background performance: App background retention is optimized, so when you switch back to Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, they resume exactly where you left off without reloading. * Better power efficiency: These apps are optimized for power efficiency, helping extend your device’s battery life by reducing power consumption. * Seamless camera access: Using the camera within these apps is smoother, providing a more fluid shooting experience and reducing the chance of lag or crashes. And importantly, you still retain full control. If you choose to, all three apps can be uninstalled at any time. Additionally, some community members have raised concerns about the Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Service. These apps are designed to ensure that pre-installed apps are updated to their latest versions in a timely manner and to maintain their stability. If users wish to disable them, they can do so by navigating to: Settings App > All apps > Tap the icon in the top-right corner > Select “Show system” > Find the Meta apps > Select the “disable” button. However, we recommend not disabling these apps if you intend to use the pre-installed apps, as they are essential for ensuring the stability and proper functioning of those apps. ‎ We are also introducing recommendation services which essentially recommend apps that are curated to enhance the initial setup experience for users by helping them quickly discover essential utility and social apps, rather than searching for and downloading each one individually from the Play Store. A few important details: * It’s only visible during the initial phone setup or when the phone is reactivated after a factory reset. Once the setup is complete, there are no more app suggestions during daily use. * Users have full control over it — you can choose to skip and not download any of the recommended apps. * The recommended apps are verified by a trusted partner, eliminating the risk of malware or low-quality software. If users wish to disable this feature , they can do so by navigating to: Settings App > All apps > Tap the icon in the top-right corner > Select “Show system” > Find “App services” > Select the “disable” button. ‎ **[ UPDATE ] 3 NOV** Hi everyone, Following your feedback and suggestions, we’ve been working on making pre-installed services more flexible and within your control. Starting later this month, you’ll be able to completely remove Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services from your device. Previously, these could only be disabled. While we recommended keeping them active for better stability of pre-installed apps like Instagram or Facebook, we understand that some users prefer full control over what stays on their device. We’re aiming to roll this out by the end of the month and will confirm once it’s live. Thank you for your continued feedback. It helps us keep improving while staying true to our promise of openness and user choice. Akis

Akis

Err_404NotFound given you can remove the apps as well as turn features on and off - what is your painpoint?

Flocky

Akis The problem is that Nothing sold us bloat and ad-free devices, and we bought that, it’s not the ads themselves, it’s just that our trust in the brand is broken

thisiskret

Akis The precedent it sets. This is a bad sign. Please, it isn’t too late to back out, apologize and undo the damage.

Don’t let Nothing evolve into the crab.

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk

Akis Then why you market your OS as clean software experience??????

@Ant-e-so-shial Yeah whiners are whiners , but footlickers like you will always do that even the foot has shi! in it ,

Btw , thanks for pinpointing NP3 (im referring to the sentence “ phones are worse and costlier out there”) lol , they marketed their OS as clean minimal software experience, which is their USP apart from their gimmicks , fake promised and made people buy their smartphones , now breaking that promise and you think it is right ?

Remember this , you choose to lick their foot for whatever they are , just like you , there will be people for complaining too.

caffeineash

Akis why don’t I just get a OnePlus or an oppo device then? The nord 5 easily beats the phone 3a series in many parts

I thought the whole point of Nothing phones was to provide a flagship experience and the CMF brand was there for the budget needs. Thanks for nothing, nothing 😭✌️

Honor

Akis Transparency and communication.

On-boarding that clearly states “this includes ads / this is bloatware / or this helps us make revenue to sustain our business. Would you like to enable or disable it?”.

People want to know what they’re signing up for. People who have previously bought a Nothing Phone did not expect to be retroactively affected (they never agreed to this!), and so users like that will definitely feel like today’s announcement was a gut punch.

Sure you may be able to turn it off, or uninstall apps (e.g. Instagram, although a lot of people are against Instagram!), but hearing: “hey we at the Less Evil Housing Company who previously talked about not installing bombs in your house have decided to now install a Bomb in your house just like the other Evil Housing Companies TM - but don’t worry! Unlike them, we instead left it disabled by default, but when you move in we strongly suggest you turn it on!” That sort of thing does not really feel good to the end consumer.

peruna

Akis I’ve been chatting with him (and the whole community), this is my opinion. The point is that it still exists. You basically have an option in your settings to “allow ads”. Nothing OS was advertised as bloatware free, now I can enable a setting that if I click a link on my lockscreen it takes me to a website and asks cookies. Oh, and about the apps: I’ve seen Carl complaining about Samsungs preinstalled apps before, and the comments were “u can just delete them” the exact same point stands. You were against those and now it’s being added to your beautiful OS.

Sourav_Satvaya

Akis Moving forward, on select non-flagship devices, we’ll start including a carefully considered selection of third-party partner apps and services that don’t disrupt the Nothing OS experience you love. These are apps most people install on day one, like Instagram. They’re not random - we’re working with popular platforms many of you already use daily, and in some cases, these integrations can even enhance performance or provide tighter experiences, such as improved camera or sharing features.

As part of this we have a new feature called Lock Glimpse being tested in the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta on the Phone (3a) Series.

F this feature and Nothing as a brand too. Bad decision which will ruin everything and eventually the brand will die.

Akis

etidorhpa this is exactly it - ultimately you can remove the apps you don’t want and disable any feature

Flocky

Akis It at least should be the other way around, imo, don’t opt out, opt in. Like just if we want an app we install it during the setup but if we don’t need it we don’t install it

Honor

Akis Here’s the thing though: On a fresh phone would Nothing OS ask you “Do you want to install Instagram?” and give you the option of “Yes” or “No” just like how I have the option between Nothing or Stock home screen, or am I just going to see it already on my home screen? And what stops that from spiraling from one preinstalled app, to two apps, to three in the future? Each time I get a new phone, I’d have to uninstall apps. That’s bloat!

Sourav_Satvaya

Akis As of now. After a year of two you’ll add more and integrate those apps into the system which will affect other features too just like trash chinese ui. We are getting where the brand is heading. It’s not too late.

ravindrayadav_FNtedamx3B

Akis actually as a fan we never thought you guys are going to do that also here in India 20k to 30k bloat free os also with cmf brand same thing so it’s very unique for me. Option to remove or full control is ok for me. But need some real Android 16 changes otherwise you I think you can definitely see how other os evolving themselves and Nothing is doing some which is not expected in dreams. Going backwards.😔😔😔

CMF1_hacker

To be honest, the money has to come from somewhere.

I like the CMF1 and like the NP3 and I think they’re both good at their price point.

There will always be workarounds but I would like to draw the line as custom ROMs.

Thus, if NOS isn’t blemished, I understand that NTL has to make money either through flagship absolute profit, a la NP3, or partner products, a la NP3a.

The line for me will be crossed when it de-optimises NOS.

Currently, that doesn’t seem to be the case, but as has been said for nearly a century:

“Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing”.

To today’s announcement, this is a step in a direction that I do not want to head. Thus, I make this statement.

Sourav_Satvaya

CMF1_hacker To you Nothing is the perfect brand, whatever they do they do the right thing. Have you ever criticised the brand? Be a fan boy not a blind fan boy.

RajPratapAnand

Please dont save the reputation by trying to brainwash into making us think you are lagging behind. Already abandoned glyph interpfave for a filthy screen on the back which is a copy . Also i paid for exclusively the experience of no bloatware at all and lock glimpse is one even though we can completely disable it , unless you add ai to it and we can make our collections by making ai make a slideshow of sorts from our own photos would be much better for the ai integrated os. Please do not add any bad spyware - ALL THE APPS THAT ASK FOR USAGE DATA ARE MOSTLY SPYWARE LIKE INSTA AND FB they give us targetted ads for eg i talk about a back cover or a laptop and the next instant i open insta i get ads which is basically invasion of privacy. Also BLAOTWARE like tiktok , snapchat , insta , fb , netflix , uber , etc .IT RUINS THE EXPERIENCE instead you could just up your game by releasing a phone worth 40k with FEATURES on par with a 40k smartphone. There is no need for nothing tech to think we wont pay for a 40k phone , we will if you abide by your tagline “ NO BLAOTWARE ” 🤡

CMF1_hacker

Sourav_Satvaya I understand what it takes to raise £200MM Series C and this helps with that goal.

Akis is correct, turn it off?

Siemens NX

Akis I prefer not to have bloatware at all. If I want something I can install it myself. I don’t need “carefully” chosen apps by the company for me. Even if I can uninstall it easily.

Think of it like a fly dropping into your soup. You can easily take it off and continue eating but it’s disgusting.

It always starts with little stuff that we can uninstall or disable but it gets to a point. No other company started with permanent bloatware, they all had little stuff that didn’t bother much. I think Carl knows this better than me with OnePlus.

I remember your stance about not preinstalling Netflix thus not being able to offer HDR in Netflix. I fully supported that even though it would benefit some users. It made you unique and stand out.

You can see the screenshots of Carl calling Instagram bloatware, it makes the situation even funnier now.

Also: When you break your “no bloatware” promise once how do you expect us to trust with the “it will be uninstallable 100%” promise?

Some day a company will offer you more to be permanently installed - an offer you can’t refuse. Because why would they even pay if you can easily uninstall them or have them off by default. Makes no sense for advertisers.

CMF1_hacker

Sourav_Satvaya vote with your wallet. That’s why I left Xiaomi and OnePlus. I will leave NTL is goes the same way.

Sourav_Satvaya

CMF1_hacker Same, I once was a OnePlus fan. Bought multiple phones but then the merger happened and ruined everything. I came to Nothing just because of the bloatware free experience, but looks like it’s going to the same direction. If that happens then the only option will be Pixel.

CMF1_hacker

Sourav_Satvaya I agree and people think it’s crazy when I say this but using the CMF1 and NP3 is 95+% the same and I enjoy them both the same, due to NOS.

The cameras are the only real difference I see.

Perhaps this will change and that would make me quite sad.

Ani_Vri_007

Well, Well, Well

What should I say 🤔

You people are over crying (synonymous to over exaggeration) on it

There is Nothing to cry about.

When they have just given the option of disable it

Then why make a big deal of it

While I can also understand what you people wanna convey that it is better to develop apps like Nothing dialer, Nothing Player. Because people will genuinely like and love them to use.

I also liked the point of a man when he was saying that when nothing is requested some features like customisation then they say that it will be like copying

But when they add features like Lock Glimpses they say that it is a standard practice among the big industry of the smartphone brands

Flocky

Ani_Vri_007 First of all, Nothing was selling us a ad-free and bloat-free experience, this breaks the trust in the brand really and that’s sad

For your second point, no we don’t need more Nothing apps, because THAT would be bloatware, we already have the Google apps that work fine and adding duplicates is just useless

BittuGoit

Akis

Well, we didn’t know that. Tell us what makes your product famous in the market. If you ask any user, you’ll get the same answer: Clean UI!! No third-party apps! You’re compromising on that. So why should we buy your product? There are many products (which are third-party apps) in the market that offer more features than you! But you know why we bought your product (despite the lack of some features). So, find another way to generate sustainable revenue.

Ani_Vri_007

BittuGoit

Bro, they are acting like apple by only giving limited features on their smartphone

I think they want to become like apple by becoming a separate entity (a whole new separate type of smartphone) of having nothing OS like apple has iOS

Grynd

I feel betrayed. Betrayed and disappointed.

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