Nothing has opened public testing for Nothing OS 4.0, based on Android 16, across the Phone 2, Phone 3, Phone 2a and 2a Plus, with 3a models to follow.
Buried in the beta is a new lock screen feature called Lock Glimpse that has sparked concern about adverts showing up before you even unlock your phone.
Lock Glimpse, which promises fresh wallpapers and timely updates, is accessible with a left swipe on the lock screen.
Early testers describe it as a content carousel that can include sponsored items, which makes it feel closer to the Glance screens seen on some budget Android phones. Right now, it is an opt-in setting, so you have to switch it on yourself.
That opt-in part is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Nothing has built its reputation on clean design and light-touch software, so the idea of promotional tiles on the lock screen is rubbing fans the wrong way.
The company’s phones have earned praise for a clean, no-fuss interface and confident hardware, which is why this move feels out of character.
For you to have a sense of what people value about the experience, the reviews of the Nothing Phone 2 and the Nothing Phone 2a highlight the minimal skin and distinct style as part of the appeal.
Just to be clear, this is a beta. Features can change, names can change, and defaults can change before a stable release.
For now, Lock Glimpse is optional. If you are curious, try it and see whether the mix of wallpapers and updates adds anything useful. If you are not, leave it off and carry on. It is also worth keeping an eye on update notes when the stable build arrives, since the setting could shift position or pick up new toggles.
There is a world where a lock screen feed is more helpful than noisy, with genuinely useful snippets and a quick path to things you care about.
There is also the version that starts as optional and slowly becomes the default. Nothing has a loyal audience precisely because it feels different from the pack. How Lock Glimpse evolves will show whether the company can keep that promise while experimenting with new ideas.
(via 9to5 Google)
