The wait is over for Nothing Phone 1 users eager to test out the latest Android 14 features. Carl Pei, the founder of Nothing, had previously confirmed that the Nothing Phone 1 would be included in the Android 14 beta program.
Staying true to his word, the company has officially announced the commencement of the beta program for its flagship smartphone.
The company made the official announcement via a recent blog post, cautioning users that this Android 14 build is still in its early development stage. This means some features may not be fully functional or could be missing altogether.
Given the potential instability, it’s not recommended to install the developer preview build on your primary smartphone. However, for those enthusiasts who can’t wait to get a taste of Android 14, you can proceed with the installation on your Nothing Phone 1.
Update January 31, 2023: Nothing has started rolling out the NothingOS 2.5 based on Android 14 stable update for the Nothing Phone 1. The update is currently being rolled out to users who are already enrolled in Beta 2 but will be rolled out to other users in a few days.
Update January 13, 2023: Nothing has started rolling out the NothingOS 2.5 based on Android 14 Open Beta 2 for the Nothing Phone 1. The update is being rolled out to users who are already enrolled in Beta 1.
Update December 20, 2023: Nothing has started rolling out the NothingOS 2.5 based on Android 14 Open Beta update for the Nothing Phone 1. The update brings new features and improvements to the system.
Update November 14, 2023: Nothing has officially started rolling out the NothingOS 2.5 closed beta update based on Android 14 for the Nothing Phone 1. The NothingOS 2.5 Closed Beta is now available for Phone (1) users. Visit Nothing Discord Server for installation instructions.
Update November 09, 2023: Nothing has officially announced the NothingOS 2.5 update based on Android 14. The NothingOS 2.5 Open Beta 2 is now available for Phone (2) users with Phone (1) users to receive the update in late 2023. You can visit the Nothing Community page for more details on what’s new.
Update October 10, 2023: The Nothing OS 2.5 Open Beta 1 based on Android 14 has officially been confirmed by Nothing. The beta update will be available via the settings app tomorrow for the Nothing Phone 2 users. There is no such announcement for Phone 1 users yet.
Update October 04, 2023: Google has released Android 14 alongside the Pixel 8 series. Android 14 brings several new features and improvements that enhance the overall user experience. Users with a Pixel 4a 5G and later can install the update right away.
Update September 21, 2023: Google has finally released the Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 for the Pixel devices. The Android 14 stable release will be on October 4th. Although the stable Android 14 release is still a few weeks away, Google has started rolling out the first quarterly major update i.e., Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1.
Update September 07, 2023: Nothing has released the Nothing OS 2.5 update for the Nothing Phone 2, which is based on Android 14. Expect the update to come to your Nothing Phone 1 very soon.
Update September 07, 2023: Android 14 Beta 5.3 is out with a couple of bug fixes. The update is available only for the eligible Pixel devices. Also, Google has pushed-back the release of Android 14’s stable version. It is said to be released on October 4th alongside the new Pixel 8 series and the Pixel Watch 2.
Update August 26, 2023: Google has released the Android 14 Beta 5.2 which fixes a lot of bugs for the Google Pixel Fold and the Google Pixel Tablet.
Update August 19, 2023: Google has released the Android 14 Beta 5.1 which appears to be one of the final betas before we see the stable version. Nevertheless, users with an eligible Pixel device can install the update on their devices. Nothing seems to be silent on any further updates for the Nothing Phone 1.
Update August 12, 2023: Google has released Android 14 Beta 5, which was unexpected. If you are a beta tester, you can install the update right away. The stable update seems to be delayed this time to the end of the month (i.e. late August).
Update August 02, 2023: Nothing has announced that it will be releasing the Android 14 Beta 3 for the Nothing Phone 1. This makes Nothing one of the first companies to join the Android 14 Beta program. You can find the download link for the packages in the section below.
Update July 27, 2023: Google has released the Android 14 Beta 4.1. This update brings some bug fixes for the Pixel devices. There is no update from Nothing though.
Update July 12, 2023: Android 14 Beta 4 has been released. The update is rolling out slowly to all the users eligible for the Beta updates. It brings bug fixes and improvements along with new features to Android 14.
Update June 16, 2023: Android 14 Beta 3.1 has been released for eligible users. This new point update fixes some bugs such as the fingerprint unlock issue and others. Users enrolled in the beta program should get the update.
Update June 07, 2023: Android 14 Beta 3 has been released for eligible users. The update brings a number of key features in addition to bug fixes and improvements to Android 14. Currently, the update is only available for Pixel users.
What’s The Known Issue in Android 14 Beta
However, before you rush to the download links, be aware of some known issues currently associated with the Nothing Phone 1’s Android 14 developer preview. These include the unavailability of face unlock, fingerprint registration, battery sharing, Glyph features, and the absence of Portrait Mode or slow motion features in the camera app. Pre-installed Nothing Weather and Nothing X apps and screen casting to TV are also currently unavailable.
Despite these early hiccups, Android 14 comes with an exciting lineup of features that users can look forward to, such as new smart scaling, improved battery life, the ability to restrict access for photos and videos, satellite connectivity, app cloning, predictive back gestures, and enhanced security. Additional features are also expected to be rolled out with the upcoming Nothing OS based Android upgrade.
Android 14 Beta 3 Known Issues and New Changes
Known Issues:
- Fingerprints can’t be registered
- Face unlock unavailable
- Glyph features unavailable
- Battery sharing unavailable
- No Portrait Mode or slow motion feature in the camera app
- No pre-installed Nothing weather and Nothing X apps
- Screen cast to TV connection unavailable
New Changes:
- New support for API level 34 based on Android 14 Beta 3
- Preinstalled apps including Nothing Launcher, Weather, Recorder
- Preinstalled Nothing widgets
Download Android 14 Beta on Nothing Phone 1
For users ready to take the plunge, the Android 14 developer preview build needs to be sideloaded onto your Nothing Phone 1. Detailed installation instructions and download packages are available in the blog post. Do remember to back up your data before installing the developer beta on your smartphone, as the upgrade process will format your phone storage and erase all existing data.
Android 14 Beta 3 Packages:
- Download the Android 14 Beta 3 update package: Download
- Download the roll-back package: Download
Note: Android 14 Beta 2 was not released for the Nothing Phone 1.
Android 14 Beta 1 Packages:
- Download the Android 14 Beta update package: Download
- Download the roll-back package: Download
Once you’ve installed the beta and restarted your device, you’ll be all set to explore the new features and functionalities of Android 14 on your Nothing Phone 1.
Just keep in mind that as with all beta releases, this version is primarily intended for developers and advanced users, given its early development stage and the potential for technical issues.
