It could be until next June before the Nothing Phone (1) is updated to Android 13.
Android 13 is out. Google’s Pixel devices have already received the update; and Samsung and OnePlus have launched beta programs to test their upcoming updates. But one device that might not get there in a hurry is the Nothing Phone (1).
The company has confirmed that Android 13 won’t be available for the phone until the first half of 2023, which means it could arrive as late as June.
Android 13 on phone Nothing (1)
Nothing confirmed its plans for Android 13 on its debut phone in a statement to Android Authority. He said:
We are always working hard to improve the user experience of Phone 1. To ensure this, OS updates will be available for regular download. As for Android 13, it will be released to Phone 1 users in the first half of 2023. Before we release it, we want to fine-tune the software update with Nothing’s hardware. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more information.
The announcement came after users had been pressing the company for information on its release schedule, to which Nothing founder Carl Pei gave a rather defensive response: “A product is more than its specifications, features and version numbers”.
The phone is slated for three Android updates, taking it up to Android 15, as well as four years of bi-monthly security updates.
Given that the company had emphasized the value of its clean software, offering a near-stock Android experience, and that it had hired a large team of developers to work on it, there was an expectation among many that the phone would be a good choice for anyone looking to access the latest software.
Now, that expectation is diminishing. Of course, “first half of 2023” is vague enough that it could mean the update is just over three months away. But equally, users may not see Android 13 on their Nothing phones until Google unveils Android 14 next spring.
Nothing has been at least rolling out regular software updates to fix some of the initial issues the device has had. The battery, the camera, the fingerprint scanner, the trademark Glyph interface and the overall smoothness of the user interface have all been targeted for improvements so far.
Android 13 updates
Mid-range phones tend to update to the next version of Android later than flagships, the honorable exception being the Pixel 6a which has already received it. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy A52 got Android 12 in January this year, a month after the S21.
The A53 is likely to drop in a similar timescale for Android 13, and the Nothing Phone (1) could still match it. If you’re looking for a new mid-ranger, these are still two of the most attractive phones you can choose from.