At first sight, when seen from the back, the Noting Phone (1) is very similar to the iPhone 12, thanks to its vertical dual cameras on the top left.
That is where the similarity ends.
First, the Phone (1) is shipped with Android, and that it's a mid-range smartphone. Second, it's far from Apple-like software upgrade.
Whereas Apple has always been the quickest in pushing iOS upgrades, and other Android vendors have started pushing beta versions of Android 13 to users, Nothing pointed out that its plan for Android 13 on its Phone (1) is in "early 2023."
Nothing prefers to delay the upgrade, despite the Phone (1) runs on a pretty bare and stock Android 12, which has traditionally been a fast track to updates.
By delaying the upgrade, many people said that Nothing is putting its Phone (1) users at risk.
According to Nothing:
"To date we have already deployed 3 updates. While we are eager to make Android 13 available as soon as possible to Phone (1) users, we want to ensure an optimal experience. We are aiming at having a beta version available by the end of the year and the public version by early 2023."
"We will be sure to keep you updated with further information."
When the Nothing Phone (1) arrived with the promise of challenging the Android orthodoxy, flashing lights and all, but in terms of the Android 13 update it’s the same old story.
Carl Pei, the Nothing founder who is an OnePlus alumni, deflected a question about Phone (1) update by saying:
While there is an advantage for delaying a major upgrade.
As Nothing has pointed out, delaying Android 13 to its phone mean that it can buy time to make sure that everything is perfect rather than rushing out a reputation-damaging flawed update.
A product is more than just its specs, features, and version numbers
— Carl Pei (@getpeid) August 17, 2022
This was explained in a statement.
The London-based company said it wants to fine tune the software with its phone before launching the update.
"We are always working hard to improve the Phone 1 user experience," the company said in a statement.
"To ensure this, operating system updates will be made available for regular download. In regards to Android 13, this will be launching for Phone 1 users in the first half of 2023. Before releasing, we want to fine tune the software upgrade with Nothing’s hardware. We will be sure to keep you updated with further information."
However, by delaying the Android 13 upgrade, Phone (1) users can miss out on new features, become more vulnerable to attacks and experience unresolved bugs.
It's worth noting that Nothing promises four years of security patches for its phones.
About a week after Carl and Nothing's statements that created quite an unrest among users, Carl decided to explain things even further.
He said that the beta version of Android 13-based Nothing OS should be available before the end of 2022.
