The latest Nothing Phone (1) update brings improvements to the camera while introducing HD audio.
Another update is rolling out to the Nothing Phone (1), which promises to bring more improvements to its cameras. The Nothing OS 1.1.4 update brings several improvements in color and performance to join phones that have been out since the July launch.
The latest update also introduces support for high-definition audio, and it arrives ahead of the Android 13 upgrade early next year. A beta version is expected in the next few months.
Improvements to the Nothing Phone (1) camera
Nothing Phone’s camera has been in the spotlight since its launch. The previous update brought improved skin tones, night images and HDR. The new update also focuses on photography:
- Color calibration in the ultra-wide camera has been improved to match the output of the main camera.
- A new motion detection algorithm should produce sharper images when photographing moving subjects.
- The camera should also be faster and more responsive, especially when using the ultra-wide camera for HDR shots.
- In night mode, the colors have been further improved.
- The front-facing camera will produce sharper, brighter portraits.
That’s not all. The screen now features automatic brightness adjustment to prevent overheating, while also improving the power of the always-on display. It provides HD sound support for LHDC. There’s also a small but welcome feature: the ability to flip buttons on the navigation bar.
The update also includes the September security patch.To check if it is already available on your phone, visit Settings > System Updates.
Android 13 on no phone
In addition to the ongoing software update, Nothing has confirmed that it will roll out Android 13 (1) for phones in “early 2023”, after a public beta test will begin before the end of the year. While that timeline is still well behind some other manufacturers — Samsung will update some of its phones this year — it’s still better than initially feared, given Nothing’s vague statement on its update plans.
The idle phone (1) is getting better
Nothing Phone (1) launched with much hype, but it didn’t live up to all of that. But a series of smart updates means the phone is getting better in key areas, helping to turn it into one of the most attractive mid-range Android devices.
However, it’s still a very crowded section with a lot of competition. Phones like the Pixel 6a and Honor 70 offer as much functionality, if not more, for a similar price.