Nothing OS 5.0 Beta Testing Is Starting, but Only One Phone Gets In

Nothing is getting ready to test its next big software update. The company has opened applications for a new Community Review Program, which is expected to give selected users early access to Nothing OS 5.0. Applications are already open, but there is one catch: you need a Nothing Phone (3) to take part.

Nothing has not called this the Nothing OS 5.0 beta program yet. Still, the company used the same Community Review Program last year before Nothing OS 4.0 testing began. With Nothing OS 5.0 already in development, it is not hard to see what is coming next.

The new program is only open to Phone (3) owners, at least for now. Nothing says applicants must be at least 18 years old and should have a good understanding of the company's products. They also need to be active on the Nothing Community and social media.

Applications will close on August 17 at 11:00 BST. If selected, users will get an email from Nothing and will need to sign an NDA. They will also have to share the IMEI number of their Phone (3) before they can join the program.

Here's the thing, though. This is not the usual open beta where anyone can download an update and start testing it. Nothing is picking a small group of users who will get early access to the software and share feedback before everyone else.

Nothing has already teased parts of Nothing OS 5.0, but we still don't know everything that will be included in the final update. The software is expected to be based on Android 17, and early previews have shown changes to the interface and animations.

Selected testers will be able to share their first thoughts on the Nothing Community and social media. However, they won't be allowed to post a full review until Nothing gives them the green light. That makes sense, since the software they receive will still be in an early state.

To be honest, I like the way Nothing handles these early tests. Instead of sending unfinished software to thousands of phones, the company gets feedback from a smaller group first. Bugs are still part of the deal, of course, but that is exactly what beta testing is for.

For now, Phone (3) owners are the only ones invited. Nothing has not shared a wider Nothing OS 5.0 beta schedule for devices such as the Phone (3a) series or older models.

That doesn't mean they won't get a beta later. Nothing followed a similar path with Nothing OS 4.0, before opening testing to more devices. The company has also not announced a date for the stable Nothing OS 5.0 update. Gizmochina expects a wider open beta could begin next month, with the stable rollout possibly starting in November.

I would not rush to install the first build on my main phone anyway. Early beta software is fun when you want to try new features, but battery drain and random bugs can quickly ruin that fun.

Still, if you own a Phone (3) and don't mind living with a few bugs, this is your first real chance to see what Nothing has been working on. Now we just need to see whether Nothing OS 5.0 brings enough changes to make the risk worth it.