The Nothing Phone (3) is getting a big upgrade: five years of Android updates. This is the longest support period Nothing has ever offered. The new phone will also get seven years of security updates. This is a step up from the Nothing Phone (2), which only got three years of Android updates.
Why the Upgrade?
Nothing chose the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip for the Phone (3). Akis Evangelidis, a Nothing representative, explained that this chip allows for longer support. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, on the other hand, only comes with four years of standard software support.
The Phone (3) will be available globally on July 1. Nothing’s update policy is a bit different. They release security updates every two months, and major Android updates are sometimes delayed.
Comparing to Others
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, gets seven years of Android updates. However, Samsung works harder to keep updating after four years. Nothing might not be able to keep up with this pace.
Some might be disappointed that the Phone (3) isn’t using the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite. Nothing has used older chips in the past, but the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a strong choice. It’s a trade-off between having the latest and greatest chip and getting longer software support.
The Phone (3a) series gets six years of security updates but only three major Android updates. The extra support for the Phone (3) is a nice bonus.
Overall, the Nothing Phone (3) is shaping up to be a solid choice for those looking for a phone with long-term support.