Nothing has the reputation of a phone company fighting for a simpler, cleaner version of Android. Back when the company first revealed its Nothing OS for its Nothing Phone 1 launch in 2022, the company promised a smooth experience that was both fast and personalized. In the years since, Nothing has created software and phones running Android, including the March 2026 Nothing 4a, which our reviewer said no other could compete with at the same price. Although the reviews are positive, in reality it still uses a customized version of Android, not the basic “stock” software that Google offers to the public for free.
Like most Android operating systems, Nothing OS is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). 2025’s Nothing Phone 3 launched with software based on Android 15 until this fall, when the company announced Nothing OS 4, based on Android 16.
Certainly, Nothing OS departs from other phone manufacturers’ software. Samsung, for example, created a unique look for Android called OneUI and made it a special feature offered only with its devices. Nothing adds its own features like Samsung does, including an icon pack and other design choices that go beyond the initial AOSP code. It’s just not that much.
Nothing from OS is close but the differences are still clear
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If you compare Nothing OS to what Google’s initial AOSP software looks like, the difference between the stock and custom UIs will become apparent pretty quickly. For example, Android comes without any pre-installed Google apps and without a default launcher. It also lacks all the visual flourishes that people associate with a finished phone, such as page transitions, app loading transitions, and even deep customization options. That’s all because the purpose of Android is to serve as a starting point for developers.
Nothing OS, on the other hand, is software designed around the Nothing Phone series. The software includes features like a fully customizable quick settings panel, the “smart drawer” that automatically sorts apps based on your usage, and even an option to choose between multiple home screen design languages.
If you prefer stock Android for a phone, one of the closest other options on the market is Google’s Pixel series of devices. Although it’s not technically in stock yet, the company is using its Pixel phones to showcase Android’s capabilities. In this framework, it approaches the baseline provided by the original Android software.
