{"id":101709,"date":"2025-10-28T04:40:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T04:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/101709\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T04:40:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T04:40:09","slug":"fans-feel-betrayed-as-nothing-preps-budget-phone-3a-lite-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/101709\/","title":{"rendered":"Fans Feel Betrayed as Nothing Preps Budget Phone 3a Lite Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Leave it to Nothing to aggravate fans\u2014its own and very vocal tech enthusiasts\u2014yet again. As is tradition now, the tech startup, known for its transparent wireless earbuds<\/a> and light-up smartphones<\/a>, has announced a \u201cPhone 3a Lite\u201d that will be announced on Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. ET \/ 1 p.m. GMT.<\/p>\n

Phone (3a) Lite. 29.10. 13.00 GMT.<\/p>\n

Light up the everyday. pic.twitter.com\/VVNclQ6mEl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nothing (@nothing) October 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Nothing posted a three-second teaser<\/a> to its X account showing off the lower portion of the Phone 3a Lite. Given the name, we\u2019d bet lunch that the phone is a budget-focused device, derivative of the Phone 3a and 3a Pro<\/a> that launched last year. No tech specs have been shared so far, but we can see there\u2019s some kind of blinking LED in the lower right, which could be a basic \u201cGlyph.\u201d The Phone 3a launched at around $380, and the Phone 3a Pro at around $460. A \u201cLite\u201d version could retail at less than the Phone 3a.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not the phone that\u2019s got fans angry with their pitchforks out, banging on Nothing cofounder and CEO Carl Pei\u2019s door. The company is seemingly pulling a switcheroo on its users by allowing preinstalled ads and apps, or what we generally refer to as \u201cbloatware,\u201d on its phones. In the latest Nothing OS 4.0 beta, users have discovered a new \u201cLock Glimpse\u201d tool that cycles through wallpapers and has links to what are ostensibly ad-like articles.<\/p>\n

Oh Nothing, What were you thinking? <\/p>\n

So, You can now install NOS4 on your 3a & 3a Pro BUT \u2013<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfe5 Lock Glimpse (AKA \u2013 ADS)<\/p>\n

Why just why, there was no need to add these lockscreen ads to your “Clean UI focused software” & you are even highlighting it? Bro?\ud83d\udc94 pic.twitter.com\/4zQOyddzPP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Anshu (@AnshuTechblog) October 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Nothing is not hiding its intentions. Far from it, Akis Evangelis, also a cofounder who was recently promoted to president of the India region, shared the changes<\/a> (or betrayal as one Reddit user described it)<\/a> openly in a forum note on Oct. 24.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, on select non-flagship devices, we\u2019ll start including a carefully considered selection of third-party partner apps and services that don\u2019t disrupt the Nothing OS experience you love. These are apps most people install on day one, like Instagram. They\u2019re not random \u2013 we\u2019re working with popular platforms many of you already use daily, and in some cases, these integrations can even enhance performance or provide tighter experiences, such as improved camera or sharing features.<\/p>\n

Evangelis says the need to preinstall apps onto its \u201centry- and mid-segment products\u201d is a necessity for \u201csustainable revenue models to avoid passing costs and ensuring optimal pricings for our products.\u201d He also reminded users that other brands, including Samsung, do the same. That hasn\u2019t gone down well with Nothing fans. A scan of r\/Nothing Tech<\/a> brings up tons of posts from Nothing customers denouncing the brand\u2019s renege on a \u201cclean\u201d Android experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis move completely contradicts their original promise of offering a clean software experience,\u201d writes user techolum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

User starccm+<\/a> shared a similar sentiment. \u201cWe choose Nothing for the clean OS. My next phone won\u2019t be a Nothing with the bloatware you\u2019re planning to add. L move.\u201d<\/p>\n

One Nothing loyalist has even taken matters into their own hands, starting a Change.org petition<\/a> urging Nothing to reverse its decision to include ads and preinstalled apps.<\/p>\n

The only silver lining here may be if Nothing allows users to uninstall or disable preinstalled apps. That\u2019s how many budget and mid-range operate. It\u2019s an imperfect experience, but it does help keep prices lower than flagship levels as costs for the BOM (bill of materials) increase.<\/p>\n