> TechNothing CEO Carl Pei offered an unusually candid look at the company’s recent decisions during a Reddit AMA, addressing topics ranging from Nothing OS 5.0 and bloatware to the Glyph interface, AI and its wider product strategy.
Why will the Nothing Phone 2 stop major Android updates at Android 16?
The Nothing Phone 2 is set to receive Android 16 as its final major Android upgrade, with Carl Pei attributing the limitation to the phone’s aging software foundation and chipset support.
He explained that the device’s kernel is now too old and its chipset provider will not support Android 17.
As Nothing expands in the US through a growing team, new partnerships and a nationwide Best Buy presence, Pei says the company still has work to do in defining its phone strategy.
> Tech
Nothing CEO Carl Pei offered an unusually candid look at the company’s recent decisions during a Reddit AMA, addressing topics ranging from Nothing OS 5.0 and bloatware to the Glyph interface, AI and its wider product strategy. More notably, Pei acknowledged that some of Nothing’s choices have not delivered the results the company expected, offering a rare glimpse into how the brand views its recent missteps and areas where it needs to improve.
Why will the Nothing Phone 2 stop major Android updates at Android 16?
The Nothing Phone 2 is set to receive Android 16 as its final major Android upgrade, with Carl Pei attributing the limitation to the phone’s aging software foundation and chipset support. He explained that the device’s kernel is now too old and its chipset provider will not support Android 17. Nothing had originally committed to three major Android upgrades for the Phone 2, meaning the company considers its promise fulfilled, while security updates are expected to continue until 2027.
During a Reddit AMA session, Carl Pei explained why the Nothing Phone (2) won’t be receiving the Android 17 (Nothing OS 5.0) update.📱
The reasons given were an outdated kernel and a lack of support from the chipset manufacturer. ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/QXsSwfugNS — Dr. Android (@Teknovist) September 6, 2026
Is Nothing planning to reduce bloatware on its phones?
Pei also acknowledged criticism around unwanted apps and games appearing on Nothing devices. In response to concerns about semi-forced installations, he agreed that the company should scale back such practices and strike a better balance between monetisation and what users actually want. The admission comes as Nothing explores additional revenue streams beyond selling hardware, making its approach to pre-installed content an increasingly important issue.
Did Nothing move away from its original design philosophy too quickly?
According to Pei, Nothing may have changed direction faster than it should have. He described the company as sometimes being too focused on short-term execution while overlooking broader strategy, and said the goal now is to embrace a “less but better” philosophy. He has also encouraged the team to reconnect with the spirit of the Phone 1 era, although that does not mean simply copying its original design. Ideas such as reviving the earlier “OK Google” Glyph animation have also received Pei’s support, though there is no confirmation that the feature will return.
What does Nothing need to do to make its phones stand out?
As Nothing expands in the US through a growing team, new partnerships and a nationwide Best Buy presence, Pei says the company still has work to do in defining its phone strategy. While Nothing appears to have achieved product-market fit with its audio lineup, its smartphone proposition remains less certain. Pei believes a Nothing phone needs to offer something meaningfully better than an iPhone in at least one area that users genuinely care about, and the company is still working to identify that defining advantage.
