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The Nothing Phone 2 will not receive Android 17, Nothing CEO Carl Pei confirmed in a Reddit AMA on September 7, 2026. The company is thus ending major system updates with version 16, and Pei also openly admitted several mistakes in software and design strategy.
Why the Nothing Phone 2 won't get Android 17
According to Pei, the reason is the system's too-old kernel. "The kernel is unfortunately too old," he explained, noting that the chipset manufacturer does not support Android 17. Nothing originally promised three major Android updates, with security patches expected to run until 2027.
Pei initially stated that the Phone 2 received four major updates, namely Android 13, 14, 15, and 16. He then corrected himself, clarifying that the company fulfilled its original commitment rather than exceeding it.
Pei admits problems with pre-installed apps
One user complained about semi-forced installations of apps and games on Nothing phones. Pei agreed that the company should limit this and find a better balance between user value and monetization.
He also admitted that Nothing was sometimes "strategically lazy," while working hard on tactical matters. He described the direction he wants to take as "less but better." This may explain why features like Shared Widgets or Essential Search are not currently a priority.
A return to the spirit of the Phone 1 era
Pei acknowledged that Nothing may have drifted too quickly from its original design identity. He said he told the team to return to the spirit that defined the Phone 1 era. He likes the idea of bringing back the old Glyph animation for "OK Google," but for now it's just feedback, not a confirmed feature.
Growth in the US and other products
According to Pei, Nothing is growing rapidly in the US, with nationwide availability at Best Buy as an example. The bigger challenge, however, is figuring out what to offer American customers.
Other plans: the popular CMF line could return, the transparent Nothing Watch almost launched this year, but the company decided it needed more time to mature. A Windows laptop is not planned. Remapping the Essential Key button is being developed for Nothing OS 5.1.