The company’s second Community Edition features several insights gained and a significantly lengthened creation timeline.
Nothing has declared that its Phone 3a Community Edition, the organization’s second ever, will debut on December 9 at 1 PM GMT (8 AM EST). The device was developed in collaboration with the top four winners from its last submission phase, which saw an expanded nine-month development timeline focusing on more facets of its phone than previously addressed. Nothing had launched 1,000 units of its inaugural project, the Phone 2a Plus Community Edition, in 2024.
Nothing’s co-creation initiative is warming up the chilly winter, as the company announces when its second Community Edition phone will arrive. Mirroring its first edition, Nothing invited four winners to London to engage in the development of what would evolve into the Phone 3a Community Edition earlier in 2025. Although the latest edition isn’t set to launch until December 9 at 1 PM GMT (8 AM EST), the company’s press release indicates that the phone reflects the culmination of numerous components. Alongside Nothing, these four individuals contributed to its hardware and accessory design, as well as its lock screen clock and wallpaper. Additionally, each participant was involved in the marketing campaign for the phone, which is now starting to come to fruition.
Nothing is showcasing its lessons from the initial collaborative Community Edition by stating it has refined its development schedule by “extending the co-creation window.” This year, collaborators are believed to have worked together over nine months. Even the design elements of the phone were enhanced to ensure greater involvement with the Community Edition from start to finish. The winning creators also received a £1,000 cash award for their contributions during and after the submission phase. Nothing claims that this year’s Community Edition represents its “ambitious and bold” approach to product design.
Nothing has reflected on the insights gained from its first Community Edition, specifically the Phone 2a Plus launched in 2024. Similar to what is forthcoming, Nothing designed that device with “input from the fans.” The device also included similar internals to those provided to consumers during the original launch of the Phone 2a Plus that same year. The lengthy creation process resulted in a 2a Plus that emitted a glow in the dark. It is noteworthy that, during its first Community Edition, Nothing only produced 1,000 units. It was a limited run that undoubtedly captivated those involved and others who appreciated that luminous aesthetic. It remains uncertain whether Nothing will adopt a similar approach with its Phone 3a Community Edition.
In other developments, Nothing has been launching its OS 4.0 update for its latest phones. The company’s flagship Phone 3 was the first to receive the update, arriving in late November. This update included some exclusive features, such as Glyph Toys, Glyph Mirror Selfie, Flip to Glyph controls, and more. Most recently, and quite timely, the Phone 3a has begun receiving its significant Android 16 upgrade.
The Phone 3a is positioned on the budget-friendly side, yet Nothing is not treating it as such. The company is promptly deploying its promised Nothing OS 4 update following the official rollout to its flagship model. System animations, battery optimization, and numerous enhancements are part of this update, considerably improving the Phone 3a across all dimensions.
