This was a surprisingly fun year for smartphones. I wasn't expecting it to be; the category is often described as stale or "plateaued." But as WIRED's resident phone reviewer, I've tested nearly all of this year's handsets-devices as cheap as $130 all the way to an eye-watering $2,000-and I don't think there's been a year filled with as many varied styles in quite some time.
Nothing OS 4.0 was announced earlier this month as the company's skin based on Android 16, which Google released back in June. Today, the first Open Beta for Nothing OS 4.0 is finally available in case you want to be a tester. It is currently installable on the Nothing Phone (3), Phone (2), Phone (2a), and Phone (2a) Plus, the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro are missing for now, but will get their slice of Nothing OS 4.0 in October.