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Although Nothing is still a relatively new entry into the ever-shrinking Android wars, its first two smartphones still managed to leave us impressed. TheNothing Phone 1was a solid mid-range attempt atbreaking into the industry, while its successor — the aptly namedNothing Phone 2— managed to improve in nearly every way while finally arriving in North America. We’re still months away from a potential launch for the Nothing Phone 3, but that isn’t stopping the company from making an announcement that is as exciting as it is likely to be controversial.
UPDATE: 2025-06-28 11:05 EST BY WILL SATTELBERG
Massive security flaws
Following multiple reports ofmassive security flaws with Nothing Chats, the company has officially pulled the app from the Play Store just 24 hours after its launch. You probably shouldn’t use this app.
Starting on November 17th, Nothing Phone 2 users can try out Nothing Chats on the Play Store, the company’s brand-new messaging platform built to bring iMessage support to Android. Nothing is far from the first company to attempt to bridge the divide between iOS and Android — in fact, this app is built from a partnership with Sunbird, whichmade waves nearly twelve months agowhen it arrived with the same cross-platform capabilities.
According to Nothing’s announcement, its Chats app is built on top of Sunbird’s architecture, utilizing the same end-to-end encryption that anyone lucky enough to get off of Sunbird’s waitlist in the last year has experienced. In addition to allowing for blue bubble conversations with iMessage users, Nothing Chats supports RCS between compatible devices, along with features like high-res images and videos, read receipts, and the promise of more to come.
In an interview with Inverse’s Senior Editor James Pero — published on Nothing’s own YouTube channel, oddly enough — Nothing CEO Carl Pei discussed the current state of messaging in the US. iMessage lock-in has been one of Apple’s biggest draws to bringing in users from Android, particularly with younger audiences. By making this app available to most Nothing Phone 2 users (and, presumably, by preloading it on the Nothing Phone 3), the company clearly wants to make a play for iPhone users bored by their current device.
While I haven’t used Sunbird — again, that waitlist seemslong— I have used Beeper, it’s closest rival in the “iMessage on Android” game. If the Nothing Chats experience is anything like Beeper, it should, for the most part, just work. Although the company’s FAQ keeps things a little vague, Nothing seems to be relying on the tried-and-true method of routing messages through MacOS-based servers with your own Apple ID, bypassing the need for an iPhone altogether. Tools like AirMessage have long existed, but Sunbird (and Beeper) take the need for dedicated hardware out of your hands.
Still, I can’t help but wonder if the ever-rising profile of tools like these could end with Apple finding a way to shut these brands down. It’s not hard to imagine a world where Sunbird, Beeper, or Nothing end up entangled in court battles for years to come — or, perhaps, they keep flying under the radar. Only time will tell.
Nothing Chats arrives on the Play Store this week for users in the US, Canada, UK, and the EU. You’ll need the Nothing Phone 2 to download it — Nothing Phone 1 users will have to keep waiting.
