Nothing has kept its promise: Nothing OS 4.0based on Android 16has begun to be deployed stably since November 21, 2025 in the Nothing Phone (3). After several open betas, the brand finally releases the final version of its layer, placing itself among the first manufacturers outside of Google and Samsung to update to the latest version of Android.
The update does not stop at a simple number change. Nothing talks about a faster, more coherent and pleasant to use system, with new features such as the new Extra Dark mode, minimalist icons, renewed clocks on the lock screen, improvements in multitasking and new functions. AI to create widgets and control their use. And, as is often the case with Nothing, exclusive features for the Nothing Phone (3) are also included.
Main new features of Nothing OS 4.0
On a visual level, Nothing OS 4.0 is committed to cleaning and unifying the interface. They arrive redesigned native app iconsa simplified status bar for WiFi, battery and data, and two new clock styles for the lock screen, with a more futuristic aesthetic but maintaining the “geek” air of the brand. The notification panel animations, gestures and transitions have been adjusted to make everything feel more fluid, and a subtle vibration is also added when we reach the maximum or minimum volume so we don't always have to look at the screen.
There are also changes intended for daily productivity. He Extra Dark mode further darkens the interface, improves contrast, displays deeper blacks and helps save energy on OLED displays. The function Glyph Progress It is now integrated with Android 16 Live Updates, so that we can now see the progress of trips, orders or timers both on the screen and in the rear lights. Furthermore, you can hide icons in the app drawer without moving them to a private space, new widget sizes are added (1×1 and 2×1 for weather, step count or device usage time, and a system and apps panel which allows you to see what is consuming resources and optimize it with a touch.
AI, Playground and smarter widgets
The big “different” leap of Nothing OS 4.0 is in Playground and the so-called Essential Apps. The idea is that you can create applets as if you were talking to an assistantdescribing what you want the widget to do, and the system automatically generates that tool without you having to write a single line of code. All these creations, along with those of the community, are organized in a new Widget Drawerintended as a library for finding, sorting, and switching between widgets.
Nothing also insists on AI transparency. with the new AI Usage Dashboard and the AI status notices in the status baryou know when a generative model is working in the background and can later review which functions have used it. We are not going to fool ourselves: with so much AI it is easy to lose track of what the mobile is doing, so this type of controls can be an interesting argument against less clear layers.
Which phones will be updated to Nothing OS 4.0
The stable deployment has started in the Nothing Phone (3)but the company confirms that the update will arrive in the coming weeks to the rest of its recent catalog. According to the indicative calendar shared by Nothing and various media, the entire Phone 3 family (Phone 3, Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro) should receive Nothing OS 4.0 soon, along with the Nothing Phone (2)he Telephone (2a) and the Phone (2a) Plusin addition to the CMF Phone 2 Pro and the CMF Phone 1.
There are some important nuances. On the one hand, the Nothing Phone (1) is left out because it has already exhausted the three major Android updates promised by the brand. On the other hand, Nothing OS 4.0 will be the last big software leap for the Nothing Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1while the Phone (2a) family is still scheduled to receive Android 17 and the Phone 3 and 3a models have several years of support ahead of them. CMF mobiles and Phone 3a Lite They will receive the update somewhat later, in a phased deployment that will extend until the end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 depending on the region.
A key step for the Nothing and Android 16 community
With Nothing OS 4.0, the brand shows that it can compete in speed of updates to Android 16 version with much larger manufacturers, while maintaining a very strong personality in design and functions. The focus is less on adding dozens of pre-installed apps and more on polishing animations, multitasking, AI controls and taking advantage of the Glyph interface without making it a simple decoration.
If you have a relatively recent Nothing, the jump to Nothing OS 4.0 promises a faster, more coherent and more powerful experience, and, for Nothing Phone (3) users, it also comes with exclusive extras such as new Glyph toys or improvements to pocket mode. Now the question is clear: Do you plan to update as soon as Android 16 arrives on your Nothing or do you prefer to wait to see how it responds to the first users?
