Nothing has officially started rolling out its Android 16-based NothingOS 4.0 update to the latest flagship, the Nothing Phone 3. While the company hasn’t confirmed a schedule for older models, it noted that other Nothing and CMF-branded devices, likely starting with the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro, will receive the update soon.
Additionally, Nothing plans to launch the Phone 3a Lite in India on November 27. The global version of the device, released on October 29, comes with NothingOS 3.5, but the Indian model may ship with NothingOS 4.0 pre-installed.
NothingOS 4.0 on the Nothing Phone 3 brings exclusive features focused on the rear Glyph Matrix display, including expanded Flip to Glyph options, new Glyph Toys, and an updated Glyph Mirror Selfie. The update also adds AI-powered custom “Essential Apps,” a new Glyph Progress feature using Android 16 Live Updates, a redesigned Extra Dark Mode, and more.
NothingOS 4.0 introduces Essential Apps — lightweight AI-powered widgets that users can create and share through the Nothing Playground platform. Using the Widget Builder, users describe the tool they want, and AI generates it automatically for the home screen.
Essential Space on the Nothing Phone 3 now features an upgraded AI activity dashboard, providing clearer insights into on-device AI processes and improving transparency around local AI operations.
A new “Stretch” preset, developed with fashion photographer Jordan Hemingway, enhances shadows, boosts highlights, and gives images a more cinematic aesthetic within the Camera app.
The update includes an App Optimisation system that lets users control how apps launch and run in the background, improving multitasking and speeding up frequently used services.
Nothing has added a Glyph Progress feature that leverages Android 16’s Live Updates, showing real-time information for rides, deliveries, timers, and more directly on the Glyph Interface. Any app compatible with Android 16 Live Updates works automatically with this feature.
NothingOS 4.0 updates include an enhanced Pop-up View with two floating app icons for easier multitasking, a refreshed design featuring cleaner layouts, new lock screen clocks, unified UI elements, and updated Quick Settings, as well as an improved Extra Dark Mode offering deeper blacks, reduced eye strain, and potential battery savings on supported screens.
