Nothing has officially launched the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta program, giving eligible Nothing Phone users early access to new features powered by Android 16. This marks the company’s next big software release, and it’s already available for most Nothing smartphones—though a few devices will have to wait a little longer.
Nothing OS 4.0 Beta: Eligible Devices
The Nothing OS 4.0 Beta is currently rolling out to:
- Nothing Phone (3)
- Nothing Phone (2)
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Notably, the Nothing Phone (3a) series is missing from the initial rollout. However, Nothing has confirmed that the Phone (3a) models will receive the Beta in October 2025, along with a few exclusive features.
Meanwhile, devices like the CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro have also been excluded for now, but they’re expected to join the Beta program later this year.
Nothing OS 4.0 New Features
The Open Beta changelog packs in a number of exciting updates and improvements. Here’s what users can try out:
- Extra Dark Mode for a more comfortable viewing experience.
- Pop-up Views for better multitasking.
- AI Dashboard (exclusive to Phone 3 for now) for activity insights.
- Customizable Lock Screen clocks.
- 2×2 Quick Settings tile support.
- Enhanced Always-On Display (AOD) performance.
- Improved camera stability with a new “Stretch” camera preset (Phone 2, 2a, 2a Plus).
- Better connectivity and overall system improvements.
The AI Dashboard and features inside Essential Space will initially be exclusive to the Phone (3) but are expected to arrive on the Phone (3a) once its Beta update goes live.
If you own an eligible Nothing device, you can try out the Nothing OS 4.0 Beta by downloading the Beta Updates Hub app and navigating to:
Settings > System > Nothing Beta Hub.
Essential OS and Community Features
Alongside Nothing OS 4.0, the company teased its Essential OS, an AI-powered operating system designed to integrate deeply with Nothing hardware.
It also unveiled:
- Essential Apps – native AI-first applications.
- Playground – a hub where users can share and download EQ profiles, camera presets, widgets, and Glyph Toys.
This community-driven approach highlights Nothing’s vision of blending customization with AI innovation.
Nothing OS 4.0 Supported Devices (Android 16)
Here’s the complete list of devices eligible for the Nothing OS 4.0 update:
- Nothing Phone (3)
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- Nothing Phone (3a)
- CMF Phone 2 Pro
- Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- CMF Phone 1
- Nothing Phone (2)
Nothing Phone (1) has officially reached its update limit and will not receive Nothing OS 4.0.
Nothing also confirmed that Nothing Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 will reach their final major OS update with Android 16. In contrast, the Phone (3a) series and CMF Phone 2 Pro will still get two more major updates after 4.0.
Final Thoughts
The Nothing OS 4.0 update is shaping up to be the company’s most ambitious Android release yet, bringing AI-driven features, smoother UI, and Android 16 optimizations. While some devices like the Phone (1) are reaching end-of-life, the update ensures that most of Nothing’s current lineup remains future-ready.
