The new major update for Nothing phones is already rolling out and it comes with quite a few changes that go beyond just aesthetics. NothingOS 4.0The London-based brand is reinforcing its minimalist identity and focusing on a more coherent, faster system with useful artificial intelligence features. It is based on Android 16 and officially starts in the Nothing Phone (3), with a phased rollout to the rest of the Nothing models and the CMF family.
If you've been following the company for a while, you'll know that its differentiating factor isn't just design: the Glyph interface takes center stage, essential apps gain prominence, and personalization is taken to the next level. The goal of this version is clear: to make everything more tactile, more connected, and smarter, without sacrificing simplicity. Live Updates, Extra Dark Mode and Playground They're the big flags, but there's a lot more hidden under the hood.
What changes with Nothing OS 4.0 and how is it distributed
Nothing OS 4.0 is a direct evolution of OS 3.0 which maintains the brand's style and refines the everyday experience. The company confirms that the rollout begins in the Telephone (3) and will gradually reach more Nothing and CMF devices. In some markets, the dates vary, but the planned schedule also includes an expansion over the next few weeks. Support starts in a limited way and it will gradually open up to more models.
The folks at Nothing aren't just giving it a facelift: this update is the first major step towards a creative and modular AI ecosystem. Furthermore, this version leverages the new APIs of Android 16 to integrate functions such as Live updates (Live Updates), which come to the lock screen and the rear light array.
An important detail for users asking about specific dates: Nothing confirms the rollout will begin on the Phone (3), while the rest of the Nothing range and the CMF devices will receive the OTA update in stages. In some specific cases, it has been indicated that certain entry-level models may take a little longer, with expected release windows towards the end of this year or the beginning of next year. The deployment is staggered and with priority over the latest terminals.
All of this is part of a promise for a cleaner, more organized experience: revised animations, visual consistency in iconography, and more useful quick settings. In parallel, the company is launching its own creation space, the new Playground, which opens the door to Essential Apps powered by AI without the need to program.
Live Updates and Glyph: the lights are finally providing real information
The most obvious novelty is the arrival of the live updatesFully integrated with the Glyph interface, real-time notifications for trips, deliveries, or timers are now displayed on the screen and taillights without needing to open the app. Thanks to Android 16, any app compatible with Live Updates can take advantage of this feature. Glyph Progress, which multiplies the number of services showing progress in the LED matrix.
Interaction is also improved where it matters most: Nothing has refined the transitions when opening and closing apps and adjusted gestures to feel smoother and more continuous. There is haptic feedback when reaching volume limits. and a subtle "elasticity" effect when handling notifications, giving the feeling that everything responds with less friction.
The lock screen now features a touch of elegance with the new blurred background on the password page, and additional features have been added. two watch styles Geometric aesthetics aligned with the brand's visual language. These small details help reinforce the overall coherence.
El Extra Dark Mode It's here for those who live in dark mode: deeper blacks, improved contrast, and system-wide energy savings. The new feature is already visible in Notifications, Quick Settings, and the App Drawer, and has also been applied to Apple tools like Essential Space and the Launcher, with plans to extend it to more Apple apps in future updates.
Another area where Nothing has made improvements is multitasking and visual customization. The pop-up view now allows you to manage two floating windows at the same time and switch between them with gestures; in fact, you can even play YouTube in Picture-in-Picture mode while using another app, without a Premium subscription. All of this comes with smoother animations that enhance the sense of continuity.
AI with user control, Playground and Essential Apps
AI arrives with a focus on transparency and control. Nothing premieres a AI usage dashboard It monitors the activity of large modeling tools (LLMs) when they come into play, for example, when using Essential Space. You can check this in Settings > Smart tools > AI usage to see daily or weekly statistics and find out when and how much artificial intelligence is involved on your phone.
In addition, there is a AI status indicator The top bar lights up when assistance is active, whether summarizing notes or performing searches. It's a nod to privacy and clarity: you always know if AI is working for you.
The creative part comes with Playground (in Alpha phase), the new showcase for experimenting with Essential Apps, Glyph Toys, and camera settings Created by the community. The best part is that generating Essential Apps is as simple as describing what you want: the system automatically creates them and you can pin them as functional widgets on your home screen.
To organize everything, Nothing premieres the Widget DrawerA drawer that collects the creations and widgets you've added or generated. This way, nothing gets lost, and it's easier to try things out, discard them, and start over without cluttering your desktop with random icons.
Some AI features are complemented by a context-focused utility: in certain scenarios, the system can better remember and understand what you store in Essential Space, so that you can later retrieve content through natural language searches. The idea is to make the information more accessible. and not just in a list of files.
Personalization, productivity and exclusive improvements for the Phone (3)
If you like to customize your desktop, there are new size options for key widgets: 1 × 1 and 2 × 1 for Weather, Pedometer, and Screen Time. The goal is to maintain a minimalist approach without sacrificing essential information, taking up only what's necessary on the main panel.
In line with organizing and simplifying, it is now possible hide apps From the app drawer and home screen without losing access to them. They are managed from Home screen > App drawer > Hidden icons, ideal for those who prefer a clean desktop but with discreet access when needed.
Multitasking also gains ground with the Pop-up View Revised: It now supports two simultaneous floating icons for switching between apps on the fly and going to full screen with a swipe down. It's a straightforward solution for changing context without losing what you were doing.
In Quick Settings, Nothing has rethought space and hierarchy: a format is adopted 2x2 compatible with most icons And a shortcut has been added to share Wi-Fi without having to navigate through menus. These are small changes, but they save time on a daily basis.
The visual redesign encompasses native app icons and also the status bar indicatorswhich are now more legible and balanced. Even the Recorder app gets a makeover with a cleaner interface and smoother animations, consistent with the rest of the system.
To keep the phone slim, Nothing incorporates a section for Application optimization In Settings > Apps > App optimization, you can speed up startup and manage how apps behave in the background with a single tap, reducing unnecessary resource consumption.
The Glyph interface includes several significant improvements. It's back. Glyph Progress Tuned for Android 16 Live Updates, opening compatibility to more transportation, ordering, and timer services. Also returning is Glyph Timer with a revamped hourglass-style animation and access from Quick Settings, functioning as a standalone app.
- Flip to Glyph It now coordinates with the Always-On Display: the animation is shown only when needed and turns off if the phone is in use or unlocked.
- In Flip to Glyph you can choose silent or vibration mode By activating it, you can adapt it to how you prefer to handle interruptions.
- If the phone is charging and in Flip to Glyph mode, shake it gently You will see the load status drawn on the matrix.
- There are new ones Glyph Toys such as the daily lunar phase or the Hourglass effect, a playful touch that connects with the visual language of Nothing.
- With Glyph MirrorWhen you take a selfie, an additional shot is also saved with the matrix's rounded style, a more polished finish than the previous square cutout.
- El Smart pocket mode The matrix is ​​temporarily deactivated when it detects that the phone is stored, to save battery and prevent false touches.
Those who own a Nothing Phone (3) also get some specific settings: more advanced controls for Flip to GlyphAn optimized Pocket Mode and the arrival of new Matrix toys are also included. Glyph Mirror Selfie so that, in addition to the effect, the original photo is saved in the gallery as an additional file.
Regarding availability, Nothing has confirmed that The Phone (3) is now receiving Nothing OS 4.0The rest of the brand's phones will be added over the following weeks. The CMF family is also on the roadmap, although in their case the timeline shifts slightly further depending on the specific markets and models.
It is worth mentioning that some early users have detected minor bugs In specific circumstances, this issue affects essential notifications from the matrix on the Phone (3). It's not widespread, and the expectation is that Nothing will fix it with a quick update as soon as enough reports are collected. These kinds of fine-tuning are common in such ambitious deployments.
The update doesn't aim to "reinvent" the system, but rather to consolidate it. Between the transparency in the use of AI, the return of highly requested features from Glyph, Extra Dark Mode, and the boost to multitasking, Nothing OS 4.0 makes everything feel more harmonious and under control. The sum of micro-improvements That's what you end up noticing every time you unlock your phone.