Nothing is a name that people eagerly anticipate when it comes to an operating system that may provide you with a clean Android experience! It was Carl Pei who founded the Nothing brand. The Nothing OS 4.0 is about to be released. Android 16 serves as its foundation. When the Nothing Phone (3) was released in July 2025, the Nothing 4.0 update was first shown off.
Like its predecessor, Nothing OS 4.0 will have a basic and clean design. New features and enhanced performance are to be expected. The release date and new features of Nothing 4.0 will be discussed in this post. You’ll also be aware that phones will receive the update.
Release date and rollout
The Nothing OS 4.0 update will be available from September 2025 to November 2025. This was disclosed by Carl Pei at the Nothing Phone 3’s debut. The precise date is still unknown. The Nothing OS 4.0 beta version will be released first. Early September 2025 is when this beta deployment will begin. The whole version should be available in a few weeks. The first phone to receive this will be the Nothing Phone 3.
Android 16 arrived sooner than expected. It appears that nothing is doing much to keep current.
Nothing 4.0 eligible devices
Nothing has stated that many of its phones will be able to run Nothing OS 4.0. However, this update will not be available for the Nothing Phone 1. This is due to the fact that three significant Android updates have already been applied to the original phone. Android 12 has been replaced with Android 15.
The following phones will receive Nothing OS 4.0:
| Device | Update Information |
|---|---|
| Nothing Phone (3) | First phone to get the beta and full update of Nothing OS 4.0 |
| Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro | Will get the update soon after Phone (3) |
| CMF Phone 2 Pro | Will get the update after the Phone (3a) phones |
| Nothing Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus | These will get update based on when they came out |
| Nothing Phone (2) | Will get Nothing OS 4.0 as the last big update. It will get security updates for a few more years |
| CMF Phone 1 | Will get Nothing OS 4.0 as the last big update. Security updates will continue |
Nothing OS 4.0 features
Not all of Nothing OS 4.0’s features have been shared by Nothing. However, we can get a good indication from various Android 16 leaks and news. The latest upgrade will combine the sleek appearance of Nothing with the new functionality of Android 16.
People are anticipating the following key features:
Better Notifications
Android 16 makes it easier to manage notifications. If you get many messages from the same app, they’ll be grouped. This way, your screen won’t get messy. You won’t get too many alerts all at once. Nothing OS 4.0 will likely use these features with dot-matrix-style animations.
Improved Built-In Apps
With Nothing OS 4.0, the main apps that come with the phone are getting upgrades! This includes the Gallery, Weather app, and Camera app.
The Nothing Gallery already opens 25 per cent faster than Google Photos. In OS 4.0, it might get even smarter with AI.
The Weather app could also get fun updates. You can see dot-matrix-style animations that show live weather.
Live Delivery & Ride Updates
With the Nothing OS 4.0 update, you’ll be able to see live updates. These updates like food delivery or ride status. You will see them right on your lock screen or notification panel. It means you don’t have to open the app every time to check the order status.
New Look with Material 3
Android 16 brings a new design called Material 3 Expressive. It has smoother animations and lets you change how things look on your screen. Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to use some of the animations. But it will still keep its simple black-and-white style.
Better AI Tools
Nothing has been testing AI features like Essential Space and Essential Search in older versions. In OS 4.0, they might bring in even smarter tools. There will be suggestions based on how you use your phone. We can also expect better app organisation. It may also work with Google’s Gemini AI to help you search easily.
Better Security With Android Protection
There will be a new system called Android Protection. It will keep your phone safe from bad apps, scam calls, and suspicious websites. Nothing OS 4.0 will likely include this too. This will be done with its own special privacy settings.
Glyph Matrix Upgrades
The Glyph Matrix is a special feature on the Nothing Phone (3). It’s an advanced version of the older Glyph Interface.
With Nothing OS 4.0, the Glyph Matrix is getting even better! There will be a new tool called the Glyph Matrix API. This will let developers create fun mini-games, useful widgets, and cool notifications.
The Glyph Matrix might work with Android 16 live alerts. You will see delivery progress or incoming calls with lights. You can see what’s happening without looking at your screen.
This new feature is only for the Nothing Phone (3). But older phones with Glyph lights might still get some small updates.
| Feature | What’s New |
|---|---|
| Lock Screen & Home Screen | – New widgets – cool clock styles – more space to add stuff – more control over app icons |
| Quick Settings Panel | – Smaller, better-looking buttons – smarter brightness slider – nice colour effects when playing music |
| Interactive Dot Animation | – More apps and widgets will use dot-style animations |
| Private Space Integration | – Lets you hide, lock, and even clone apps |
| Cross-Device Integration | – Easier and faster connection to Nothing headphones – Better control of Tesla features from your phone |
Ultimately, I can say that your phone will see some awesome upgrades with Nothing OS 4.0. It will be straightforward and uncomplicated, yet efficient and effective. It will be even more intelligent with AI features. The transparent design, dot matrix animations, and black and white icon pack will all be included in this version. Please share your thoughts about this update in the space provided for comments below.
Google Pixel Watch 5 (45mm)
Google Pixel Watch 4
Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
Comments & Discussions
Join the conversation! We use Disqus to handle comments. Click the button below to load the comment section.