The latest software innovation from Nothing is now reaching a wider audience. According to a GSMArena report, the highly anticipated Nothing OS 4.0, built on the foundation of Android 16, has begun its stable rollout to the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. This deployment comes just a week after the update first debuted on the flagship Nothing Phone 3, marking a swift expansion of its availability.
What's New in Nothing OS 4.0?
The update is packed with a significant number of new features and refinements. A standout addition is the new AI usage dashboard, which provides users with greater transparency by actively tracking large-model AI activity, particularly when using the Essential Space feature. For everyday convenience, users can now hide apps directly from the home screen or the app drawer, and enhanced search scope controls make finding specific content faster and easier.
Widget flexibility receives a major boost with more size options available for the Weather, Pedometer, and Screen Time widgets. Furthermore, there is broader 2×2 support for Quick Settings tiles. Multitasking is also smoother; the pop-up view now supports two floating icons, and a new app optimisation setting promises quicker application launch times.
Enhanced Essential Space and Camera Upgrades
Nothing has significantly bolstered its Essential Space functionality. The popular Flip to Record feature now supports taking photos and adding notes during video capture, conveniently bundling all the content together for quick access later.
A new experimental section called Playground (Alpha) invites the community to explore user-created tools, including Essential Apps, Camera Presets, and EQ profiles. These Essential Apps are now available for download in a preview form, blending AI-powered capabilities with community-led creativity.
The camera system sees a substantial overhaul. The update introduces new presets, an expanded collection of filters with adjustable intensity controls, and Motion Photos that now support longer capture times and audio. Users will also find refreshed watermarks, artistic frames, and a completely redesigned user interface for a better interaction flow.
Visual Refresh and Glyph Customisation
Nothing OS 4.0 delivers a refreshed aesthetic with redesigned app icons and cleaner status bar elements. Two additional lock screen clock styles have been added, and an Extra Dark Mode provides a deeper, more immersive visual experience for users who prefer a darker interface. Across the entire system, improved animations aim to create a smoother and more fluid user experience.
The iconic Glyph Interface gains more personalisation options. Users can now choose whether the Flip to Glyph feature triggers Silent or Vibrate mode. Additionally, the Glyph Progress function now utilises Android 16's Live Update notifications, which improves its compatibility with a wider range of third-party applications.
Limited Initial Rollout
Nothing has stated that this stable update is currently being delivered to a limited pool of Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro users. A broader, wider rollout to all users is expected to follow once the company confirms that this initial deployment is stable and free of critical issues. The company strongly recommends that users back up their data before proceeding with the installation of the update.
