Nothing has officially begun teasing the launch of Nothing OS 4.0, its first Android 16-based update. We’re now expecting a September rollout window that, somewhat impressively, matches the company’s earlier promise.
As Android Authority points out, a teaser posted today shows a redesigned set of quirky icons in Nothing’s familiar dot-matrix aesthetic, underscoring the company’s focus on visual polish. And there’s supposedly something else in the mix for Phone 1 owners, who (unfortunately) won’t get the full OS update.
A big refresh coming to Nothing’s streamlined software
Right on time, no less
The update is headed to the Nothing Phone 2 and newer devices, leaving the original Phone 1 out of the mix — at least officially. Launched in July 2022, the Phone 1 has now reached the end of its three-year platform update cycle. Nothing had promised three years of Android version upgrades and four years of security patches, and with Android 15 under its belt, the device has technically received everything it was owed.
But the Phone 1’s story doesn’t end there. CEO Carl Pei took to X earlier today, hinting at something special for the company’s earliest adopters:
What exactly that means is anyone’s guess. On the optimistic side, Phone 1 owners could be in for an experimental Android 16 build, possibly delivered outside the normal stable channel. But given the wording, it’s just as likely this “program” turns out to be a trade-in or loyalty initiative, perhaps giving Phone 1 users a discount on newer Nothing or CMF hardware.
Nothing OS 4.0 itself is shaping up to be one of the more timely Android 16 rollouts among non-Google OEMs. Samsung may have already started pushing Android 16 to Galaxy devices, but the rest of the Android ecosystem is still dragging its feet. If Nothing delivers in September as promised, it’ll be one of the few smaller OEMs staying competitive on major OS release timing.
For Phone 2 and Phone 3 users, the wait is nearly over. For Phone 1 users, the mystery continues.
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Nothing Phone (3a)
- SoC
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
- RAM
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12GB
- Storage
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256GB
- Battery
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5,000mAh
- Ports
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USB-C
- Operating System
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NothingOS 3.1, Android 15
The Nothing Phone 3a combines a new camera system and an improved processor with some AI-powered features and a larger screen, all for under $400.
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Source: Nothing Nothing Phone 3
- SoC
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- RAM
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12/16GB
- Storage
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256/512GB
- Battery
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5,150 mAh
- Ports
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USB-C 2.0
- Operating System
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Android 15/Nothing OS 3.5
Nothing Phone (3) is the first “true flagship” from the London-based brand. It comes with a 6.67-inch OLED display, a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, triple 50MP rear cameras, and a 5500mAh battery. It retains Nothing’s transparent design language and comes with an upgraded Glyph Matrix.
