Nothing OS 4.0 Enters Open Beta with Android 16

Nothing today unveiled the open beta for Nothing OS 4.0, its next major software upgrade built on Android 16. The release rolls out several new features, UI refinements, and AI-driven enhancements. However, two recent devices are missing from the initial eligibility list.

What’s New in Nothing OS 4.0 (Beta)

The new beta brings a mix of interface tweaks, performance optimizations, and bold AI-centric additions. Key highlights include:

Essential Apps & Playground: Users can generate custom widgets or mini-apps through natural language commands and share them via the new “Playground” portal.

AI Usage Dashboard: On the Phone (3), the update introduces an in-built dashboard in Essential Space to help users monitor which AI models are active, when, and how often.

UI & Display Enhancements:

• New lock-screen clock faces and always-on display (AOD) performance improvements.
• A “Pop-Up View” mode enabling two floating icons for faster multitasking switching.
• Support for 2×2 Quick Settings tiles.
• An Extra Dark Mode (true black) beyond the standard dark theme.

Camera & Imaging Updates:

• A new “Stretch” camera preset (for shadows and highlights) is introduced for Phone (2), 2a, and 2a Plus models.
• Underlying “TrueLens Engine” enhancements for smoother image processing and gallery behavior.

Stability & Connectivity:

Better screen brightness behavior, stronger Bluetooth and Wi-Fi stability, and general bug fixes and performance optimizations across devices.

Supported Devices

At launch, the open beta is available for:

• Nothing Phone (3)
• Nothing Phone (2)
• Nothing Phone (2a) and 2a Plus

However, the Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are missing from the initial list. Nothing states the 3a series is expected to receive the update “later this month,” but no firm date has been given.

Meanwhile, older models (such as Phone 1 or certain CMF-branded variants) have not been mentioned in the rollout announcements so far.

How to Join the Beta (and Roll Back if Needed)

To test the beta, users should:

1. Install the “Beta Updates Hub” APK from Nothing’s official site.
2. Go to Settings → System → Nothing Beta Hub
3. Join the Beta, then tap “Go to Update” to apply it.
4. Optionally, manually check for the update via Settings → System → System updates.

Important caveats:

• Back up your data before installing. Being a beta release, issues may arise.
• You can roll back by downloading the rollback package from Nothing’s site, going into the Beta Hub, and using “Import file” to revert.
• The window for joining the open beta closes on October 14, 2025; after that, no new devices can enroll.