Google surprised everyone by releasing Android 16 in early June—months ahead of its usual timeline. While Pixel users quickly got their hands on the update, other brands, including Nothing, are still working on rolling out their custom versions. Despite having a good track record with software updates, Nothing wasn’t quite ready for this early release. But now, with Nothing OS 4.0 officially confirmed, we have a solid picture of what to expect from this Android 16-based update.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Nothing OS 4.0 update—its release timeline, eligible devices, and the exciting new features that are coming soon.
Nothing has announced that it will begin rolling out Nothing OS 4.0 in autumn 2025, which typically means sometime between September and November. While Android 16 was released by Google in June, Nothing took a bit more time to finalize its version due to the complexity of its custom UI and new features.
Interestingly, the latest Nothing Phone (3) didn’t come with OS 4.0 pre-installed, even though it launched after Android 16. But it’s expected to be the first device to receive the stable update, followed by other models.
Ahead of the official rollout, beta builds of Nothing OS 4.0 are likely to be released for early adopters, allowing users to test new features while helping the company iron out bugs before the wider launch.
While Nothing aims to keep its portfolio streamlined, not all models will be getting the update. The company has confirmed that the original Nothing Phone (1) will not receive Android 16, as it has reached the end of its promised update cycle.
Nothing promises three years of major Android updates for most of its phones. The Nothing Phone (3), however, is promised five major Android updates, making it one of the brand’s most future-proof devices to date.
One of the headline features expected in Nothing OS 4.0 is progress-centric notifications, which show real-time updates from apps like Uber or Zomato directly on the lock screen or notification shade. This makes it easier to track your ride or food delivery without opening the app—similar to Live Activities on iOS, Samsung’s Now Bar, or Oppo’s Live Alerts.
Android 16 introduces better notification grouping and volume control for rapid alerts. While grouping is already part of previous Nothing OS versions, the volume reduction for fast notifications is new and could make a big difference in preventing notification fatigue.
Nothing OS 4.0 is also expected to include Android Protection, a suite of built-in security features that guard against:
These enhancements aim to make the Android experience more secure by default.
Nothing is known for its creative UI elements, and OS 4.0 will likely push this further with interactive widgets, mini-games, and glanceable notifications on the Glyph Matrix—especially on Nothing Phone (3). This makes the back LED array not just decorative but functionally playful as well.
Beyond features, Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to include various user interface refinements, performance tweaks, and system-wide polish, making the experience smoother and more immersive.
Nothing OS 4.0 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting custom Android 16 experiences. While it's unfortunate that the original Nothing Phone (1) won’t make the cut, the rest of the lineup is getting a significant upgrade packed with smarter notifications, better security, and creative features like interactive Glyph Matrix notifications.
With a release expected this autumn and beta testing likely to begin soon, Nothing users won’t have to wait much longer to get a taste of the future.
Via: (Source)
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