Nothing OS 4.0: A Glimpse into the Future of Smartphone Software

Nothing OS 4.0 teaser cues a sleeker UI, new clock styles, dashboard to track AI usage, more

The launch date hasn't been announced, but Nothing says an open beta is coming soon. Stable Android 16 has been available for months, but Samsung is the only brand to have released a stable Android 16-based update for its devices. Others, like OnePlus, have begun closed beta programs, though details about its wider rollout remain scant. Nothing may be following soon, and has now announced some more details about its upcoming closed beta program for the Nothing OS 4.0 based on Android 16. Following its teaser last week -- and yesterday's announcement about ambitious products, phone brand Nothing has shared another preview of its upcoming Android 16-based OS. In a Nothing Community post, the brand has introduced details about the additions to Nothing OS 4.0. The changes being added to Nothing OS 4.0 include an improved and consistent design throughout the UI. Nothing says the interface now gets more standardized elements, including cleaner quick settings tiles, so everything feels more intuitive. The upcoming version also introduces new fonts and styles for the lock screen clock. Nothing OS 4.0 promises several other changes, such as an Extra Dark (true black) mode besides floating icons for active apps -- similar to accessibility controls in Android. Additionally, other features like the Always On Display and brightness sliders will be optimized for better usage. Nothing also promises an improved experience with the Camera and Gallery apps in OS 4.0. The update is said to bring an improved interface for these apps along with new camera presets. Nothing also says the update brings a "smarter" Gallery, suggesting we could see some AI-powered features. Speaking of AI, Nothing will add an AI dashboard that notifies you when tasks using large language models (LLMs) have been triggered on your Nothing Phone. Additionally, it appears that voice-based tasks in Nothing's Essential Space, such as transcription for voice recordings, may now be handled by OpenAI's Whisper model. The teaser video also hints at a monthly limit for using Essential Space, suggesting Nothing might finally start charging users to use its built-in AI applications. We've previously seen hints about Nothing charging up to $120 a year to enjoy using Essential Space features without a cap. Finally, Nothing has not revealed any details about the availability of Nothing OS 4.0. It has merely said that closed betas for eligible devices will be available soon. The Nothing Phone (1) will be excluded from the list, since it has already reached end-of-life. However, Nothing has indicated it has some plans to appease the owners. Notably, one of the mock screens used in this teaser displays October 25 as the date on the lock screen. Although this might not have anything to do with the actual release, it's equally likely that Nothing left the easter egg on purpose. We will keep you posted on the timeline for the closed beta and stable release of Nothing OS 4.0 once the company confirms it.

Nothing OS 4.0 gets an official preview, and we like what we're seeing

The recently launched Nothing Phone 3 came bundled with Nothing OS 3.5, with the company promising to release the Android 16-based Nothing OS 4.0 imminently. Then last week, the upcoming operating system was teased. Well, Nothing is going a step further now by giving us a detailed preview of Nothing OS 4.0. In a post on the Nothing Community page, the company listed multiple changes coming to the software, including "reimagined" clocks for the lock screen and a "cleaner" Quick Settings interface. Nothing talks about an upgraded Camera and a "smarter" Gallery app, likely referencing the inclusion of additional AI capabilities. There will be new presets and controls to play with, with the manufacturer also adding a "more intuitive layout." A bulk of these changes have been detailed in a YouTube video uploaded by the company, though you may have to look at it closely to spot every new addition (via Android Authority). Nothing OS 4.0 will introduce 'Extra Dark Mode' With AI being one of the most talked-about features in modern-day smartphones, it should come as no surprise that Nothing's new software is bringing some improvements in this area. Nothing says its upcoming update will offer increased transparency for AI applications while improving user privacy. An area of focus here is the addition of what Nothing calls the "usage dashboard," allowing users to keep an eye on their LLM (large language model) usage. Users will further find "AI (LLM) status hints" in the upcoming operating system. One feature that a majority of Nothing smartphone owners would welcome is the new "Extra Dark Mode," which goes a step further than standard dark mode with a "deeper look." This updated version of dark mode will carry the benefit of conserving battery and reducing eye strain, the company said. There's also support for two floating app icons with Nothing OS 4.0, which should help with multitasking. Lastly, the new software will introduce stronger Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, improved lock screen and AOD (Always On Display), improved brightness adjustments, plus the usual suite of stability improvements. The Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta will land soon, although the company has not yet shared a release date. As you would expect, the Phone 3 will be high up on the eligibility list for the new beta, while other eligible devices (Nothing Phone 2 and newer) should follow suit eventually. Nothing's first-ever phone is unfortunately missing from the list, though CEO Carl Pei recently indicated that there may be a "program" for the device. However, no additional details were provided. Which Nothing OS 4.0 feature are you most eager to try out based on the minute-long preview? Nothing Phone 3 7.5 / 10 SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Display type OLED Display dimensions 6.67-inch Display resolution 1260 x 2800 pixels $800 at Nothing Expand Collapse

'Hyper-personalized to each individual': Nothing unveils bold future software plans alongside Nothing OS 4.0

It's not quite ready to go yet, but an open beta will launch soon, and Nothing has detailed what you can expect from this update. Highlights include a refreshed design that the Nothing Phone 3 maker claims is more fluid and intuitive, plus a new Extra Dark Mode, support for two floating app icons to speed up multitasking, app optimizations to make them run faster and smoother, and an upgraded photography experience, with new camera controls and creative presets. Nothing OS 4.0 also features a new dashboard that aims to make AI behavior more transparent, so you can stay in better control of your data when using AI, and there are general improvements to the operating system's responsiveness and stability. So, there's quite a lot here, but Nothing has even more exciting things planned for future operating system updates. In a blog post, the company has detailed its vision for an operating system that's "hyper-personalized to each individual", with interfaces that will adapt to your context and needs, suggestions that will surface naturally, and AI agents that will carry out most tasks for you. But as everyone needs different things, Nothing says "a billion different operating systems will be rendered for a billion different people," and these personalized operating systems will follow you across devices - so as well as your phone, the same operating system could be used on wearables, audio products, and more future-looking things like smart glasses and humanoid robots. Nothing believes that it's uniquely positioned to create this operating system of the future because it owns its last-mile distribution point - that being the hub from which goods are dispatched to reach the customer. This, the company says, provides them with essential contextual and user knowledge. That said, it sounds like this hyper-personalized operating system might still be a long way off, so for now, just keep an eye out for Nothing OS 4.0.