Nothing OS 4.0 Launches with Android 16 and AI-Powered Widget Creation

Nothing OS 4.0 brings Android 16 to the Phone 3 starting today

Nothing has officially started the stable rollout of Nothing OS 4.0, marking the arrival of Android 16 on its devices. The update is currently available for the Nothing Phone 3, with a broader release scheduled for other models in the coming weeks. Built on Android 16, Nothing OS 4.0 introduces a significant visual overhaul aimed at a cleaner, more minimalist experience. Key changes include refreshed native app icons and a simplified status bar design. The update also brings an "Extra Dark Mode" designed to improve contrast and reduce power consumption on OLED screens. New customization options include additional lock screen clock faces and updated fonts. A standout feature of Nothing OS 4.0 is the "Essential Apps (Playground)," which allows users to create custom functional widgets using natural language prompts. This no-code solution enables users to generate tools tailored to their specific needs. These widgets can be managed within a new "Widget Drawer," which also facilitates the sharing of community-created tools. To ensure transparency, a new status bar indicator alerts users when a Large Language Model (LLM) is active, accompanied by an AI Usage Dashboard. The update improves multitasking with a refined "Pop-up View" that supports running two floating apps simultaneously. A new "System and Apps Dashboard" provides quick access to monitor background processes and optimize system performance. The "Glyph Progress" feature has also been integrated directly with Android 16, expanding its compatibility to a wider range of third-party apps for tracking real-time activities like rides and deliveries. The Nothing Phone 3 receives several exclusive additions. "Glyph Mirror Selfie" utilizes the Glyph interface to create unique, Matrix-style reflections for photos. "Smarter Flip to Glyph" offers more granular control, allowing users to toggle between Vibrate or Silent modes when placing the phone face down. A new "Pocket Mode" automatically disables the Glyph Matrix to prevent accidental activations. Additionally, new "Glyph Toys" like "Hourglass" and "Lunar Cycle" offer novel ways to visualize time and moon phases. While the update is live for the Nothing Phone 3, other devices in the lineup, including the Phone 2, Phone 2a, and Phone 2a Plus, are expected to receive it in the coming weeks. CMF by Nothing smartphones will be updated by the end of the year, with the Nothing Phone 3a Lite slated for early 2026.

Nothing OS 4.0 Arrives for the Phone (3) with Several New Updates - Phandroid

If you own a Nothing Phone 3, then you might want to check your phone for a new update. Nothing recently announced that it was finally rolling out Nothing OS 4.0 for the device, which brings Android 16 alongside several new tweaks and changes to functionality and the user interface. Nothing says that the new update features minimalist icons and a refreshed UI for a cleaner, more coherent visual structure, with animations having been reworked to be smoother and more responsive. Nothing OS 4.0 also includes an enhanced Glyph Progress for rides and deliveries, a refined Pop-up View with Dual Window support, and an Extra Dark Mode for deeper blacks and better battery life. Other tweaks include updated status bar icons, a cleaner lock screen, 2×2 Quick Settings tiles, and the ability to hide apps in the App Drawer. The update also introduces Playground, a new creative space which features Essential Apps that allow users to create custom widgets using AI. There are also new exclusive hardware integrations like Glyph Mirror Selfie and Smarter Flip to Glyph. In addition to the Phone (3), Nothing OS 4.0 will arrive for other Nothing smartphones in the coming weeks. Nothing also confirmed that CMF smartphones will receive the update by the end of the year, with Phone (3a) Lite following early next year.

Nothing OS 4.0 Rolls Out With Improved Animations, Extra Dark Mode

Nothing OS 4.0 update has started rolling out to eligible Nothing Phone models, the Carl Pei-led tech firm announced on Friday. The Android 16-based user interface (UI) was first unveiled by the company in September. It brings redesigned UI elements and new features, such as an AI usage dashboard, a new TrueLens Engine for enhanced camera and gallery performance, and various AI-powered creation tools through the Essential Apps. Nothing OS 4.0 also offers Live Updates via Glyph Interface, an Extra Dark Mode, which is claimed to reduce battery consumption. (This is a developing story, refresh to see updates...)