Nothing has officially launched the open beta of Nothing OS 4.0, its Android-16 based firmware. This release brings a host of enhancements — from AI integrations to camera upgrades, design refinements, and system-level optimizations — for its supported handsets. Below is a breakdown of what’s coming, which devices qualify, and what users should know before upgrading.
The open beta is available for the following Nothing phones:
Nothing Phone (3)
Nothing Phone (2)Nothing Phone (2a)
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
Meanwhile, the Phone (3a) series is expected to receive the beta version later in October
What’s New in OS 4.0AI Dashboard via Essential Space (Phone 3 only)On the Phone (3), OS 4 introduces an AI usage dashboard inside Essential Space. This lets users track how large AI models are interacting on their device, giving more transparency over background AI usage
In addition, improvements under the hood include:Better lock screen / always-on-display (AOD) behaviorSmarter brightness adjustmentsEnhanced camera stabilityImproved Bluetooth and Wi-Fi performanceGeneral system stability enhancements
Before You Upgrade:
Warnings & AdviceNothing recommends that users back up their data (photos, call logs, contacts, etc.) before installing the beta release. As typical with beta software, early bugs and issues may arise. Users may also notice temporary heating or higher battery drain immediately post-update — though such behavior is expected to stabilize over time.