Nothing OS 4.0 Update (Android 16) Rolling Out From November 21: All Features, Eligible Devices & What’s New

Nothing has finally confirmed the rollout date for its next major software release — Nothing OS 4.0, based on Android 16. After months of beta testing and user feedback, the company will begin pushing the stable update globally on November 21, 2025. The brand officially calls this release “Flow”, highlighting smoother performance, cleaner animations, and a more fluid experience across the UI.

The update comes first to the Nothing Phone 3, followed by the Phone 3a series, and then older models such as the Phone 2, Phone 2a, and supported CMF phones. Nothing thanked beta testers on its community platform, adding that “the wait is nearly over.”

Below is everything new in the Nothing OS 4.0 update, the eligible phone list, and all the UI, AI, and performance improvements you can expect.

⭐ What’s New in Nothing OS 4.0 (Android 16) – Complete Feature List

1. Smoother, More Fluid UI – ‘Flow’ Design

The entire interface has been refined with:

• More natural animations

• Faster transitions

• Better responsiveness

• Reduced jitter across the system

This “Flow” design aligns with 2025’s trend of fluid UIs—similar to Apple’s Liquid Retina in iOS 26 and Vivo’s new OriginOS 6 redesign.

⭐ 2. Extra Dark Mode

A deeper, richer dark theme improves:

• Eye comfort at night

• Readability

• Battery life (especially on OLED screens)

Great for users who prefer minimal strain during late-night usage.

⭐ 3. New Quick Settings Layout (2×2 Design)

The notification shade gets a fresher look with a:

• Condensed 2×2 quick toggle layout

• Cleaner iconography

• Less clutter

It’s a much more minimal and user-friendly redesign.

⭐ 4. Pop-Up View Multitasking

One of the biggest upgrades:

• Run two floating apps at once

• Swipe up to shrink windows

• Pull down to expand back to full screen

Perfect for multitasking—reading a document while replying to a message, browsing while taking notes, and more.

⭐ 5. Enhanced Lock Screen Features

Nothing adds:

• New clock styles

• Improved lock screen personalisation

• Lock Glimpse: rotating wallpapers & glanceable content

  • Off by default

  • No data collection, even when turned on

Lock Glimpse brings curated wallpapers from nine categories, giving the lock screen a fresh visual identity.

⭐ 6. Essential Apps & Playground

Nothing Playground evolves into a creative hub where users can:

• Build lightweight micro-apps

• Share mini-widgets

• Personalise their home screen

Phone 3 supports six widgets; other models support two.

⭐ 7. Major Camera Upgrades

The update brings a new Stretch camera preset, built in collaboration with fashion photographer Jordan Hemingway, offering:

• Deeper shadows

• Broader highlights

• Cinematic tones directly from the camera

• No need for post-editing

Additionally, the Nothing Phone 2 series inherits improved image correction and reframing tools from the Phone (3) series.

⭐ 8. System Performance Boost

Across all supported phones, users will see:

• Faster lock screen & AOD responsiveness

• Smarter auto-brightness

• More consistent camera output

• Improved Bluetooth pairing

• Stronger Wi-Fi stability

• Smoother multitasking

• Better app launch behaviour

The new App Optimisation Engine lets users control how apps run in the background—helping boost performance and reduce lag.

📱 Eligible Devices for Nothing OS 4.0 Update

Based on beta testing and confirmed upgrade promises:

Guaranteed on Day One

• Nothing Phone (3)

• Nothing Phone (3a)

• Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

• Nothing Phone (2)

• Nothing Phone (2a)

• Nothing Phone (2a) Plus

• CMF Phone 2 Pro

Likely to Join Soon

• Nothing Phone (3a) Lite

• CMF models are still under an upgrade cycle

❌ Not Eligible

• Nothing Phone (1) (reached end of update cycle)

🔄 Software Support Timeline

• Phone (3) → 5 major OS updates + 2 years extended security

• Phone (3a + Pro) → 2 major updates

• Phone (2a series) → Up to Android 17

• Phone (2) → Final major update is Nothing OS 4.0

• CMF Phone 1 → Final major update

📝 Conclusion

The Nothing OS 4.0 update marks one of the brand’s biggest leaps since its debut. With improved multitasking, richer dark mode, a more fluid UI, smarter on-device AI, and meaningful camera enhancements, Flow feels like a well-executed evolution rather than a simple version bump.

If you own a Nothing or CMF device launched after the Phone 2, the stable rollout will begin on November 21, so keep an eye on System Updates.

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