Nothing OS 4.0 is quickly approaching, and it might just unlock the most unique feature of the Nothing Phone (3). The company has confirmed that the update, based on Android 16, will arrive before the end of Q3 2025, which means it could land on the newly launched Phone (3) in just a couple of months. This announcement was made quietly during their latest product launch, but it’s a huge deal: it’s one of the fastest major OS rollouts Nothing has ever attempted. For comparison, Android 15 didn’t make its way to Nothing phones until the tail end of last year.
So, what’s the hurry? It could be tied to Nothing’s most ambitious phone to date.
The Phone (3) Deserves More Than a Pretty Face
We’ve had a chance to test the Nothing Phone (3), and to say it’s different is an understatement. With its impressive Glyph Matrix display, four 50 MP cameras, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, and the boldest hardware design Nothing has ever released, this phone is undoubtedly the quirkiest flagship we’ve seen in 2025-and that’s a great thing. But to truly match all that innovation, Nothing OS 4.0 will need to do more than just introduce small updates. The Phone (3) currently ships with Nothing OS 3.5, which runs on Android 15, and it’s already impressively clean and responsive. But people are expecting OS 4.0 to bring more polish, AI-driven features, and support for the Glyph Matrix API, which could allow developers to experiment with mini-games, widgets, and even useful tools on the phone’s rear display.
Will Older Nothing Phones Get the Update Too?
Nothing has clarified that the Q3 release timeline applies specifically to the Phone (3) for Android 16. However, based on past rollout patterns, we can expect the Phone (1) and Phone (2) to follow soon after. Last year, Android 15 was pushed to all supported models just a few weeks after its initial rollout. The broader Android 16 update from Google comes with improvements to performance, security, and background app management, and we expect Nothing OS 4.0 to build on these updates, while keeping Nothing’s signature minimalist visuals and playful UX tweaks.
A Bold Phone Needs Bold Software
At a price of $799, the Nothing Phone (3) is a statement in itself. But it’s also a significant shift for the company. This is the first time Nothing has branded one of its phones as a flagship, and the software needs to live up to that expectation. Rolling out Android 16 earlier than anticipated isn’t just about showing off-it’s about proving that Nothing can compete with big players like Samsung and Google, not only in terms of design but also in long-term support and polish.
Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to arrive before the end of September, and we’ll be keeping an eye out to see what it brings. If Nothing wants to continue making the smartphone world feel fresh and fun, this update will need to be just as confident and unapologetically different as the Phone (3) itself.
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