Nothing has officially unveiled Nothing OS 4.0, marking a significant milestone in the company’s software evolution. Based on Android 16, this major update promises to deliver a more refined, intelligent, and user-centric mobile experience that builds upon the foundation established by Nothing OS 3.0. With an open beta launch scheduled for late September 2025 and a stable release expected by November, Nothing OS 4.0 represents the company’s most ambitious software undertaking to date.
The announcement comes at a pivotal time for Nothing, as the UK-based technology firm continues to establish itself as a distinctive voice in the smartphone ecosystem. CEO Carl Pei’s vision of creating technology that feels “effortless, intuitive, and uniquely human” is fully realized in this latest iteration, which emphasizes deeper refinement, greater cohesion, and unprecedented transparency in AI functionality.
Design Revolution: Refined Aesthetics Meet Functional Excellence
Enhanced Visual Language : Nothing OS 4.0 introduces a significantly refined design philosophy that extends across every layer of the user interface. The update brings standardized components, reimagined lock screen clocks, and a cleaner Quick Settings panel that creates a more unified and intuitive experience. The company has focused on removing visual clutter while embracing the refined standards that define Nothing’s distinctive aesthetic approach.
The new design language features circular iconography throughout the system, with key elements such as the Bluetooth switch, dark mode toggle, and brightness adjustment controls adopting rounded designs. A particularly notable addition is the circular torch icon featuring a red torchlight design, which exemplifies Nothing’s attention to functional yet aesthetically pleasing details. These design changes extend to widgets and system components, creating a more cohesive visual experience that feels both modern and purposeful.
Extra Dark Mode: Power Efficiency Meets Eye Comfort
One of the standout features of Nothing OS 4.0 is the introduction of Extra Dark Mode, which extends Nothing’s signature dark aesthetic into an even deeper, more refined look. This enhanced dark mode is specifically designed to reduce eye strain during extended use while simultaneously improving power efficiency on OLED displays. The feature represents more than just a visual enhancement—it’s a practical improvement that addresses user comfort and battery longevity.
The Extra Dark Mode utilizes true black pixels on OLED screens, which effectively turn off individual pixels rather than simply dimming them. This approach not only creates a more immersive visual experience but also contributes to significant battery savings throughout the day. The implementation demonstrates Nothing’s commitment to combining aesthetic appeal with functional benefits.
Revolutionary Multitasking: Pop-up View and Enhanced Productivity
Floating App Architecture : Nothing OS 4.0 introduces Pop-up View, a groundbreaking multitasking feature that supports two floating app icons simultaneously on the screen. This innovative approach to multitasking allows users to switch between tasks faster without interrupting their workflow or breaking their focus. The feature is particularly valuable for power users who frequently juggle multiple applications throughout their day.
The Pop-up View implementation includes intuitive gesture controls that make interaction feel natural and responsive. Users can minimize windows by swiping up from the bottom edge or expand applications to full screen by pulling down. This gesture-based approach ensures that multitasking feels seamless rather than cumbersome, maintaining Nothing’s philosophy of creating technology that enhances rather than interrupts daily life.
Performance Optimization at the System Level
Beyond visual enhancements, Nothing OS 4.0 includes comprehensive app optimization that fine-tunes how applications start and run across the system. These optimizations are designed to boost speed, responsiveness, and overall smoothness, creating a more fluid user experience that feels noticeably faster in daily use. The improvements extend to system-level processes, ensuring that the benefits are felt across all applications rather than being limited to specific software.
The optimization work includes faster app launch times, reduced memory usage, and improved resource allocation. These behind-the-scenes improvements may not be immediately visible to users, but they contribute to a more reliable and efficient overall experience. Nothing’s engineering team has focused on creating lasting performance improvements that will benefit users throughout the device’s lifecycle.
TrueLens Engine: Transforming Mobile Photography
Advanced Camera Capabilities : Nothing OS 4.0 introduces the TrueLens Engine, a sophisticated camera processing system that powers significant upgrades to both the Camera and Gallery applications. This new engine brings enhanced controls, creative presets, and a more intuitive layout that makes capturing and reliving moments feel smoother and more refined across all supported devices.
The TrueLens Engine represents a comprehensive approach to mobile photography, addressing both the technical aspects of image capture and the user experience of photo management. The upgraded Camera app features new controls that provide more granular adjustments while maintaining the simplicity that Nothing users expect. Creative presets allow users to apply professional-quality effects with minimal effort, democratizing advanced photography techniques.
Intelligent Gallery Management
The Gallery application receives significant improvements under the TrueLens Engine, becoming what Nothing describes as a “smarter Gallery” with enhanced organizational capabilities. The new interface provides more intuitive navigation and potentially includes AI-powered features for automatic photo categorization and enhancement suggestions. These improvements are designed to make photo management feel effortless rather than tedious.
The gallery enhancements include faster loading times, improved search functionality, and more intelligent organization of photo collections. Users can expect to find their photos more quickly and discover forgotten memories through improved categorization and suggestion algorithms. The focus remains on creating a user experience that feels natural and helpful rather than overwhelming.
AI Transparency: User Control and Privacy First
Comprehensive AI Dashboard : Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Nothing OS 4.0 is its approach to AI transparency and user control. The update introduces an AI usage dashboard that provides unprecedented visibility into how artificial intelligence features are being used on the device. This dashboard tracks which large language models (LLMs) are most active on the smartphone, including popular models like Whisper, GPT-4o, and Gemini Flash.
The AI dashboard represents a significant step forward in user privacy and transparency. Users can monitor daily and weekly usage trends, understanding exactly which AI services are processing their data and when. This level of transparency is rare in the mobile industry and reflects Nothing’s commitment to putting users in control of their technology rather than the other way around.
LLM Status Hints and Usage Controls
Beyond the comprehensive dashboard, Nothing OS 4.0 includes AI (LLM) status hints that provide real-time information about AI processing activities. These hints keep users informed about when AI features are active and what tasks they’re performing, ensuring complete transparency in AI operations. The system also includes usage controls that allow users to manage AI behavior according to their preferences and privacy concerns.
The AI control features extend to Nothing’s Essential Space functionality, which may now include monthly usage limits and premium subscription options. This approach allows users to understand the cost and value of AI-powered features while maintaining control over their usage and associated expenses. The integration of OpenAI’s Whisper model for voice transcription tasks demonstrates Nothing’s commitment to using best-in-class AI technologies while maintaining user control.
Device Compatibility and Rollout Timeline
Eligible Devices and Support Commitment : Nothing OS 4.0 will be available for a comprehensive range of Nothing devices, though the original Nothing Phone (1) will not receive this update as it has reached the end of its promised three-year software lifecycle. The eligible devices include the Nothing Phone (2), Nothing Phone (2a), Nothing Phone (2a) Plus, Nothing Phone (3), Nothing Phone (3a), Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, CMF Phone 1, and CMF Phone 2 Pro.
The rollout strategy prioritizes the Nothing Phone (3) as the first device to receive both the beta and stable versions of Nothing OS 4.0. This approach allows Nothing to refine the software on its flagship device before expanding to other models in the lineup. The company has committed to providing five major Android updates for the Phone (3), with other devices receiving three major updates along with extended security support.
Beta Testing and Release Schedule
The Nothing OS 4.0 open beta program is scheduled to launch in late September 2025, providing early access to users who want to experience the new features before the stable release. The closed beta testing began in July 2025 exclusively for Nothing Phone (3) users, allowing the company to identify and resolve issues before broader distribution.
The stable version of Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to be available by the end of 2025, with the rollout potentially beginning in November. This timeline aligns with Nothing’s historical release patterns, as the company previously released Nothing OS 3.0 in December 2024 following a similar beta testing schedule. The phased rollout approach ensures that each device receives optimized software that takes full advantage of its specific hardware capabilities.
Phone (1) User Support Program
While Nothing Phone (1) users will not receive Nothing OS 4.0, CEO Carl Pei has announced that the company is developing a special program to thank these early adopters. The program includes exclusive discount pricing for existing Phone (1) users to upgrade to the Phone (3), with discounts of $300 USD in the United States and £300 in the United Kingdom. This limited-time offer expires on October 3, 2025, and requires users to provide their device’s IMEI number for verification.
The support program acknowledges the crucial role that Phone (1) users played in establishing Nothing as a viable smartphone brand. These early supporters took a chance on an unknown company, and Nothing recognizes this loyalty through meaningful upgrade incentives. Phone (1) devices will continue to receive security updates for one additional year, ensuring that users maintain basic protection even without feature updates.
Technical Improvements and System Enhancements
Connectivity and Performance Optimizations : Nothing OS 4.0 includes comprehensive improvements to fundamental system functions, including more responsive lock screen and Always-On Display (AOD) performance. The update features clearer brightness controls that provide more precise adjustment options, along with stronger Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that reduces connection drops and improves overall reliability.
The system stability improvements extend to detailed optimizations such as faster access to Bluetooth recording functionality. These seemingly minor enhancements contribute to a more polished overall experience where every interaction feels refined and reliable. The focus on fundamental system performance ensures that Nothing OS 4.0 feels faster and more responsive in daily use scenarios.
Battery and Resource Management
The combination of Extra Dark Mode, system-level optimizations, and improved app management contributes to enhanced battery life and more efficient resource utilization. The true black implementation in dark mode provides measurable power savings on OLED displays, while system optimizations reduce background processing overhead. These improvements work together to extend device usage time without requiring users to modify their behavior or reduce functionality.
The resource management improvements include better memory allocation, more intelligent background app handling, and optimized processor utilization. These changes ensure that Nothing OS 4.0 maintains smooth performance even during intensive multitasking scenarios or when running resource-demanding applications. The optimizations are designed to provide long-term benefits that improve rather than degrade over time.
Competitive Positioning and Market Impact
The Nothing OS 4.0 release coincides with major software updates from other manufacturers, creating an intensely competitive environment for mobile operating systems in late 2025. The update’s emphasis on AI transparency and user control differentiates Nothing from competitors who may prioritize AI capabilities without equivalent attention to user privacy and oversight.
Conclusion: A Vision Realized
Nothing OS 4.0 represents the culmination of Carl Pei’s vision for technology that enhances human experience rather than complicating it. The update successfully combines aesthetic refinement with functional innovation, creating a mobile operating system that feels both advanced and accessible. The emphasis on user control, particularly in AI functionality, establishes Nothing as a company that prioritizes user agency over technological complexity.
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