Nothing OS 4.0 Starts Rolling Out With This Major Android 16 Upgrade

Nothing is finally pushing its long-awaited Android 16-based update to the public, with Nothing OS 4.0 set to begin rolling out on Friday, 21 November. This release has been in the works for months and sits at the centre of the company’s shift toward an AI-forward software strategy.

Public Rollout Follows a Long Beta Stretch

The update has been through an extended open beta phase since late October, giving early testers hands-on access ahead of the stable build. In a note published on the Nothing Community platform, the company thanked participants for their feedback and confirmed that the general release window is now locked in. A short announcement on X reinforced the same message with the line: “Nothing OS 4.0. Let your phone bring flow to your life. General Release. 21 Nov.”

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Devices Expected to Receive the Update First

Nothing has shared a formal stable rollout device list, but the open beta gives a clear idea of what to expect. The Nothing Phone 2 and Phone 3 remain front and centre, joined by the Nothing Phone 2a, 2a Plus, 3a and 3a Pro. These are expected to receive the update from day one.

Additional models, including the frequently referenced Phone 3a Lite, are likely to follow soon after. Devices under the CMF sub-brand, which also run Nothing OS and carry guaranteed update commitments, should receive the update as well.

What Nothing OS 4.0 Brings

The new update blends Android 16 upgrades with Nothing’s own features. Users can expect Extra Dark Mode, Pop Up View for floating windows, a refreshed 2×2 Quick Settings tile layout and new lock screen clock styles. Nothing is also introducing Essential Apps, a set of user-made widgets designed to be shared through the Nothing Playground.

The Nothing Phone 2 lineup gains the “Stretch” camera tool introduced with the Phone 3. Another addition is Lock Glimpse, and following earlier criticism, Nothing has confirmed it will remain off by default for the Phone 3a series.

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Rollout Expected To Reach All Users By Week’s End

With the update going live this Friday, supported phones should see the rollout progress in waves over the next few days. Nothing OS 4.0 marks the company’s most significant annual software overhaul, bringing a refreshed interface, deeper personalisation options and a stronger push toward AI-driven features across the entire ecosystem.