The latest chapter in Nothing’s software journey has a begun with the rollout of the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta. and This update built upon the foundation of Android 16 reaffirms the brand’s commitment to a distinctive, streamlined user experience, while significantly advancing its integration of artificial intelligence and refining core system performance. Available for several of its newer devices, Nothing OS 4.0 is not merely an incremental jump but a cohesive refinement across design, functionality, and performance.
The most immediately apparent changes
reside in the Design and User Interface enhancements. Nothing has always championed a clean, minimalist aesthetic, and OS 4.0 sharpens this focus. the best lock screen receives an update with new, sharper clock face options that maintain the signature monochrome look while improving readability. the Similarly and a Quick Settings panel has been streamlined for a cleaner, less cluttered appearance, featuring expanded 2×2 tile support for a more efficient layout.
New key addition to the visual suite
is the “Extra Dark Mode.” Going beyond the standard dark theme, this new mode offers a deeper, more profound dark aesthetic. It is specifically designed to reduce eye strain during nighttime use and is an intelligent, refined feature that should also provide measurable benefits in power consumption for devices with OLED screens.
On the front of Multitasking and Fluidity,
the OS introduces “Pop-up View.” This feature elevates the multitasking experience by supporting up to two floating app icons. It allows users to switch between tasks and apps with unprecedented speed, minimising the friction of closing and reopening applications. the simple pull down gesture expands the window to full screen, keeping the user experience fluid and efficient, true to Nothing’s ethos of transparent, functional design. the Furthermore, a system-level “App Optimisation” feature fine-tunes how applications are launched and run in the background and ensuring quicker startup times and a generally smoother, more responsive feel across the device.
The Perhaps the most significant
and push in Nothing OS 4.0 is its embrace of Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a distinct emphasis on transparency and user control. and flagship Phone (3), the update introduces an AI Usage Dashboard within the Essential Space. This a tool provides users with unprecedented clarity by allowing them to monitor the activity of large AI models directly on their device. In a world where AI features often operate in a black box and Nothing is ensuring users remain informed and fully in control of their data and processing.
This a new AI focus is also integrated
into Essential Apps and the Playground. The Playground is an innovative and hub where users can create their own custom widgets or “Essential Apps using AI prompts, eliminating the need for complex coding. These highly functional widgets, which could range from a simple water intake tracker to an F1 schedule, can then be shared and downloaded by the community, fostering a best and unique, user driven ecosystem. While a temporary limit is in place on the number of widgets per device in the beta to ensure stability, and this new feature signals a major step toward AI-native mobile experiences.
The best Photography Experience
sees meaningful creative upgrades. For the Phone (2), Phone (2a), and Phone (2a) Plus, the update introduces the new “Stretch” Camera preset. Developed in collaboration with fashion photographer Jordan Hemingway, this preset aims to provide images with a distinctive, cinematic contrast profile, offering richer shadows and extended highlights straight from the camera app, bypassing the need for post-editing for a stylistic look.
Beyond the major feature headlines
Nothing OS 4.0 includes
a suite of crucial General Improvements. These range from better stability for the lock screen and Always-On Display (AOD) to more optimised brightness behaviour, enhanced camera stability, and stronger, more reliable performance across Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta
is currently available for the Nothing Phone (3), Phone (2), Phone (2a), and Phone (2a) Plus. It serves as a testing ground for an operating system that is more refined, transparent, and intelligent than its predecessors. By balancing a clean, iconic aesthetic with powerful, user-controlled AI features, Nothing is positioning its devices at the cutting edge of the Android landscape. the Users participating in the beta are advised to back up their data before installing, as is standard practice for pre-release software, but the opportunity to experience this significant evolution in the Nothing ecosystem is well worth the cautionary step