Nothing OS 4.0 hits Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro with AI smarts

The Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro are finally stepping into the Android 16 era, and it arrives wrapped in Nothing OS 4.0, a software update that promises to blends practicality with personality.

After debuting on the flagship Nothing Phone (3), this latest rollout brings fresh visual design, meaningful AI additions, smarter multitasking, camera upgrades, and deeper Glyph customisation to the more affordable siblings. The update is already rolling out to the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro, so, here’s everything you need to know.

Nothing OS 4.0: Smarter tools, sleeker style

The standout addition is the AI Usage Dashboard, which keeps tabs on large-model activity within Essential Space, giving users more transparency than most Android skins dare to. Essential Space also gets a Playgrounds (Alpha) section, opening doors to community-built tools like Camera Presets, Essential Apps, and EQ profiles, a small but promising step towards a more creatively driven software ecosystem.

ALSO READ: Nothing OS 4.0 is now rolling out to Phone (3) with huge upgrades

Users can now hide apps straight from the app drawer or home screen, refine searches with new scope controls, and enjoy pop-up multitasking that supports two floating icons. Widgets get more flexible too; Weather, Screen Time and Pedometer now offer multiple size options, while Quick Settings tiles gain wider 2×2 support.

Nothing has also polished the interface with redesigned app icons, cleaner status bar elements, new lock screen clocks, and a more immersive Extra Dark Mode. Refined animations aim to make the OS feel livelier and more fluid throughout.

Nothing OS 4.0: Camera glow-up and Glyph flexibility

Photography gets a serious boost through new presets, richer filters with intensity sliders, refreshed watermarks, and even artistic frames for a touch of flair. Motion Photos now capture longer clips with sound, while the revamped UI improves interaction flow.

The Glyph Interface doesn’t sit out either. Flip to Glyph can now trigger either Silent or Vibrate mode, and Glyph Progress hooks into Android 16’s Live Update notifications, giving third-party apps better compatibility for real-time visual alerts.

For now, Nothing is limiting the update to certain Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro users, with a broader rollout planned once stability is confirmed. Those eager to jump in early should back up their data, just in case.