Nothing OS 4.0 based on Android 16 launch timeline revealed, Phone 3 to lead rollout

Nothing Phone (3)

Nothing unveiled its first flagship smartphone, the Nothing Phone 3, alongside the company’s first over-ear headphones, the Nothing Headphone 1, this week. Moreover, the Phone 3 promises five years of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates. It currently ships with Nothing OS 3.5 (based on last year’s Android 15), with many prospective buyers expecting the device to run on the latest Android 16 operating system, which was released for Google Pixel devices last month. However, a recent teaser from the company’s CEO indicates that this could change soon.

Nothing OS 4.0 release timeline: Key details

During the launch video of Nothing Phone 3, posted on the official Nothing YouTube channel, the company’s CEO, Carl Pei, confirmed that the Nothing OS 4.0, based on Android 16, will be rolled out this autumn, suggesting a release window between September to November this year. Moreover, he also confirmed that the Nothing Phone 3 will be the first smartphone to receive this update.

The Nothing OS 4.0 is expected to introduce new AI tools and enhanced support for the Glyph Matrix API, which would let developers create new tools, mini games, and glanceable widgets for the rear circular display on the Phone 3. Currently, only Pixel smartphones have received the Android 16 update, while other Android smartphone manufacturers continue testing beta versions.

Like the Nothing OS 3.0 rollout, an open beta program for the Nothing OS 4.0 should begin soon, allowing users to explore new features before its public release later this year. Moreover, we can expect the OS update to reach all phones in Nothing's lineup within weeks after the stable release in Nothing Phone 3.