Nothing OS 4.0 Rolls Out: Hidden Features and Widget Upgrades Revealed
Android 16-powered Nothing OS 4.0 launches for Phone 3a series. Track AI usage, use hidden apps, improve multitasking, and try new camera features.
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Nothing has officially commenced the distribution of its Android 16-based Nothing OS 4.0 update to the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, after the flagship Phone 3 OS released last week. The update is packed with tons of new features, design changes, and camera enhancements that are all aimed at making the user experience more pleasant overall.
The new version of OS brings an AI usage dashboard, which will give a clear picture of large-model activities in Essential Space. The users are allowed now to conceal applications either from the home screen or the app drawer, while the improved search filters will help locating the apps and contents quicker and more accurately.
The widget capability has been widened, with more size options available for Weather, Pedometer, and Screen Time widgets. Quick Settings tiles can now be configured in a larger 2x2 grid. In pop-up multitasking, two floating icons are allowed at the same time, while a new app optimization setting is introduced that is responsible for speeding up app launch times.
Nothing has improved Essential Space with user-driven tools and new features. “Flip to Record” now integrates photo capture with note-taking, bundling the content for easy access. The “Playground” (Alpha) section is the realm of beta versions of community-developed apps, camera presets, and EQ profiles, thus mixing AI functionality with user customization.
Nothing OS 4.0 is visually attractive with a refreshed design. The redesign of app icons, simplifying elements of the status bar, and adding new lock screen clock options are just some of the changes. Extra Dark Mode offers a deeper display for those who prefer very dark interfaces. Animations are system-wide and have been refined for more fluid transitions and interactions.
Users can now set Flip to Glyph for Silent or Vibrate mode in the Glyph Interface, while Live Update notifications have made third-party app compatibility better. The camera application has been updated with new presets, longer Motion Photos with sound, more filters with intensity control, artistic frames, and a user-friendly interface that has been redesigned for better navigation.
At present, the upgrade has been rolled out to a small number of Phone 3a and 3a Pro users. After ensuring the stability of the initial deployment, Nothing will subsequently plan a wider release. Users should perform a data backup prior to proceeding with the update installation.
