The wait’s been shorter than usual this time. Nothing has pushed out its first public taste of Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta, and it’s already landing on the new Phone (3a) and Phone (3a Pro). If you’ve followed the brand since the first transparent handset, you’ll recognize the pattern: launch the hardware, let it breathe a few months, then throw a major software refresh into the wild. But this one feels slightly different. It rides on top of Android 16 beta, and that alone changes the texture of the update.
How to install Nothing OS 4.0 on your Phone (3a) or (3a Pro)
Joining the beta isn’t complicated, but it’s not automatic either. You’ll need to grab the Beta Hub APK, enroll through Settings, and wait for the OTA to appear. Nothing makes it easy to undo mistakes — there’s a rollback package, but it wipes everything. Back up first. Seriously, don’t skip this step.
The first boot takes a bit longer than usual. The phone gets warm, battery behaves oddly for a few minutes, and things settle only after a little patience. That’s just part of beta life — nothing alarming, but it’s worth knowing.
What’s new in Nothing OS 4.0? Real changes you’ll actually notice
Extra Dark Mode
This is more than just a darker wallpaper. Contrast feels smarter, icons and text don’t vanish into black. If you unlock at night, it’s noticeable — less strain, less “why is my face blinding me?”
Lock Glimpse
Lift the phone, see notifications briefly. It’s subtle, not overbearing, and saves a tap or two. A small tweak, but it changes how you interact with the lock screen without realizing it.
Camera Experiments
The Stretch Camera preset is interesting — especially on the Pro. Sometimes it makes ultra-wide shots look cinematic. Other times, it warps edges just enough to remind you this is a beta. That kind of experimentation is exactly why you join a beta. You get to see the thinking behind the feature.
Multitasking and Pop-up View
Pop-up View now lets you run two floating windows at once, and resizing them feels smoother than before.
Jumping between apps — chat, music, notes — is less frustrating, more intuitive.
It’s not a huge leap, nothing flashy, but these tiny refinements are the kind of changes that quietly make daily life easier.
AI Dashboard — A Quiet but Useful Addition
Not flashy, not an assistant. It shows AI activity on the phone, model usage, and lets you toggle a few things.
It’s subtle, but it gives insight into the “smart” layer your phone runs quietly in the background.
Beta Life — What to Expect
Expect glitches. Animations stutter, Bluetooth occasionally forgets devices, and the battery behaves inconsistently.
That’s normal. Betas aren’t polished; they’re for testing.
The community is already buzzing with bug reports, screenshots, and tips.
Being part of that loop can be fun if you’re into it — and honestly, it’s where the update feels alive.
Why This Beta Feels Different
Nothing OS 4.0 hums instead of shouting. Extra Dark Mode, Lock Glimpse, Pop-up View tweaks, Stretch Camera — these small changes add up. It’s not flashy, but it feels purposeful. You can see the OS starting to find its own rhythm, balancing personality with usability.
Should you update to Nothing OS 4.0 beta?
If you’re the type who likes poking around and testing new features, go ahead — just make sure your files are backed up first.
If stability matters more than novelty, it’s probably better to wait for the official release.
Either way, there’s something quietly fascinating about seeing an OS evolve in real time — the small tweaks, the rough edges, the little surprises that make you realize how much thought goes into shaping the experience.
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