TL; DR
- Nothing OS 5.0 began rolling out to the Phone (3a) and (4a) series on 30 October.
- The update adds a translucent theme, split quick settings, widgets, and Dual-view Video.
- Rollout is staggered; Phone (3a) package is about 3.09GB.
Nothing’s Android 17-based OS 5.0 has started rolling out to the Phone (3a) and Phone (4a) series in waves rather than all at once.
Software updates are perhaps one of the few post-purchase phenomena that give smartphone buyers some joy. The moment I see an announcement about a stable update rolling out for one of the phones I’m using, I refresh the update screen more often than I’d like to admit.
Nothing owners with a mid-range phone should do the same as the company rolls out the latest Android-based update for quite a lot of devices.
Also Read: Apple’s 2027 Roadmap: OLED iPad Air and New Touchscreen MacBook Pro With M7 Pro/Max Chips
Nothing OS 5.0 Rollout: Supported Devices
Nothing began pushing the stable Nothing OS 5.0 update on October 30, 2026. It is based on the latest Android operating system: Android 17. The company’s mid-range phones, including the Phone (3a) and Phone (4a), are getting it this time.
The Phone (3) received the same release in mid-October, so these mid-range models are next. It’s worth mentioning that the rollout is staggered: not all owners will get the update at once, but they’ll get it in phases. If an available update has not triggered a notification on your smartphone yet, I wouldn’t panic.
Also Read: Sonos Play Review: A Portable Speaker With a Surround Trick
| Device | Nothing OS 5.0 status |
| Phone (3) | Stable since mid-October |
| Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro | Rolling out in batches since 30 October |
| Phone (4a), Phone (4a) Pro | Rolling out in batches; the Pro has its own changelog |
| Phone (2a), Phone (3a) Lite, Phone (4b), CMF Phone 1, CMF Phone 2 Pro | Expected in the coming weeks, no firm dates |
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Tab S12+ Review: Closest I’ve Come To Replacing My Laptop With A Tablet
What Does Nothing OS 5.0 Add, and How Do I Get It?
For me, it’s the visual refresh that’s the star. A translucent, frosted-glass theme (that closely resembles Liquid Glass design language) restyles menus and the status bar. Meanwhile, a split quick-settings panel reorganizes the pull-down shade. The new Collector and Glyph Timer widgets join the home screen with others.
Under the hood, the update also expands dark theme options and adds HDR brightness controls. The default Camera app also gets some attention. Both series get a refreshed camera interface and Dual-view Video, which, for those catching up, can record video from both the front and rear cameras at once.
Also Read: New HP OmniBook 5 AI PC : An AI-Powered Companion For Students On and Off Campus
Moving on to the model-specific additions, Phone (3a) owners also receive filters and tuning with seven adjustable effects. Furthermore, Phone (4a) owners get faster Essential Voice transcription with lower latency.
| Feature | Phone (3a) series | Phone (4a) series |
| Android 17, translucent theme, split quick settings, new widgets | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-view Video and refreshed camera interface | Yes | Yes |
| Filters and tuning with seven effects | Yes | Not listed |
| Faster Essential Voice transcription | Not listed | Yes |
To check for the update manually, open Settings and look in the system update section. The Phone (3a) package weighs about 3.09GB, based on third-party reports and online forums.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
