The Nothing OS 5.0 update is now rolling out to more phones. On Friday, 30 October 2026, Nothing released the final version for the Phone (4a), Phone (4a) Pro, Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. This is earlier than the early November date Nothing had planned.
Nothing OS 5.0 is built on Android 17. If you own one of these phones, you should check for the update soon.
Who Gets the Nothing OS 5.0 Update First?
Until last week, only the Nothing Phone (3) had the final version. It started getting it on 12 October, after a public beta test. The four cheaper phones joined that beta in September.
Nothing's official release post now lists all five phones. The company is sending the update in stages, so some people will get it days before others. Availability can also change by region and device.
How to Check for the Update
Checking is easy:
- Open Settings.
- Tap System.
- Tap System update.
Before you install it, back up your photos, call logs and contacts. Nothing also warns that your phone may feel warm and use more battery while the update installs. This is normal.
What Is New in Nothing OS 5.0?
Most of the new features are the same on all four phones.
Split notification shade. You can now split the pull-down shade in two. Notifications sit on one side and Quick Settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, torch) sit on the other. To turn it on, go to Settings > Notifications > General > Notifications and Quick Settings.
Easier Bluetooth. Tap a Bluetooth device in Quick Settings and it connects or disconnects right away.
Move many icons at once. Long-press your home screen, tap Arrange, and you can move several icons together.
Translucent theme. The home screen gets a frosted-glass look that takes its colour from your wallpaper. You can find it in Customisation > Theme & Style > Translucent.
New lock screen options. There are two new clock styles, and you can now choose the clock colour.
Status bar dot. A small three-colour dot shows what your phone is doing in the background, such as using sensitive access, location or AI processing.
Better Glyph Interface. The Glyph lights on the back of your phone now have their own app. There is also a Glyph Timer widget for quick countdowns.
Away Time widget. This tracks how long you stay away from your phone.
Expanded Dark theme. It forces dark mode on many apps that don't have one.
Camera and Voice Changes
Camera updates are not the same on every phone. All four get Dual-view Video, which records with the front and back cameras at the same time.
The Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro also get Tuning, a set of seven adjustable effects. They also get upgraded Presets and Filters. The changelogs for the (4a) and (4a) Pro do not list Tuning.
The (4a) and (4a) Pro get a faster Essential Voice, Nothing's voice transcription tool. Nothing says live translation in Essential Voice will arrive later this year.
Which Phones Are Next?
Nothing has shared rough dates for other devices. These dates may change.
- Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus: mid-November
- Phone (3a) Lite: late December
- Phone (4b): mid-January 2027
- CMF Phone 2 Pro: mid-January 2027
The Phone (4b) comes last because Nothing says it needs more testing and certification. Sadly, the Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 will not get Nothing OS 5.0. Nothing says they have reached the end of major software support.
What It Means for Buyers in Kenya
Nothing has sold phones officially in Kenya since May through its partner, Mitsumi Distribution. Phones bought in Kenya get the update over the air, just like phones bought anywhere else. You only need to wait for the staged rollout to reach you.
The Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro came out in March 2025 with Android 15. Android 17 is their second big upgrade. Nothing promised three years of Android updates, so they will stop getting major Android versions in early 2028.
The Phone (4a) and (4a) Pro came out in March 2026 with Android 16. This is their first big upgrade, and they should get Android updates until early 2029. That is one year longer than the (3a) series.
Final Thoughts
The Nothing OS 5.0 update brings useful changes. The split shade, the Translucent theme and the new Glyph app are the highlights. If you plan to keep your phone for three years or more, the Phone (4a) is the safer choice because it will get updates for longer.
Do you want me to put this article in a file (Word or Markdown)?