What you need to know
- Nothing announced that its OS 5.0 (Android 17) Open Beta is now welcoming the Phone 4a, 3a, and 3a Pro.
- Users may find an update ~2.8GB, loaded with new features for the camera, the a new system typeface, widgets, customization, AI, and more.
- The Phone 3 got into the Open Beta in August, and users with that phone should see a full release in mid-October.
Another new day means something to look forward to from Nothing OS. The company announced that it’s now rolling out the Open Beta of OS 5 to more phones.
Over on X, Nothing announced that it’s now accepting the Phone 4a, Phone 3a, and 3a Pro into the OS 5 Open Beta. Going by the company’s timeline, these phones are right on schedule, as it listed a « Late September » timeframe for the Open Beta. What’s more, testing should last for a little while. Nothing says these devices likely won’t see a general release until early November.
The folks at Android Authority swiped the changelog for the Open Beta. That is, for the Phone 3a. It states the update is ~2.8GB on the Phone 3a, so the size should be similar on the other two devices. Much of the changelog mirrors what Nothing released for the Phone 3 back in August. The Android 17 test brings a dedicated Glyph app for the Glyph Interface. While the Quick Settings and home screen app management get refreshed, Nothing is introducing a new « three-color status bar indicator. »
This indicator is for « scenes of sensitive access, » location, AI processing, and more. Visual enhancements are rolling out across the board for Nothing’s phones, as are updates to its camera. Users will find Filters and Tuning support for video, alongside Dual-View for recordings.
Some users on X have said they’ve had difficulties with the Open Beta. Basically, it’s showing that there’s nothing to download. It might be worth waiting a while before attempting as the beta comes online for more users.
Testing continues, but launch is near
There was hype around the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta for the Phone 3 back in August. This is the company’s major Android 17 update, and there was a lot to go over. A new system typeface (Geist), refreshed system icons, better adaptive colors for your wallpapers, and more. Since the Phone 3 got its Open Beta last month, Nothing said users should expect its stable release in mid-October.
Most phones are getting that two-month testing period to iron out any bugs before it his everyone’s device. In our hands-on, it was evident that Nothing was pushing ahead with a little more AI on Nothing OS 5.0. What’s more, the company is doing so with privacy at the forefront.
