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Nothing OS 5.0 Teaser Hints at New Animations, Wallpapers and Font
Nothing has officially teased Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17, giving us a small but interesting look at what the company has been working on. The full launch is just around the corner, with the update set to be revealed on August 25 at 11:00 AM BST (3:30 PM IST).
Nothing OS 5.0 gets a 3-second teaser
Yesterday, Nothing CEO Carl Pei shared a short 3-second video on X teasing Nothing OS 5.0. Along with the video, he wrote:
“The details are not details. They make the design.”
Carl also confirmed that Nothing OS 5.0 launches on August 25 at 11 BST.
While the video is very short, it gives us a few hints about the visual changes coming with the new version of Nothing OS.
New status bar animation spotted
One of the biggest changes visible in the teaser is a new animation in the status bar.
When Airplane Mode is activated, a smooth animation appears to move from the bottom towards the status bar. At the same time, other status bar icons, including Wi-Fi and network indicators, appear to fade out.
This suggests that Nothing is putting more focus on animations and making small system interactions feel smoother.
So, while Nothing has not officially explained all the changes yet, new system animations are clearly coming with Nothing OS 5.0.
New wallpapers with a translucent effect
The teaser also appears to show new wallpapers with a translucent look.
This could be a hint that Nothing is working on a more transparent or blurred visual style for parts of the interface. It is still too early to confirm exactly how this effect will be used, but it could bring a noticeable change to the overall look of Nothing OS.
New clock font spotted
Another small detail can be seen in the top-left corner of the screen.
The clock appears to use a new font style, which could mean Nothing is also changing some of the system typography with Nothing OS 5.0.
Nothing has not confirmed this change yet, so we will have to wait for the full reveal to know if the new font will be available across the system.
Nothing OS 5.0 launch is just two days away
For now, these are the main changes spotted in the short teaser. Since the video is only three seconds long, there is likely much more that Nothing has not shown yet.
Nothing OS 5.0 will officially launch on August 25 at 3:30 PM IST.
There is also a possibility that the launch could be followed by a Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta for the Nothing Phone (3). As Nothing’s flagship smartphone, the Phone (3) would likely be among the first devices to receive the new software.
After that, the update could gradually make its way to other eligible devices, including the Nothing Phone (4a) series and other supported phones.
We will know more once Nothing officially reveals Nothing OS 5.0 on August 25.
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Nothing has teased another Pokémon on its official X account and Nothing Community, hinting that a new product could be on the way. This time, the company has shared Kingdra, Pokémon #230 in the National Pokédex.
Kingdra is a Water/Dragon-type Pokémon introduced in Generation II. The teaser features the Pokémon alongside a cryptic description about sleeping deep on the ocean floor to build energy and causing tornadoes when it wakes up.
What Could Nothing Be Launching Next?
Nothing has not revealed which product the new Pokémon teaser refers to. However, the company has previously used Pokémon-themed teasers to build anticipation for upcoming devices, making this latest post worth watching.
An audio product, such as new Nothing Ear earbuds or headphones, could be one possibility. A new smartphone or another product category cannot be ruled out either.
For now, the product name, specifications, pricing and launch date remain unknown. More details may emerge through future teasers from the company.
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WhatsApp is testing a new shortcut that makes sharing Instagram Reels directly in chats easier. The feature adds a dedicated Reels button to the chat attachment menu, allowing users to quickly find and share Instagram content without navigating through multiple menus.
The feature was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.42.9 and is currently rolling out to some beta testers.
WhatsApp Adds a Dedicated Reels Button
Previously, users who linked their WhatsApp account to Meta’s Accounts Center could access Instagram Reels through the media picker. However, finding the option required opening the picker and selecting Instagram from the source list.
With the new shortcut, users can tap the Reels button directly from the chat attachment menu to open a dedicated interface for browsing and sharing content.
Recent, Saved and Liked Reels
The new interface includes three tabs:
- Recent: Reels recently watched on Instagram.
- Saved: Reels saved by the user.
- Liked: Reels liked by the user.
Users can browse these sections and select content to share in WhatsApp chats. The interface also reportedly provides access to posts.
Availability
The shortcut requires users to link their WhatsApp account to Meta’s Accounts Center. This integration remains optional, so users who prefer to keep their accounts separate can continue using WhatsApp without connecting them.
The feature is rolling out gradually to Android beta testers through the Google Play Store. WhatsApp has not yet announced when the dedicated Reels shortcut will become available to all users.
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Nothing has started rolling out the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta update for the Nothing Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus, bringing Android 17 along with a refreshed user interface, new customisation options, camera improvements and several other features. The update started rolling out on October 21, 2026, with a reported download size of 3.14GB.
One of the biggest surprises in this update is the addition of the translucent theme and Micrographics clock face, giving users more ways to personalise their devices.
Nothing OS 5.0 Brings Translucent Theme and Micrographics Clock
The Nothing Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus receives the new translucent theme as part of the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta. The updated design introduces translucent elements and wallpaper-inspired accent colours, offering a refreshed look across the interface.
The update also brings the Micrographics clock face, along with additional lock screen customisation options, including the ability to change the clock colour and choose a new clock design.
Other New Features in Nothing OS 5.0
Apart from the visual changes, the update introduces several new features and improvements:
- Separate Quick Settings and Notifications: Users can enable a split layout for easier access to notifications and system controls.
- New Glyph app: A dedicated app provides quicker access to Glyph Interface features.
- Home screen improvements: Users can arrange multiple app icons at once.
- New status indicators: Three-colour indicators show sensitive access, location and AI processing activity.
- New widgets: Collector, Away Time and Glyph Timer widgets expand home screen functionality.
- Updated system design: The Geist typeface, refreshed Settings interface and redesigned status bar icons improve the overall appearance.
- Smoother animations: Updated transitions improve the experience across widgets and recent tasks.
Camera Improvements
Nothing OS 5.0 brings several camera enhancements to the Nothing Phone (2a). These include Tuning with seven adjustable effects and a reset option, improved Presets editing, richer preset cards and Playground integration.
The update also introduces a new 2×2 camera widget and support for Filters and Tuning during video creation. Other improvements include video recording, zoom, close-up shooting, QR scanning, Google Lens and Motion Photo playback, alongside refinements to the camera interface, controls and animations.
Dark Theme, HDR and Other Improvements
The update expands Dark Theme support to many apps that do not offer a native dark mode. Users can also customise Enhanced HDR Brightness to adjust the intensity of HDR content.
Depth wallpapers now support pinch-to-shrink, while Live Updates receive an improved status bar experience. The update also adds Noto 3D Emoji support in Gboard, improves lock screen shortcut interactions and enables one-tap Bluetooth connection or disconnection through Quick Settings.
Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta: How to Update
Nothing Phone (2a) and Phoen (2a) Plus users can check for the update through the software update section in Settings. The rollout is happening in stages, so it may take some time to appear on all eligible devices.
As this is a beta release, users should back up their important data before installing it. Beta software may contain bugs and could temporarily cause increased battery consumption or heating.
What do you think of the new Nothing OS 5.0 design? Let us know in the comments.
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