Stay updated with latest tech news 🚀

Follow TechiBoy on Google to get updates on smartphones, gadgets, software updates, and more.

Nothing has started rolling out the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta based on Android 17 for the Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro. The new beta introduces a refreshed visual design, new Glyph features, widgets, camera improvements, and several Android 17-related enhancements.

The update is available to users who register through the Nothing Beta Hub, provided their devices are running the required stable build.

The Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta update is 2.82GB in size.

Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta: What’s New?

New Features

New Glyph App: Nothing has introduced a dedicated Glyph app designed specifically for the Glyph Interface. It provides quicker access to Glyph-related features and a refreshed interactive experience. The app can be found on the home screen or in the app drawer.

Split Quick Settings and Notifications: Users can now separate the Quick Settings and notification panels for a cleaner layout. The option can be enabled from:

Settings > Notifications > General > Notification and quick settings

Bulk Home Screen Arrangement: You can now arrange multiple home screen icons at once by long-pressing the home screen and selecting Arrange.

New Status Bar Indicator: Nothing OS 5.0 introduces a three-colour status bar indicator for activities such as sensitive access, location and AI processing.

Visual Enhancements

The update also brings several visual changes across the system:

• Lock screen clock colour customization
• New lock screen clock face
• Updated wallpaper gallery with a new wallpaper style
• Refined status bar icons with subtle animations
• New Geist typeface
• Refreshed Settings UI
• Improved transitions and interactions across the system

New Widgets

Nothing has added several new widgets:

Collector Widgets: Turn your photos into different-style decorations on the home screen.

Away Time Widgets: Track the amount of time you spend away from your screen to provide insights into your daily habits.

Glyph Timer Widget: Glyph Timer is now available through the widget drawer, allowing users to interact with it directly from the home screen.

Camera Improvements

Nothing OS 5.0 also brings a major set of camera improvements.

Camera Tuning

A new Tuning feature offers seven adjustable effects, along with a reset option.

Improved Presets

Presets now offer easier editing, richer cards, Playground integration and a new 2×2 widget.

Video Improvements

Video creation now supports:

• Filters
• Tuning
• Dual-view Video

Nothing has also improved recording, zoom, close-up shooting, QR scanning, Google Lens and Motion Photo playback.

The Camera UI, controls, feedback and animations have also been refreshed.

General Improvements and Bug Fixes

The update includes several system-level improvements:

• Expanded Dark Theme: Automatically applies Dark Theme to most apps that don’t natively support it. It can be enabled through Settings > Display > Dark theme > Expanded.
• Enhanced HDR brightness: Allows users to adjust HDR intensity from Settings > Display > Enhanced HDR brightness.
• Depth (Beta) wallpapers: Users can now pinch to shrink Depth wallpapers.
• Refined Live Updates: Improved status bar experience for ongoing activities.
• Noto 3D Emoji: Added to Gboard.
• Lock screen shortcuts: Improved interaction for a more natural experience.
• Bluetooth Quick Settings: Tap the device icon to instantly connect or disconnect Bluetooth devices.

Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta Update Size

The update is 2.82GB, so users should make sure they have enough free storage and preferably download the update over Wi-Fi.

Nothing also notes that the device may temporarily heat up and consume more power during the update process. This should return to normal after the installation is complete.

Important: This is an Open Beta build, so users should back up important data, including photos, call logs and contacts, before upgrading.

How to Join Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta

If you own a Nothing Phone (3a) or Phone (3a) Pro and want to install the Android 17-based beta, follow these steps:

1. Update to the latest stable build

Make sure your phone is running the latest stable Nothing OS build before joining the beta.

2. Install Nothing Beta Hub

Download and install the latest Nothing Beta Hub V2.0 APK from your Downloads folder.

3. Open Nothing Beta Hub

Go to:

Settings > System > Nothing Beta Hub

4. Check the version

Tap Check Version.

5. Join the beta

Tap Join Beta to register for the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta.

6. Download the update

Once your registration is complete and the Open Beta is available for your device, tap Go to Update.

If Go to Update doesn’t work, you can manually check for the update by going to:

Settings > System > System updates

Required Build Versions

Before joining the beta, the required build is:

Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
Asteroids-B4.1-260810-1153

Nothing Phone (3a)
Asteroids-B4.1-260810-1153

The Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta brings Android 17 to the Phone (3a) series alongside a significant visual refresh, new Glyph experiences, additional widgets, camera upgrades and system improvements. Since this is still a beta release, users should expect further changes and additional features in future builds.