Nothing has started rolling out a new Nothing OS 4.0 December update for the Nothing Phone (3). The update brings several visual improvements, feature enhancements, and bug fixes. The update size is 1.28GB and is currently available for the Phone (3). Other Nothing smartphones are expected to receive the same changes soon.
Just like previous updates, Nothing has not sent any notification. Users need to manually check for the update by going to Settings > System > System Update.
After installing the update, the phone continues to run Nothing OS 4.0 with a new build number Nothing OS B4.0-251224-1229, along with the December 1, 2025 Android security patch.
New Battery Icon and Charging Animation
One of the most noticeable changes in this update is the new battery icon. The battery percentage is now shown inside the battery icon, instead of outside. This gives a cleaner look and feels similar to the iPhone-style battery design, although the Nothing icon appears slightly smaller.
When charging the phone, users will notice:
- A refreshed charging animation
- Battery fill shown in green
- Empty portion appearing slightly transparent
On the lock screen and status bar, the new battery icon looks more compact and modern. Users can turn the battery percentage on or off, but there is no option to move it outside the icon.
Improved Extra Dark Mode and Visual Refinements
Nothing has also improved the Extra Dark Mode. Earlier, the dark mode was not applied properly across all areas. With this update:
- Quick Settings panel looks darker and more consistent
- Settings pages now have better grey and dark tones
- About Phone and power menu screens look more polished
The background is not completely pitch black, but the contrast has been improved for better readability.
Smoother Animations and Recorder Improvements
The update claims smoother volume slider animations when using the volume keys. While the animation change is subtle, haptic feedback at 0 percent and 100 percent volume still feels solid.
The Recorder app has also received improvements:
- Smoother wheel animation
- Better sound wave movement
- Cleaner animation when saving recordings
These changes make the recording experience feel more fluid.
Dual SIM Ringtone Support Added
A very useful new feature is separate ringtones for dual SIM cards. Users can now assign different ringtones to SIM 1 and SIM 2 by going to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Phone Ringtone. This makes it easier to identify which SIM is receiving a call.
Users can also assign custom ringtones to individual contacts.
Always-On Glyph Toy and Glyph Improvements
The Always-On Glyph Toy feature has been fixed. Earlier, the Glyph clock would turn off when the phone was kept on a table. Now, once enabled, it stays on until the user manually turns it off.
Pocket mode detection for the Glyph interface has also been improved. The Glyph lights no longer turn on accidentally when the phone is inside a pocket.
Better Haptics, Lock Screen, and Camera Stability
Nothing has optimized vibration and haptic feedback across more areas of the system. While the difference is not dramatic, feedback feels consistent and reliable.
Lock screen and Always-On Display stability has been improved, reducing random glitches.
Camera-related improvements include:
- Better Glyph Mirror stability across different camera modes like 1x, 3x, and ultra-wide
- Fixed an issue where video encoding settings switched automatically between formats
The pedometer widget animation bug on the lock screen has also been fixed, preventing unnecessary animations when Always-On Display is enabled.
Wi-Fi Search Speed and Overall Stability
The update improves the Wi-Fi network search speed, allowing nearby networks to appear faster. Nothing has also focused on overall system smoothness and stability, which further improves day-to-day performance.
Final Notes
This Nothing OS 4.0 December update focuses more on refinement and usability rather than big feature additions. The new battery icon, improved dark mode, Glyph fixes, and stability enhancements together make the Phone (3) feel more polished.
The update is currently rolling out for the Nothing Phone (3), and other Nothing devices are expected to receive it in the coming days.
