Nothing OS 5.0 beta starts, three older phones miss out
Built on Android 17 and in open beta on the Phone (3) since 26 August, with a stable release expected in mid-October; Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 are excluded.
The details
- Nothing OS 5.0 is built on Android 17.
- Open beta opened 26 August 2026, initially for the Nothing Phone (3) only.
- Stable release expected mid-October 2026.
- Reported rollout order after the Phone (3): Phone (4a) Pro in early September, Phone (4a), Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro in late September, Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus in mid-October, Phone (4b) in mid-December. Schedules differ between reports, so the later dates are provisional.
- Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 will not receive the update.
- Design changes include the Geist typeface, translucent software layering and adaptive themes tinted from the wallpaper.
- New dedicated apps for the Glyph Interface and for Essential Apps Builder; Nothing Glyph consolidates ringtone and notification sound settings.
- Android 17 platform features carried over include split notification and Quick Settings panels, cross-platform Quick Share with iOS, and enhanced privacy indicators.
- 9to5Google reported that the first beta build drew error messages on Phone (3) units at rollout.
Pricing
- Free software update
Prices are as announced in the market named. Use the currency selector to see comparable figures elsewhere.
Why it matters
It is Nothing's first Android 17 release and it draws the support line: three of the company's earlier phones stop here, which matters for anyone still holding one.