Nothing OS 4.0 is on its way, bringing a refined design, new features like Pop-up View, and a transparent AI dashboard. The upcoming open beta, built on Android 16, will showcase a user interface that prioritizes clarity and user control.
A fresh take on Android
Nothing has just detailed its upcoming Nothing OS 4.0, which doubles down on the company’s vision of an "effortless, intuitive, and uniquely human" mobile experience. Building on the foundation of its predecessor, OS 4.0 aims for greater cohesion and transparency. While a teaser video gave us a glimpse, Nothing has now revealed the specific improvements we can expect.
Key Features in Nothing OS 4.0
Refined Design & Extra Dark Mode: The update brings a sharper, more unified design with standardized components, new lock screen clocks, and cleaner Quick Settings. A new "Extra Dark Mode" offers a deeper dark aesthetic to reduce eye strain.
Pop-up View & App Optimisation: Multitasking gets a boost with support for two floating app icons, while system-level optimizations promise faster app start times and overall smoothness.
Photography Experience: The new "TrueLens Engine" powers an upgraded Camera and a smarter Gallery, with more intuitive controls and creative presets.
Transparent AI Controls: You get full control over AI with a new usage dashboard and status hints for LLMs, making the technology's behavior clear and easy to manage.
Why this is a big deal
Screenshots from the Nothing OS 4.0 UI | Image credit — Nothing
In a world dominated by iOS, One UI, and Google's flavor of Android via the Pixel launcher, Nothing is carving out a niche for itself. While Google's Pixel UI on Android also aims for a clean look, its approach to AI is far more integrated and less explicit. Nothing explicit AI dashboard is a direct counterpoint to that.
A refreshing, if niche, approach
I’m a fan of what Nothing is doing here. The focus on both aesthetics and core usability—like App Optimization and Pop-up View — shows a mature approach. The commitment to AI transparency is particularly interesting. While I’m not sure the average person will be diving into an AI dashboard, the gesture itself builds trust.
It feels less like a black box and more like a tool you can actually understand. It’s this kind of thoughtful design that sets a brand apart. While I usually stick with my Pixel for its camera, Nothing is building a compelling alternative for anyone who values design and wants a more honest relationship with the tech on their phone. I'm looking forward to trying out the public beta on my Nothing Phone (3), which the company says will be available soon.
Rediscover some of the most unique and memorable phones of the last two decades! "Iconic Phones" is a beautifully illustrated book that we've been working on for over a year - and it's coming out in just a couple short month!
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every phone lover out there. Covering the stories of more than 20 fan-favorite phones, it takes you on a memorable journey through the technological revolution that shaped our lives. Sign up now to secure an early discount price!
Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: