Nothing OS 5.0 with Android 17 reaches Phone (3a) and (4a)

Nothing has started rolling out the stable Nothing OS 5.0 update, based on Android 17, to four of its more affordable phones: the Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro, Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro. The update is going out globally, 9to5Google reports. The flagship Phone (3) got the same release a few weeks ago.

What's new in Nothing OS 5.0

Alongside the changes that come with Android 17 itself, Nothing has added a long list of its own features:

• Glyph app: the Glyph Interface, Nothing's light patterns on the back of the phone, gets its own app with a redesigned layout instead of living deep in Settings.
• Split Quick Settings: you can separate notifications and Quick Settings into two panels, similar to the iPhone's Control Center.
• Home screen tools: bulk icon management makes it easier to move and organise apps, and there are three new widgets: Collector, Away Time and Glyph Timer.
• New look: a system-wide Translucent theme and more lock screen customisation.
• Camera: a refreshed camera interface and a Dual-view Video mode that records from the front and rear cameras at the same time.
• AI indicator: a new yellow AI Processing status light warns you when the phone is handling potentially sensitive data with AI features.

Nothing has published separate full changelogs for the (3a) series, the (4a) and the (4a) Pro.

How to get the update

As with most Android updates, Nothing is releasing it in batches, so not every phone will see it on day one. If you don't get a notification, open Settings > System > System updates and tap Check for updates. If nothing shows up, try again over the next few days.

Before a major Android upgrade it's worth backing up your phone, charging it above 50% and leaving some free storage. A big update also re-indexes apps in the background, so a warm phone and faster battery drain for a day or two are normal; our guides on why a phone overheats and how to check phone battery health explain when it's worth worrying. Curious what runs those on-device AI features? See what an NPU is.