Nothing has rolled out a new update for its Nothing OS on the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro, bringing smarter Glyph Bar features, AI-powered photo editing, and enhanced customization options.
The headline addition is Live Updates from Android 16. Supported apps can now show real-time progress directly on the Glyph Bar, whether on the lock screen, Always-On Display, status bar, or in notifications. This extends the phone’s signature LED system beyond simple alerts.
Other tweaks include:
- App recommendations in the Essential Apps section, with quick add to the home screen
- A new clock style on the lock screen, borrowed from the Phone (3), featuring wake-up animation
- Improved customization: Depth Effect, adjustable clock size, and repositioning
The update also introduces AI Eraser in the Gallery app, which can automatically remove unwanted objects from photos or let you manually select items to erase. This feature steps up Nothing’s AI game, competing with similar tools from Apple and Google.
The package includes the Android March 2024 security patch as well.
This update is currently seeding for the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro series and will be available soon for older Nothing devices. The Phone (4a) is now on sale in multiple regions, with the Pro variant launching in the coming days.
Nothing’s incremental upgrades reflect its effort to refine hardware-software integration while adding AI-powered features-a strategy that’s becoming standard among Android manufacturers trying to distinguish themselves from Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem. Watch for how quickly Nothing can scale these innovations to attract a broader global audience.