Nothing announced on October 12, 2026, that the stable, Android 17-based Nothing OS 5.0 rollout had begun for Phone (3). Nothing says delivery is staggered by region and device, while its roadmap gives nine other models indicative rollout windows through mid-January 2027. Nothing’s announcement and roadmap set out those timelines.
Nothing’s published rollout schedule
The roadmap groups the next four phones in early November, followed by two Phone (2a) models in mid-November. The remaining windows run from late December to mid-January. Nothing describes the schedule as indicative and subject to change.
| Model | Published rollout window |
| Phone (4a) Pro | Early November 2026 |
| Phone (4a) | Early November 2026 |
| Phone (3a) Pro | Early November 2026 |
| Phone (3a) | Early November 2026 |
| Phone (2a) | Mid-November 2026 |
| Phone (2a) Plus | Mid-November 2026 |
| Phone (3a) Lite | Late December 2026 |
| Phone (4b) | Mid-January 2027 |
| CMF Phone 2 Pro | Mid-January 2027 |
What Nothing OS 5.0 changes on Phone (3)
Nothing’s Phone (3) changelog identifies the stable build as C5.0-260924-2115 and lists a broad set of interface and system changes. Its features apply to the Phone (3) changelog; the roadmap does not establish that every listed change will be identical on other models. Nothing’s Phone (3) changelog describes the update as powered by Android 17.
On the interface, notifications and Quick Settings can be split into separate views. The update also brings bulk home-screen icon arrangement, a Translucent launcher theme, two new lock-screen clock faces, clock-color customization, a refreshed Geist typeface and a refreshed Settings interface. A three-color status-bar indicator is intended to flag sensitive access and activity.
Three widgets join the lineup: Collector, Away Time and Glyph Timer. The camera changes include seven adjustable Tuning effects, updated Presets, Filters and Tuning for video creation, Dual-view Video and H.265 encoding. The changelog also lists refinements to recording, zoom, close-up shooting, QR scanning, Google Lens and Motion Photo playback.
Other Phone (3) changes include Expanded Dark theme for most apps without native dark-theme support, adjustable Enhanced HDR brightness, an improved Live Updates status-bar experience, Noto 3D Emoji in Gboard, faster Essential Voice transcriptions and one-tap Bluetooth connection or disconnection from Quick Settings. Some Essential Space improvements arrive separately through Google Play, according to Nothing’s OS page.
In his English-language Phone (3) walkthrough, reviewer Mr Android FHD demonstrates the Translucent theme and its customization options. He also notes that the theme does not apply to app icons.
Three models are excluded
Nothing says Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 have reached the end of major software support and will not receive Nothing OS 5.0. Nothing’s roadmap lists those models separately from the OS 5.0 rollout schedule.
How to check and prepare
On Phone (3), check Settings > System > System update. Nothing recommends backing up photos, call logs and contacts before installing. Its changelog also warns that the phone may temporarily heat up and use more power during the update, with both expected to return to normal afterward.
Nothing’s Open Beta guidance gives a separate warning: installing beta software or rolling back may require a factory reset and cause data loss. Some Essential Space updates are delivered through Google Play rather than as part of the operating-system update.
