Nothing has officially announced the rollout of Nothing OS 5.0 and Android 17 updates for the Phone (3), marking a significant milestone as this is the first of their devices to receive the stable update following a beta testing phase that commenced in August 2026. As is customary with substantial updates, the rollout will be staged, meaning not all Phone (3) units will receive the update simultaneously. Availability will also differ by region, so users are encouraged to check for updates in hopes of being among the first to experience the new features.
To initiate the update process on Nothing phones, users can navigate to Settings > System > System update.
What’s new in Nothing OS 5.0 and Android 17?
A comprehensive list of changes has been compiled, showcasing the enhancements and new features that come with this update. Here’s a glimpse of what users can expect:
- Geist typeface: The introduction of the Geist typeface aims to provide a clearer and more distinctive visual character. Alongside this, a visual refresh will include updated icons, improved spacing, and refined motion effects.
- Faster and smoother: Enhancements have been made to daily interactions, resulting in quicker app launches, smoother scrolling, and improved multitasking capabilities, all thanks to smarter system background management.
- Redesigned home screen: A new theme featuring transparent details across widgets and Search adds depth and layering. Icons now exhibit subtle color tints based on the selected wallpaper, complementing the existing Nothing OS style.
- Easier home screen editing: Users can now batch edit their home screen, allowing for the simultaneous movement of multiple items to different screens.
- Away Time widget: This new widget tracks the time users spend away from their phones, providing insights into daily phone usage.
- Lock screen personalization: The lock screen now features two new clocks—Gooey and Micrographics—offering playful and compact layouts, respectively. Users can also customize color options based on their wallpaper.
- Redesigned settings: The settings interface has been revamped with new icons and more consistent layouts, making navigation and information retrieval more intuitive.
- Cleaner status bar: The status bar receives a makeover with custom-designed system icons and expressive animations for WiFi, battery, and signal indicators.
- Camera updates: The camera interface has been refreshed with updated icons and controls, along with enhanced QR code scanning capabilities.
- Glyph app: The Glyph Interface lighting system now has a dedicated app for easier control access.
- Glyph Timer widget: This new widget allows users to set Glyph Timers directly from their home screen.
- Faster Bluetooth controls: Bluetooth controls have been redesigned for quicker access to nearby devices, enabling single-tap connections or disconnections.
- Separate Notifications and Quick Settings: Users can now opt to separate the notification pulldown into dedicated panels for notifications and Quick Settings.
- Live updates in status bar: With Android 17, Nothing OS 5.0 will utilize Live Updates, displaying ongoing notifications directly in the status bar.
- Noto 3D Emoji: The introduction of Noto 3D emoji adds a playful touch to messaging.
- Expanded Dark Theme: Users can now expand the dark theme on an app-by-app basis, leveraging another feature of Android 17.
