On October 12, 2026, Nothing started pushing Nothing OS 5.0, its Android 17 software, to the Phone (3). If you own a different model, the nothing os 5.0 release date for your phone could be anywhere from early November to the middle of January, and one of the first changes you will spot is the new “Micrographics” lock screen clock that packs the date, time, weather and your next meeting into one face.
Nothing says the rest of the rollout is still on the plan it shared back in August. Ten phones are on the list, ending with the Phone (4b) and CMF Phone 2 Pro in mid-January 2027. Here is where your phone falls and what to do in the meantime.
Nothing OS 5.0 release date for every eligible phone
The update comes in waves, with newer models first and budget phones later.
| Phone | Expected timing |
|---|---|
| Phone (3) | Rolling out since October 12 |
| 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 |
Treat each nothing os 5.0 release date in that table as a target month, not a promise for a specific day. Nothing describes the release as staggered by region and device, so two people with the same phone in different countries can see it days apart. Nothing has also warned its plans could shift as testing goes on.
The Phone (4b) shares the latest nothing os 5.0 release date for a reason: Nothing began its Android 17 work later on that model, which still needs extra testing and certification.
What lands on your phone with Android 17
Whatever your nothing os 5.0 release date turns out to be, expect a big visual refresh rather than a quiet patch. Nothing has posted a full rundown of the Nothing OS 5.0 features, and the ones most families will notice are below.
- A new home screen look. Widgets and the search bar get see-through details and icons pick up a tint from your wallpaper. You can keep the old style if you prefer it.
- Two new lock screen clocks. Micrographics and Gooey join the lineup, with extra color choices.
- A new system font. Geist replaces the old typeface, and Settings gets fresh icons and layouts.
- An Away Time widget. It shows how often you set the phone down and your longest break. It does not block apps, so think of it as a nudge rather than parental controls.
- Easier sharing with iPhones. Quick Share can create a QR code that opens a secure download link, so a relative on an iPhone can grab photos without installing an app.
- Colored privacy dots. Green flags sensitive access, blue means location sharing and yellow means AI data processing.
How to check for the update right now
- Back up your photos and chats first. A major Android version is the wrong moment to discover your backups stopped months ago.
- Charge the phone and connect to Wi-Fi.
- Open Settings > System > System update and tap to check.
- If nothing shows up, try again in a day or two. Staged rollouts reach phones in batches.
Phone (3) owners can find the official notice in Nothing’s general release post. For anyone else, checking before your phone’s nothing os 5.0 release date will simply show no new software, which is normal.
What Nothing has not answered yet
The original Phone (2) has no nothing os 5.0 release date at all, and Nothing has not said whether it will get the update. Owners have asked about it on Nothing’s forum, and the roadmap post does not address it.
Phone (4a) Pro owners in Japan also face a wait, because local certification was still pending when the beta began. No brand supports a phone forever, as owners learned when Pixel 6 updates came to an end, so it pays to know where your phone stands. If the CMF side of Nothing’s lineup is new to you, our look at the CMF brand and its first gadgets covers the basics.
Frequently asked questions about Nothing OS 5.0
Will the Nothing Phone 3 get Android 17?
Yes. Nothing OS 5.0 is built on Android 17, and it started reaching the Phone (3) on October 12, 2026.
Can I keep the old home screen after Nothing OS 5.0?
Yes. Nothing offers the redesigned home screen alongside the existing style rather than forcing the switch.
When does the Nothing Phone 4a Pro get Nothing OS 5.0?
Nothing is targeting early November 2026 for the Phone (4a) Pro. In Japan, the beta was held back while local certification was pending.
What Phone (2a) and (3a) owners should do while they wait
If your nothing os 5.0 release date is a few weeks out, use the time to tidy up storage and confirm your backups, then let the update come to you. Phone (3) owners can install it now with little reason to hold off, while Phone (2) owners should not count on it yet. A fresh coat of paint is nice, but a phone that is backed up is nicer.
