Friday, 30 October 2026

Nothing OS 5.0 eligible devices: every date, and the 3 left out

The Android 17 update just reached four budget Nothing phones days ahead of plan. Here's when every other model gets it, and which ones never will.

A smartphone with a transparent back lying on a white desk

The short version

  • Nothing OS 5.0, based on Android 17, started reaching the Phone (3) on October 12, 2026.
  • The Phone (3a), (3a) Pro, (4a) and (4a) Pro began getting it at the end of October, ahead of an early November target.
  • The Phone (2a) series, Phone (3a) Lite, Phone (4b) and CMF Phone 2 Pro follow between mid-November and mid-January 2027.
  • The Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 will not get Nothing OS 5.0.
Quick read · 1 min

Nothing OS 5.0, the Android 17 update for Nothing and CMF phones, is now on its way to five models. The Phone (3) started getting it on October 12, and the Phone (3a), (3a) Pro, (4a) and (4a) Pro began receiving it at the end of October, ahead of Nothing's early November plan.

The Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus are next in mid-November, then the Phone (3a) Lite in late December and the Phone (4b) and CMF Phone 2 Pro in mid-January 2027. The Phone (1), Phone (2) and CMF Phone 1 won't get it, though that doesn't automatically end their security patches.

  • New: a Glyph app, split Quick Settings and new widgets.
  • Check Settings, System, System update.
  • Back up, charge and check key apps before installing.

The full list of Nothing OS 5.0 eligible devices covers ten Nothing and CMF phones, and four of them just got their update early. The Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro, Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro started receiving the Android 17-based software at the end of October, days before the early November window Nothing had promised.

If you own one of the other six models, you have a date to circle. If you own a Phone (1), Phone (2) or CMF Phone 1, the news is less welcome: those three are off the list for good. Here’s the whole schedule, what you get, and how to install it without surprises.

01

Nothing OS 5.0 eligible devices and release dates

Nothing published an expected window for every supported phone. The company stresses that these are estimates, that rollouts happen in stages by region and carrier, and that dates can still move.

  • Phone (3): rolling out since October 12, 2026
  • Phone (4a) Pro: rolling out now (planned for early November 2026)
  • Phone (4a): rolling out now (planned for early November 2026)
  • Phone (3a) Pro: rolling out now (planned for early November 2026)
  • Phone (3a): rolling out now (planned for 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

The early arrival for the 3a and 4a families is a good sign for the rest of the list, but don’t count on every model jumping ahead. Each phone gets its own build and testing.

Hand holding a phone during a software update
02

Which Nothing phones won’t get Android 17

Three models have reached the end of their major Android upgrades and won’t get Nothing OS 5.0:

  • Nothing Phone (1)
  • Nothing Phone (2)
  • CMF Phone 1

Missing a big upgrade isn’t the same as losing security updates, though. Major Android versions and monthly security patches run on separate support timelines, and Nothing’s rollout announcement doesn’t say how long those three phones will keep getting patches. Check the support policy for your exact model before you decide whether to replace it.

What that means if you own one of the left-out phones

Your phone keeps working exactly as it does today. You just won’t get the new features below. If you bank, shop or work on the phone, the security-patch end date is the one that matters, so look it up rather than replacing a phone that’s still protected.

03

What’s new in Nothing OS 5.0

The update mixes Nothing’s own design changes with Android 17’s new features. The highlights:

  • A dedicated Glyph app that gathers all the light-up Glyph Interface controls in one place.
  • Split Quick Settings, so you can pull down notifications and quick toggles as separate panels, much like an iPhone.
  • An easier home screen, with bulk icon moves, a redesigned launcher and transparent widgets.
  • New widgets called Collector, Away Time and Glyph Timer, plus a Micrographics clock face.
  • A Translucent theme across the system, new lock screen options and colors that follow your wallpaper.
  • Dual-view Video, which records from the front and rear cameras at once, in a refreshed camera app.
  • A status bar privacy light in three colors, including a yellow one that shows when the phone is processing sensitive AI data.
  • Android 17 extras such as QR code Quick Share for sending files to an iPhone, a redesigned Recents screen and wider Dark Theme support.

One catch: not everything lands on day one. Nothing says some Essential Space improvements, its AI notes and capture tool, arrive separately through Google Play, and some features depend on each phone’s hardware, so a cheaper model may not get every Glyph trick.

Three smartphones lined up on a wooden table
04

How to get the update on your Nothing phone now

Updates arrive in batches, so your phone may show nothing for a few days even when its window has opened. To check manually:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down and tap System.
  3. Tap System update, then check for updates.

If you’re already on the Nothing OS 5.0 beta, you don’t need to leave the program. The stable build arrives as a normal over-the-air update.

Before you tap install

  • Back up photos, messages and contacts.
  • Charge the phone and use Wi-Fi, and make sure you have free storage.
  • Check your must-have apps, such as banking, two-factor login and work tools, work on Android 17. If the phone is managed by your employer, ask IT first.

Nothing also warns that a phone can run warmer and use more battery for a while after a big update, which should settle down as the system finishes optimizing.

05

Should you install Nothing OS 5.0 right away?

For most owners, yes, once it shows up. It’s the stable release, not a test build, and the Phone (3) has been running it for a few weeks already. Waiting a few days still makes sense in two cases.

  • You rely on one critical app. If a banking app, a work VPN or your two-factor login app hasn’t been updated recently, give its maker a little time to confirm Android 17 support.
  • Your phone is your only device for work. A short wait lets early reports about battery life or bugs surface first.

If neither applies, there’s little reason to hold off. And if you’re on a model scheduled for mid-November or later, joining the Open Beta is possible, but beta software can hurt stability and battery life, so back up first.

06

Quick answers

Is the Nothing Phone (2) getting Nothing OS 5.0?

No. The Phone (2), Phone (1) and CMF Phone 1 have reached the end of major Android upgrades.

When will the Phone (2a) get Android 17?

Nothing’s estimate is mid-November 2026 for both the Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus.

Why don’t I see the update yet?

It rolls out in batches by region and carrier. Check Settings, then System, then System update over the next few days.

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