The smartphone brand Nothing continues to enhance its device lineup through software updates while preparing for future Android versions. Recent announcements reveal both immediate improvements to current models and longer-term update plans that will affect most of the company's product portfolio.
Nothing X 3.0 Brings Enhanced Camera Capabilities
Nothing has begun rolling out its Nothing X 3.0 software update for the Phone (3a) series, delivering significant camera improvements alongside interface enhancements. The standout feature is the addition of 4K video recording at 30 frames per second when using the telephoto lenses on both the Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro models. This capability activates at 2x zoom on the standard model and 3x zoom on the Pro variant, expanding creative options for videographers.
Comprehensive Camera Enhancements
Beyond the headline 4K telephoto recording, the update addresses multiple aspects of the camera experience. Users will notice improved selfies with better skin detail and color balance, clearer night photography particularly under streetlight conditions, and support for filters when shooting in 50MP mode. The update also tackles specific issues like telephoto performance in low-light environments and reduces flickering in slow-motion and zoomed video footage.
Nothing Devices Eligible for Android 16:
- Nothing Phone (3a)
- Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
- Nothing Phone 2
- Nothing Phone (2a)
- Nothing Phone (2a) Plus
- CMF Phone 1 by Nothing
Nothing X 3.0 Camera Improvements:
- 4K 30FPS recording with telephoto lens
- Improved selfies with better skin detail and color balance
- Clearer night shots under streetlights
- Filter support for 50MP images
- Brighter low-light telephoto images
- Reduced flicker in slow-motion and zoom footage
User Interface Improvements
Nothing X 3.0 isn't solely focused on photography enhancements. The update introduces several quality-of-life improvements to the user interface, including easier access to the Privacy Space feature and the ability to set separate passwords for App Locker and Privacy Space functions. A new Hotspot Manager has been added, and general system stability has been improved. The update also brings support for Nothing's Buds 2 series of audio products.
Android 16 Update Eligibility
Looking further ahead, Nothing appears to be preparing for the Android 16 update expected to arrive around May 2025. Based on the company's existing software update policies, several Nothing devices will be eligible for this future update. These include the Phone (3a), Phone (3a) Pro, Phone 2, Phone (2a), Phone (2a) Plus, and the CMF Phone 1 by Nothing.
Original Phone (1) Reaches End of Update Cycle
Notably absent from the Android 16 eligibility list is the company's first device, the Nothing Phone (1). This omission aligns with Nothing's promised three-OS-update policy, which the Phone (1) has already fulfilled. Unless the company makes an unexpected exception, Phone (1) owners will not receive Android 16 or future major operating system updates.
Android 16 Feature Integration
While Google has already confirmed several features for Android 16—including progress-centric notifications, an improved photo picker with cloud media provider support, rich haptics, Advanced Professional Video codec, and enhancements to predictive back gestures—it remains to be seen which of these features Nothing will incorporate into its devices. The company has not yet made specific announcements regarding its Android 16 implementation plans.
Update Availability
The current Nothing X 3.0 update is being distributed gradually, meaning not all eligible devices will receive it simultaneously. Users can check for the update manually by navigating to System updates in their device settings. As for Android 16, despite Nothing's absence from Google's beta partners list (unlike for Android 15), the company has established a track record of relatively quick Android update deployments and may still be among the first non-Google brands to release a stable Android 16 update when it becomes available.
