Android 16 has been around for a while, but it seems like phone manufacturers are still taking their time rolling out the final version. Nothing is no different, but they've just announced an open beta for their Nothing OS 4.0, which is based on Android 16.

Nothing announced on their Community website that the Nothing OS 4.0 beta is now available. This new software brings a bunch of cool features and tweaks to phones that can use it.

For example, if you have a supported device, you'll be able to use a 2x2 quick settings tile, two fresh lock screen clock styles, an extra dark mode, and a floating window that they're calling a "Pop-Up View" with two "floating icons for faster switching." I think that this may improve the day-to-day experience.

This latest version also lets you use Essential Apps, where you can easily make widgets that you can share through Nothing’s Playground. If you're using a Nothing Phone 3, you can have up to six of these widgets, while other phones can have up to two. Nothing says these limits are just temporary to keep things running smoothly, and they're planning to increase them.

The Nothing Phone 3 is also getting an "AI usage dashboard" in Essential Space. This is made to keep track of "large model activity." I consider that this is a usefull way of control, since it is important to know how the AI is working. The flagship device is also getting fixes for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, screen brightness, the camera, and more.

However, the Nothing OS 4.0 open beta is bringing the "Stretch" camera setting to the Nothing Phone 2, Phone 2a, and Phone 2a Plus. It's also optimizing apps to make them start up faster.

Currently, the Nothing OS 4.0 open beta is available on the Nothing Phone 2 and 3, as well as the Nothing Phone 2a and 2a Plus. The open beta should be coming to the Nothing Phone 3a series sometime in October.