Nothing OS 5.0 Beta Expands to Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus
The company has confirmed which older models will no longer receive software updates.
British tech company Nothing has significantly expanded the open beta testing program for its latest operating system, Nothing OS 5.0. While the software, based on Android 17, was previously exclusive to Phone (3) users, owners of the Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus can now participate in the testing phase.
How to install the beta version
To join the program, users must download the Nothing Beta Hub application from the official Nothing website. Once installed, navigate to Settings, select the System section, and choose Nothing Beta Hub to check for the update. After clicking the appropriate button, the system update will appear on your smartphone within a few minutes.
It is important to remember that beta versions are unstable and may contain bugs. Therefore, the manufacturer strongly recommends backing up your data before proceeding. Should a user decide to revert to the previous stable version, the process will require a full factory reset, erasing all data on the device.
What's new in Nothing OS 5.0
Beyond visual updates, Nothing OS 5.0 introduces significant functional changes. The system features a new font, a redesigned settings menu, and a refreshed home screen layout. Users now have access to new lock screen clock styles and a dedicated application for controlling the Glyph interface.
Additional features include the separation of notifications and quick settings, support for live updates in the status bar, and Multi-Channel Protocol (MCP) integration in Essential Space. The company states that this is the most extensive update for Nothing smartphones to date.
Future plans and discontinued support
Nothing has also released its rollout schedule: the stable version for the Phone (2a) and (2a) Plus is set to arrive in mid-November. Beta testing for the Phone (4b) will begin in December, while the Phone (3a) Lite and CMF Phone 2 Pro are scheduled to receive stable updates in late December and mid-January, respectively.
Regrettably, the company confirmed that the Phone (1), Phone (2), and CMF Phone 1 have reached the end of their software support cycle. These devices will not receive Nothing OS 5.0, meaning their owners will remain on the previous interface. For users who actively rely on Nothing devices, this update marks another step toward a more flexible and aesthetically refined system.