Nothing announced Nothing OS 5.0 based on Android 17, back in August 2026. Since then, the Open Beta update has reached several Nothing phones, including the Phone 4a Pro. Now, it’s finally the Nothing Phone 2a and Phone 2a Plus' turn.
Update – October 21, 2026, 4:00 PM: Nothing OS 5.0 Beta is now rolling out to the Nothing Phone 2a and Phone 2a Plus. The update weighs 3.14 GB and integrates the September 2026 security patch. Interested users can download the Nothing Beta Hub app from the Nothing website to enrol their devices and install the update.
Users are advised to back up their smartphones before initiating the update. It's also worth noting that, once enrolled, rolling back to Nothing OS 4.0 will result in a complete wipe. So, tread with caution.
Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta Hits Phone 2a Series
The news comes from a Nothing team member named Zac on the Nothing Community forum. He confirmed that the Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta for the Nothing Phone 2a series will start rolling out today, that is, October 21, 2026.
Subsequently, X user TechiBoy (@techiboy96) suggested that the update will also hit the Nothing Phone 2a Plus. This means that Nothing OS 5.0 Open Beta is ready to roll out for the entire Phone 2a lineup.
However, do note that the update is said to roll out in stages, so every Phone 2a and Phone 2a Plus user will have to wait before the release is seeded for their Nothing phone.
Also, keep in mind that this is a beta update, so users might run into a few bugs. Hence, it is recommended to back up data and keep the rollback package handy in case there are any issues.
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Nothing OS 5.0 Features Coming to Phone 2a
Nothing OS 5.0 brings a refreshed design with new typography, icons and animations. Here are the key features you can expect:
- Lucent theme: A new theme with transparent, layered elements across the interface.
- New lock screen: A Gooey clock face, a hardware-inspired clock face and improved Depth Effect wallpapers.
- New widgets: Away Time, Collector and Glyph Timer widgets, along with batch editing on the home screen.
- Refreshed apps: Updated Settings, Gallery and Camera apps, plus the new Geist typeface.
- Essential AI upgrades: Faster Essential Voice and Smart Collections in Essential Space.
- Android 17 features: Separate Notifications and Quick Settings panels, Quick Share support with iPhones and a floating screen recording control.
Image Credit: Nothing
Image Credit: Nothing
Image Credit: Nothing
That said, some features, like the redesigned home screen and the Micrographics clock face, aren’t part of the Open Beta. Nothing has said they will arrive with the stable update. We have a handy Nothing OS 5.0 features list at Beebom Gadgets to give you a quick rundown.
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