{"id":529193,"date":"2026-03-17T17:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/529193\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T17:58:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:58:12","slug":"nothing-phone-4a-update-packs-these-new-software-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/529193\/","title":{"rendered":"Nothing Phone (4a) update packs these new software features"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nothing OS 4.1 on the Nothing Phone (4a) series is debuting a few key changes to the company\u2019s Android skin including better \u201cEssential Apps\u201d functionality, a new \u201cRelaxation Hub,\u201d lock screen tweaks, and more.<\/p>\n

With Nothing Phone (4a) now on sale and the Pro available in a few days<\/a>, Nothing is detailing some of the software upgrades available in the first update on these new devices.<\/p>\n

That starts <\/a>with support for Android 16\u2019s Live Updates on the Phone (4a)\u2019s Glyph Bar. Apps that use Live Updates will be able to show their progress on the Glyph Bar, so you can keep an eye on incoming rides, navigation, and more without seeing the actual screen.<\/p>\n

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Beyond that, a new \u201cRelaxation Hub\u201d is also <\/a>launching in Nothing OS 4.1. This new feature includes \u201cBreathing Break\u201d widgets with \u201cFocus, Relax, and Calm\u201d modes. They offer breathing exercises \u201cdesigned to help you reset during the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In other widget news, Nothing Phone (4a) is making <\/a>it a bit easier to use and access Essential Apps \u2013 the widgets that you can vibe code. These will now get their own drawer which not only shows apps you\u2019ve installed or are using, but also recommend ones in the Nothing Playground without you actually leaving the homescreen.<\/p>\n

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The lock screen is also being updated with the clock face that first debuted on the Phone (3a) Community Edition<\/a>, as well as<\/a> a new \u201cDepth Effect\u201d beta that mimics how the clock can hide behind wallpaper elements on iOS.<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally<\/a>, the Nothing Gallery app is adding its own built-in AI Eraser tool which works entirely on-device, no cloud processing or internet access needed.<\/p>\n

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These updates will likely make their way to last-gen Nothing Phone releases over time, but Nothing OS 4.1 (based on Android 16) is launching first on Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro.<\/p>\n

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro is available for pre-order on Amazon in the US.<\/a><\/p>\n

More on Nothing:<\/p>\n

Follow Ben:\u00a0Twitter\/X<\/a>,\u00a0Threads<\/a>, Bluesky<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

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