Nothing has pushed the OS 4.1 update to five more devices: the Phone 3a series, Phone 2a series, Phone 2, CMF Phone 1, and CMF Phone 2 Pro. The rollout started April 26, 2026, just hours after the same update went live for the flagship Phone 3.
What Was Announced
Nothing OS 4.1 is a staged rollout. Some users are already seeing the update prompt. If it hasn’t appeared on your device yet, it’s on the way.
The update does not bump the Android version — devices stay on Android 16. What it does change is the April 2026 security patch and a focused set of new features targeting everyday usability.
One important note: Essential Voice is not coming to the Phone 2 or CMF Phone 1. Every other feature in the changelog applies to all five devices.
Key Features in Nothing OS 4.1
- Live Updates — Real-time progress from apps like Google Maps now displays on the lock screen, notification panel, and Glyph Interface simultaneously
- New Lock Screen Clock Face — Designed in collaboration with community member Jad Zock for the Phone 3a Community Edition; includes a unique typeface and waking-up animation effect
- Essential Notifications Overhaul — Cleaner UI, added descriptions, and automatic suggestions for frequently tapped notifications
- Video Call Stability Fix — Addressed stuttering when using third-party calling apps
- eSIM Clarity Improvement — Cleaner prompts during eSIM activation
- Notification Panel Bug Fixes — Display errors resolved
- Security Patch — Updated to April 2026
- Update Size — Reportedly under 300MB
Context & Comparison
The Live Updates feature is the headline addition here. It mirrors functionality seen in Apple’s Live Activities — real-time app states visible without unlocking your phone. Nothing is pushing this across its entire lineup, not just its flagship. That’s a meaningful software commitment for mid-range buyers.
The Phone 3a and Phone 2a are the most popular Nothing devices outside the US, particularly in India. Both lineups get the full feature set with this update.
The Phone 2 is older hardware. It gets most of Nothing OS 4.1 but misses Essential Voice — a feature that uses on-device AI to filter and summarize voice interactions. Nothing hasn’t explained the technical reason for this exclusion. CMF Phone 1 users face the same limitation.
This update also isn’t an Android 17 jump. Buyers holding out for a major OS upgrade should know that Nothing OS 4.1 is a feature layer on top of Android 16, not a platform update.
What This Means for Buyers
Phone 3a, Phone 2a, CMF Phone 2 Pro owners: Install now. Live Updates and the Essential Notifications rework alone make this a worthwhile update.
Phone 2 and CMF Phone 1 owners: You get most of what’s here, but Essential Voice isn’t included. If that feature was on your radar, it won’t arrive with this build.
Considering a Nothing phone? Nothing’s consistent software rollout across budget and mid-range models remains one of its strongest selling points compared to most Android competitors.
Conclusion
Nothing OS 4.1 is live for the Phone 3a series, Phone 2a series, Phone 2, CMF Phone 1, and CMF Phone 2 Pro as of April 26, 2026. The update brings Live Updates, a new community-designed clock face, and Essential Notifications improvements — with the exception of Essential Voice on older models. Check Settings > Software Update to install. Nothing has not announced a timeline for Android 17 on any of these devices.
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