The CMF Phone 1 is now starting to receive the stable Nothing OS 4.0 update based on Android 16, marking a significant software upgrade for Nothing’s budget smartphone lineup. The rollout is expanding to users in India for both the CMF Phone 1 and CMF Phone 2 Pro, with the latter expected to get the update in the coming weeks. Additionally, the update is reaching the Nothing Phone 3a Lite as part of Nothing’s push to deliver Android 16 features to its affordable CMF and Nothing-branded devices.
Initial Rollout for CMF Phone 1
The first wave of the Android 16 transition is centered on CMF by Nothing’s debut handset, as the CMF Phone 1 has begun receiving the Nothing OS 4.0 stable update. By moving straight to a stable Android 16 build on this entry-level device, the company is effectively closing the gap between its flagship and budget software experiences, a shift that matters for users who bought into CMF on the promise of long-term support rather than premium hardware. For owners, the arrival of a major platform upgrade on a low-cost phone signals that they can expect current Android features, security patches, and UI refinements without needing to upgrade to a more expensive model.
This release also represents the expansion of Nothing OS 4.0 to two more budget phones in Nothing’s portfolio, reinforcing a strategy that treats software parity as a selling point across price tiers. The stable nature of the update for CMF Phone 1, highlighted in reporting that stresses the stable nature of the update for CMF Phone 1, is particularly important for first-time smartphone buyers and cost-conscious users who may be less willing to troubleshoot bugs or enroll in beta programs. By prioritizing a polished build, Nothing reduces the risk of post-update issues that could undermine confidence in the CMF brand at a time when budget Android phones compete heavily on reliability as much as on specifications.
Expansion to CMF Phone 2 Pro
Alongside the CMF Phone 1, Nothing is extending Android 16 to its slightly more capable sibling, with reporting confirming that Nothing OS 4.0 based on Android 16 is rolling out to CMF Phone 2 Pro users. The CMF Phone 2 Pro targets buyers who want a step up in performance and camera quality while staying within the CMF ecosystem, so aligning its software with the latest Android release helps justify that premium within the budget segment. For users, the shared OS version across CMF Phone 1 and CMF Phone 2 Pro simplifies app compatibility, feature parity, and long-term support expectations, which can influence purchase decisions in markets where word-of-mouth and community feedback carry significant weight.
Although CMF Phone 2 Pro is part of the same update wave, the company is not pushing the software to every unit at once, with reports noting that the update for CMF Phone 2 Pro is scheduled for the coming weeks. This staggered timing reflects a deliberate, phased approach that builds on prior Nothing OS releases, with one report emphasizing that the phased approach builds on prior Nothing OS updates by integrating Android 16 performance improvements specifically for the Phone 2 Pro’s hardware. For CMF Phone 2 Pro owners, that means the wait of a few weeks is framed as a trade-off for better optimization and fewer early glitches, while for Nothing, it provides a buffer to monitor feedback from CMF Phone 1 users and quickly address any issues before the update hits a broader base of devices.
Broader Rollout to Nothing Ecosystem Devices
The Android 16 transition is not limited to CMF-branded phones, as the company is also targeting its core Nothing lineup, with reporting confirming that the Nothing OS 4.0 update based on Android 16 is rolling out to the Nothing Phone 3a Lite. By including the Nothing Phone 3a Lite in the same software push as CMF Phone 1 and CMF Phone 2 Pro, the brand is signaling that its affordable Nothing-branded devices will not lag behind CMF models in terms of core Android features. For users who chose the Nothing Phone 3a Lite over CMF hardware, this alignment helps preserve the value of their purchase and reduces fragmentation within the broader ecosystem.
Coverage of the rollout notes that this expansion covers CMF by Nothing devices alongside core Nothing models, emphasizing a uniform Android 16 adoption strategy across budget segments. Compared to earlier updates, Nothing OS 4.0 is described as a more feature-forward release, with reporting highlighting that Nothing OS 4.0 introduces Android 16-specific changes like enhanced customization, in contrast to Nothing OS 3.0’s focus on Android 15 stability. For the ecosystem, this shift means that even lower-cost devices are now part of the same design language and feature set as higher-end models, which can encourage users to stay within the Nothing and CMF families when they eventually upgrade.
Regional Focus and User Impact in India
Across the reporting, India emerges as the primary launchpad for the new software, with multiple accounts stating that the Nothing OS 4.0 rollout for CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro is starting with users in India. Concentrating the initial deployment in this market reflects how central India has become to Nothing’s budget strategy, given the strong demand for sub-premium Android phones and the intense competition from brands like Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung. For Indian buyers, early access to Android 16 on CMF Phone 1, CMF Phone 2 Pro, and Nothing Phone 3a Lite positions these devices as more future-proof than rivals that may still be shipping with older Android versions or slower update roadmaps.
Reports also point to concrete user-facing gains, with one account noting that Indian users of these devices will experience time-sensitive benefits from Android 16, such as improved battery efficiency, which sets this rollout apart from global deployments of previous OS versions. The update’s arrival in India is framed as part of a broader strategy to deliver major OS upgrades faster to high-volume regions, giving early adopters access to new features and optimizations ahead of wider availability. For Nothing and CMF, prioritizing India in this way not only rewards a key customer base but also provides a large and diverse testbed for Android 16 on budget hardware, which can inform subsequent rollouts in other regions and strengthen the brand’s reputation for timely, reliable updates.
