In the final days of 2025, Nothing has rolled out a significant software update for its flagship Phone (3), focusing squarely on refining the user experience and addressing several persistent bugs. This update, which includes the December 2025 security patch, is less about introducing flashy new features and more about solidifying the core functionality that makes the Phone (3) unique, particularly its signature Glyph Interface. For users who have encountered issues ranging from in-car connectivity problems to finicky LED behavior, this patch promises a more stable and reliable daily driver.
Update Build Information:
- Build Number: B4.0-251224-1229
- Security Patch: December 2025
- Rollout: Graduated/staggered release
The Headline Fix: Android Auto Stability
One of the most impactful changes in this update resolves a critical bug that caused Android Auto displays to freeze completely when connected to a vehicle's infotainment system. This issue was a significant pain point for commuters and anyone who relies on their phone for navigation and media during drives. The fix ensures a seamless connection, restoring full functionality for maps, music, and communication apps on the car's display. This correction moves the Phone (3) closer to the seamless integration expected from modern smartphones, addressing a flaw that could be a deal-breaker for many potential users.
Key Bug Fixes & Issues Addressed:
- Android Auto display freezing.
- Glyph Toys "Always-On" mode timing out.
- Unreliable pocket detection for Glyph Interface.
- Video encoding reverting from H.265 to H.264.
- Pedometer widget animating on lock screen during AOD.
Glyph Interface Refinements and New Features
Nothing has dedicated considerable effort to polishing the Phone (3)'s defining hardware feature: the Glyph Interface. The update introduces a more reliable "Always-On" mode for Glyph Toys, ensuring these light-based mini-apps remain illuminated until manually disabled, rather than timing out unexpectedly. Pocket detection has also been enhanced to prevent accidental activations when the device is stored. Furthermore, the Glyph mirror functionality, which uses the LEDs for camera feedback, has been stabilized across various camera modes. These improvements aim to transform the Glyph system from a novel gimmick into a consistently useful tool, bolstering the phone's identity in a crowded market.
New Features & Enhancements:
- Battery percentage displayed inside icon.
- Ability to set different ringtones for dual SIMs.
- Smoother volume slider and Recorder app animations.
- Improved Extra Dark mode performance.
- Faster Wi-Fi network searching.
- Optimized system haptics and vibration.
Visual Tweaks and System-Wide Enhancements
The update brings several quality-of-life visual improvements. Users can now display the battery percentage numerically inside the icon itself, freeing up space in the status bar. Animations for the volume slider and within the Recorder app have been smoothed out, and extra dark mode performance has been optimized. Under the hood, system-wide stability has been boosted with faster Wi-Fi network scanning, optimized haptic feedback across more scenarios, and general enhancements to lock screen and Always-On Display reliability. These collective tweaks contribute to a noticeably smoother and more polished overall user experience.
Addressing Multimedia and Connectivity Quirks
For users who push their device's capabilities, the update tackles specific multimedia and connectivity quirks. A bug that caused video recording to revert from the efficient H.265 encoding back to H.264 when switching modes has been fixed, ensuring user preferences are maintained. Dual-SIM users gain the long-requested ability to assign distinct ringtones to each line, a basic but essential feature for separating personal and business calls. The update also quiets an animation glitch where the Pedometer Progress widget would incorrectly animate on the lock screen when the Always-On Display was active.
A Foundation-Solidifying Release
Scheduled for a gradual rollout to monitor stability, this update represents a mature step in the Phone (3)'s software lifecycle. By focusing on bug fixes, stability, and refining its unique hardware features, Nothing is working to assure users that the Glyph Interface is a supported and evolving platform, not a one-time novelty. While it may not generate the headlines of a major OS overhaul, this patch is crucial for delivering the reliable, day-to-day performance that ultimately defines a smartphone's value. For current Phone (3) owners, it's a welcome step towards a more dependable and fully realized device.
