No Android 16 for the Nothing Phone 1

The Nothing Phone 1 Android 16 update is officially not happening. Nothing has confirmed to Android Authority that its first smartphone won’t see another OS upgrade after Android 15. If you were hoping for one more big update, it’s time to reset those expectations.

To be fair, Nothing is simply sticking to the policy it announced at launch. The company promised three major Android upgrades and four years of security patches. The Phone 1 shipped with Android 12 and has steadily received updates to Android 13, 14, and 15. So, in that sense, Nothing kept its promise. You can still count on about a year of security patches to keep your device protected from the latest threats and bugs. But when it comes to new features or a jump to Android 16, you’re out of luck.

Here’s the thing, though: the industry has moved on. Companies like Google and Samsung now promise up to seven years of major Android upgrades and security updates for their latest devices. That’s more than double what Nothing offers. Even smaller brands are starting to stretch their policies, making three years feel pretty short in 2025.

Why does this matter? Seven years of updates means your phone won’t just be secure for longer. It’ll also keep getting the latest Android features, UI changes, and performance boosts for most of its useful life. For Nothing Phone 1 users, the support clock is ticking much faster. By the time those security updates run out next year, the phone will be officially “done” in the eyes of the manufacturer.

So, while the Nothing Phone 1 Android 16 update is a no-go, the phone itself is still usable for a bit longer. But if long-term software support matters to you, it might be worth looking at what Google and Samsung are offering for your next upgrade.