Nothing Phone (2) will stop at Android 16, with Carl Pei confirming that the 2023 smartphone will not receive the Android 17 update.
Nothing Phone (2) users will not receive the Android 17 update, bringing the phone’s major Android update cycle to an end after Android 16. Nothing CEO Carl Pei has confirmed the decision, putting an end to speculation about whether the company’s 2023 flagship would receive another major Android version.
The Nothing Phone (2) launched in July 2023 with Android 13-based Nothing OS 2.0. The company had committed to three major Android updates and four years of security updates for the smartphone, making Android 16 the final major Android version covered by that promise.
Nothing Phone (2) Stops at Android 16
The decision means Nothing Phone (2) owners should not expect the upcoming Android 17-based Nothing OS release. Newer Nothing smartphones will continue to move to Android 17, but the Phone (2) is outside the company’s major Android update commitment.
This is particularly notable because the Phone (2) was positioned as Nothing’s flagship smartphone when it launched. It featured the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and the company’s distinctive Glyph interface.
Nothing’s current software information shows the Phone (2) moving through the Android versions covered by its original update promise, while Nothing continues to provide software updates and security support for supported devices.
Why Android 17 Is Not Coming
The main reason is Nothing’s original software-support policy for the Phone (2). When the smartphone was launched, Nothing committed to three Android version upgrades rather than an indefinite number of major Android releases.
Because the Phone (2) shipped with Android 13, the three major upgrades are Android 14, Android 15 and Android 16. Android 17 therefore falls outside the original commitment.
This does not mean the Phone (2) is immediately abandoned. The distinction between Android version upgrades and security updates is important: a phone can stop receiving new Android versions while continuing to receive security patches and other maintenance updates for a period covered by the manufacturer’s support policy.
Nothing Phone (2) Still Gets Security Support
The end of major Android updates does not necessarily mean users need to replace the phone immediately. Nothing’s original commitment included four years of security updates, giving Phone (2) owners a longer support window beyond the final Android version.
Users can check for available updates directly through Settings > System > System Update. Nothing’s support documentation recommends downloading system updates over Wi-Fi when they become available.
For existing owners, the practical difference is that future Android versions will no longer bring the latest platform-level features to the Phone (2). Security and maintenance updates, where still supported, remain separate from the Android version upgrade cycle.
Android 17 Arrives as Nothing Moves Forward
Android 17 represents the next major Android platform generation, and Nothing has already begun moving newer devices towards its Android 17-based Nothing OS 5.0 software. Recent Nothing community activity also shows the company preparing Android 17-based software for newer smartphones.
That makes the Phone (2)’s exclusion more noticeable for owners who bought the device expecting long-term software support. However, the decision is not a sudden change in policy for the Phone (2); it follows the update commitment announced when the smartphone was introduced.
What Nothing Phone (2) Owners Should Do
Phone (2) owners do not need to upgrade solely because Android 17 will not arrive. The phone remains capable of running its supported software, and security updates remain the more important consideration for continued day-to-day use.
However, users who want access to Android 17 features and future Nothing OS releases will eventually need a newer Nothing smartphone that falls within the company’s current software-support window.
The Phone (2)’s Android 17 situation also highlights how important software-support commitments have become in the smartphone market. As Samsung, Google and other manufacturers extend update periods on newer devices, buyers increasingly have to consider not only hardware specifications but also how many major Android versions a phone will receive.
For Nothing Phone (2) owners, Android 16 therefore marks the end of the device’s major Android journey, while its remaining security-support period will determine how long the smartphone continues to be a sensible option for existing users.
