Technology Nothing Phone (3) December 2025 Update

Nothing Phone (3) December 2025 Update Boosts Glyph Toys Reliability and Adds Handy Tweaks

Nothing Phone (3)’s December 2025 update refines Glyph Toys, improves pocket detection, fixes Android Auto freezes, and adds new UI and haptics tweaks.

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Nothing Phone (3) December 2025 update screen showing improvements to Glyph Toys, pocket detection, Android Auto, and UI haptics.
The Nothing Phone (3) December 2025 update refines Glyph Toys and brings system-wide enhancements.
Table of contents

Nothing is rolling out a December 2025 software update for the Nothing Phone (3) that focuses on practical refinements rather than flashy new features. The release bundles a long list of bug fixes and stability improvements, while also addressing several pain points tied to the phone’s signature rear “Glyph” experience—especially the mini-app style “Glyph Toys.”

What’s new in the latest Nothing Phone (3) update

The update is described as a smaller maintenance release, but it still delivers a meaningful set of changes across the interface, animations, and device behavior. Among the most noticeable additions is a refreshed battery percentage icon that displays the number inside the icon itself, making it easier to check battery status at a glance.

Nothing also tuned its “Extra Dark” mode to better adapt visually in more situations, implying improved legibility and consistency across apps and lighting conditions. Beyond that, the update aims to make the phone feel smoother in everyday use, with changes that target animation quality and feedback.

Visual and animation refinements

Several tweaks are specifically aimed at the look and feel of the system UI and built-in apps. These include:

  • An updated battery percentage icon with the number shown inside.
  • “Extra Dark” mode optimized for better visual adaptation to more scenarios.
  • Smoother volume slider animation when adjusting volume via the hardware keys.
  • More fluid sound wave and wheel animations inside the Recorder app.

None of these are headline-grabbing on their own, but together they’re the type of polish that tends to make a phone feel more cohesive—especially for users who notice subtle animation stutters or inconsistent theming.

Glyph improvements: the main focus of this release

The most important theme in this update is the Glyph Interface. Nothing’s Glyph system—its rear lighting and display-like functionality—has become a core part of the Phone (3) identity. With that in mind, this release prioritizes better reliability for key Glyph features, including the “Glyph Toys” mini-app experiences and the “Glyph Mirror.”

Glyph Toys: “always-on” now truly stays on

One of the most impactful changes is a fix to the “Always-on Glyph Toy” behavior. According to the changelog, an always-on Glyph Toy will now actually remain on until the user manually turns it off.

That may sound small, but it can dramatically change how useful these mini-apps feel in real-world use. If a feature labeled “always-on” shuts off unexpectedly, it undermines the core utility of glancing at information on the back. With this adjustment, Nothing is effectively making Glyph Toys more dependable for people who rely on them throughout the day.

Better pocket detection for Glyph

The update also improves “pocket mode detection logic” for the Glyph Interface. In practical terms, that should help the phone more reliably recognize when it’s in a pocket and keep the rear display/lights from staying active unnecessarily. Better pocket detection can also reduce accidental activations and may help preserve battery life by ensuring the Glyph system stays off when it should.

Glyph Mirror stability improvements

Nothing is also addressing the “Glyph Mirror,” with stability fixes intended to improve performance “across more camera scenarios.” That suggests the company has observed edge cases where the feature might behave inconsistently depending on camera mode or shooting conditions, and is now tightening up reliability.

General fixes: Android Auto, dual SIM ringtones, and more

Outside of Glyph changes, the December 2025 update includes a broad set of device-level improvements. Some are quality-of-life upgrades that users frequently ask for, while others target specific bugs that can disrupt everyday usage.

Dual SIM ringtone support added

If you use two SIMs, the update now supports setting different ringtones for each line. This is a straightforward but useful feature for people who separate work and personal numbers, as it makes it easier to know which SIM is being called without looking at the display.

Android Auto freeze issue resolved

Nothing also fixed an issue where the in-car display could freeze while using Android Auto. For drivers, this is a significant reliability fix—Android Auto is often used for navigation and communication, and any freezing on the car display can be both frustrating and potentially disruptive.

Haptics, lock screen, and AOD stability tweaks

The update includes a set of changes aimed at improving day-to-day responsiveness and consistency:

  • Vibration and haptic feedback optimized across more scenarios.
  • Enhanced stability of the lock screen and AOD for a better experience.
  • Overall system stability and smoothness improvements.

In other words, the phone should feel more predictable—whether you’re unlocking it frequently, relying on the Always-On Display (AOD), or interacting with UI elements that trigger haptic feedback.

Camera and widget bug fixes

Two notable bug fixes address specific behaviors that could annoy frequent camera users and those who customize their lock screen:

  • A fix for an issue where the video encoding setting reverted from H.265 to H.264 when switching between shooting modes.
  • A fix for an issue where the Pedometer Progress widget continued animating on the lock screen while AOD was on.

The H.265/H.264 correction is particularly relevant for users who deliberately choose H.265 for its efficiency and quality trade-offs. Meanwhile, stopping unnecessary widget animation on the lock screen while AOD is enabled may reduce distraction and could also help avoid wasted background activity.

Wi‑Fi scanning improvements

Nothing says it improved the searching speed for nearby available Wi‑Fi networks. That suggests faster scanning and discovery when you open Wi‑Fi settings or move between locations, which can make a difference in busy environments with many access points.

Security: December security patch included

In addition to feature and stability work, this release updates the Nothing Phone (3) to the December security patch. Monthly security patches are a key part of Android maintenance, addressing vulnerabilities and keeping the device protected against known threats.

How to find the update and what to expect during rollout

The update is rolling out globally, which typically means availability may vary by region or device batch. If you don’t see it immediately, it may arrive in phases. You can check manually in your system update screen, or review the official changelog posted at Nothing’s community update thread.

Conclusion

The December 2025 update for Nothing Phone (3) is a polish-focused release that leans heavily into improving the Glyph experience—especially always-on behavior for Glyph Toys, better pocket detection, and more reliable Glyph Mirror performance—while also delivering meaningful fixes for Android Auto, dual SIM usability, Wi‑Fi scanning, haptics, and system stability.

Based on reporting originally published by 9to5google.com. See the sources section below.

Sources

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