I’ve been using the CMF Watch Pro 2 for a while now, and I’m starting to think the update story with Nothing isn’t as solid as the design suggests. I’ll walk through three major points: what’s up with the Watch Pro 2 update frequency, how the Nothing OS 4 beta feels shaky, and how the communication and consistency around updates leave a lot to be desired.
I own the CMF Watch Pro 2. It’s a sharp-looking piece — but when it comes to receiving software updates, it’s been underwhelming. To date I’ve only had one meaningful software update (version 1.0.0.51) noted in press. According to a review site, that update rolled out in August 2024 and ostensibly improved things like world clock, exercise display and call-screen behaviour.
But after that? Almost nothing. That means for a device that presumably needs constant refinements (battery, sensors, connectivity), we’re relying on the initial update plus “hope for the next one.”
Given how fast smart-watch software evolves, and how many minor bugs tend to creep in, only one update feels light. If you bought the watch expecting a full, mature ecosystem, you might feel short-changed.
Moving onto the phone side: Nothing released the Nothing OS 4.0 open beta (based on Android 16) recently. But users are reporting it feels more like a “foundation build” rather than a polished update. A few examples of what I’ve seen:
On the official community forum, users are complaining the battery management is “practically nonexistent” — the OS doesn’t seem to optimise properly, and devices are draining faster, or behaviour is inconsistent. One poster writes: “The bug has actually been around for a long time … but surprisingly, it’s still not fixed in OS 4 Beta.”
There are also reports of missing features, small UI inconsistencies (icons, quick-settings bugs) and general “this doesn’t feel like a major jump” rather than a polished OS update.
On the wearable side (and phone side) battery drain issues show up in forums for CMF and Nothing devices. For instance, in the Watch Pro 2 subreddit:
“Often… when the update was only fixing minor bugs… it wasn’t significant enough to make an announcement.”
In short: when you take the beta of Nothing OS 4 and pair it with community-reports, you get the sense that the OS is released but perhaps not ready for prime time (at least for all users/devices). And that raises the question: did they push it out too early? Or did they misjudge user expectations?
Here’s where it really hits: It’s not just the number of updates or the beta quality — it’s the consistency and transparency of the process.
On the CMF Watch Pro 2: you get one major update, then silence (or very little) about when the next one is coming.
On Nothing OS 4: yes, the beta is out, but there’s little clear information on the roadmap, release timing for stable builds, and which devices get them (or when). For example: some devices are excluded from the first beta list.
Community members are asking: “When do we get the next update addressing critical bugs (battery, Bluetooth, sensors)?” But the company seems quiet or vague.
From the Telegram update feed: one poll of Nothing/CMF users listed “Battery drain issue” at 41 % and “Update priority issue” at 8 % of complaints.
If you buy into a brand that touts clean design, minimalist hardware and smart software, part of the promise is that the software just works and is kept up-to-date. But when the updates are sporadic, the issue becomes this: you’re left hanging with bugs and no clear word for when they’ll be fixed.
Look — I’m not saying Nothing is dead in the water or that everything’s awful. They clearly have strong design language and hardware-appeal. But as someone who uses the products, I’m feeling a bit disappointed by the software support side. It’s one thing to have slick hardware; it’s another to have the software live up to it, especially with watches and phones where bugs can matter.
If I were writing a recommendation: Buy the hardware (if you like it) — but don’t assume the software support is top-tier. If you’re someone who demands consistent updates, full polish, and strong battery behaviour without constant manual interventions, you might run into frustrations.
What do you think? Has your experience been similar (or different) with Nothing or CMF devices? I’d love to hear if folks are seeing the same patterns — maybe I’m just overthinking it.
