If you’re using a Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro and want to breathe new life into your device, installing an Android 16-based custom ROM is a solid move. Google...
Mohammed Huwais
Last updated on December 23, 2025
Mohammed Huwais
Author
I started my career as a blogger in 2014 and also worked on an Android niche platform to gain extra income. I cover the topic on How to guides, software updates, Custom ROM updates and also product review. I'm 24 years old, completed MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Sikkim Manipal University.
If you’re using a Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro and want to breathe new life into your device, installing an Android 16-based custom ROM is a solid move. Google recently released Android 16 for Pixel devices, and developers have already ported unofficial AOSP builds to older phones like the Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro. In this guide, you’ll learn how to safely install Android 16 on Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro and enjoy its latest features.
The Nothing Phone 3a, released in March 2025, continues the brand’s focus on clean design and visual identity. It features a large 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and very high peak brightness, making it excellent for media consumption. The transparent back with three customizable LED light strips remains a signature element, useful for notifications and camera fill light. Build quality is solid with glass panels and IP64 protection, while the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset ensures smooth performance for everyday use and moderate gaming on Android 15 with Nothing OS 4.0.
On the camera side, the Phone 3a stands out in its segment with a versatile triple camera setup that includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a dedicated 50MP 2x telephoto lens, and an ultrawide camera, delivering reliable photos and stable 4K video. Stereo speakers, a clean software experience, and long-term update support add to its appeal.
The 5000mAh battery paired with 50W fast charging offers strong day-long endurance with quick top-ups. Overall, the Nothing Phone 3a is a balanced mid-range device that prioritizes design, display quality, and a refined user experience over raw flagship power.
Android 16 introduces Material 3 Expressive, a refined evolution of Google’s design language for smartphones and tablets. While it doesn’t completely reinvent the interface, it represents one of the most noticeable user-facing changes in the OS. Rather than a dramatic visual overhaul, Material 3 Expressive enhances the foundation laid by Material Design 3 by introducing smoother, more dynamic animations, larger touch targets, and bolder typography.
This update arrives at a perfect moment. Material Design 3, first introduced with Android 13, had begun to feel dated. Material 3 Expressive breathes new life into the interface while preserving the familiar look and feel users have grown comfortable with. Instead of overhyping the changes, Google’s own animations showcase the polish and fluidity of this next step in Android design.
Android 16 introduces a wealth of new features, system optimizations, and UI refinements. Some of the highlights include:
These updates aim to improve user experience across different types of devices, including foldables, tablets, and standard phones.
Although Android 16 is rolling out first to Pixel devices, many brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Samsung, Realme, and others will follow soon. If you’re impatient, a custom ROM is the best way to get Android 16 today.
Everything seems to be working fine.
If you spot any bugs, report them along with proper logs to the developer.
Always back up your device before flashing any ROM. This prevents data loss if anything goes wrong. Backup guide here.
Charge your phone to at least 50% to avoid shutdowns during the flashing process.
You can skip this part if you have already installed TWRP Recovery on your Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro. For those who haven’t, ADB and Fastboot commands (platform-tools) are required to boot your device into bootloader mode, allowing you to perform the necessary flashing operations. ADB (Android Debug Bridge) establishes a connection between your device and computer, while Fastboot is a more advanced command-line utility for flashing and modifying Android devices.
You can download the ADB and Fastboot Binaries (Platform-Tools) here.
You’ll need the appropriate USB drivers to ensure a successful connection between your Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro and your computer. These drivers enable file transfers, flashing, and other operations between your devices.
You can download the latest Nothing USB drivers here.
Unlocking the bootloader of your Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro. is essential before you can install any custom ROM. Make sure to follow Xiaomi’s official instructions for unlocking the bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader will wipe your device, so back up your data beforehand.
You must install TWRP Recovery on your phone to install any custom ROM on your device. After unlocking the bootloader, follow our guide to install TWRP Recovery on your Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro.
You can download the Android 15 custom ROMs for the Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro from the links below:
| OS | Download Link |
| CrDroid OS | Download |
| Lineage OS 23 | Download |
| Evolution X | Download |
Most AOSP ROMs don’t come with Google apps. You’ll need to flash Android 16 GApps separately.
Note: Flash GApps right after flashing the ROM. Don’t reboot in between.
Warning!
GetDroidTips is not responsible for any issues that may happen to your device if you flash it on another device and brick it. Do it at your own risk.
adb reboot recovery
The first boot after installing a custom ROM may take a bit longer than usual, so don’t panic if it seems slow. After the device boots, you will need to set it up as a new device, just like when you first got it.
By flashing Android 16 on your Nothing Phone 3a / 3a Pro, you’re extending its life and unlocking modern Android features that Xiaomi may never officially provide. While this is an unofficial AOSP build, early reports suggest solid stability. That said, bugs may still appear, so always report them with logs to help developers improve the experience.
If you have questions or run into issues during installation, feel free to drop a comment. Enjoy your fresh Android 16 experience!
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