Nothing’s CMF delays next smartphone launch amid rising memory costs

Nothing’s budget-focused smartphone brand CMF will not release a new handset this year, citing rising memory costs that have made it difficult to develop a device that offers meaningful improvements while remaining affordable.

The announcement was made by Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis, who addressed growing customer questions about the future of the CMF smartphone line. In a post on X, he explained that the company had been working on a successor to the CMF Phone Pro 2 but ultimately decided to postpone the launch.

A lot of you have been asking when the next CMF phone is coming and as always we'd rather be transparent.

CMF Phone 2 Pro was a product we were incredibly proud of. It even won Budget Phone of the Year from MKBHD and the response from all of you made it even more special.

We…

— Akis Evangelidis (@AkisEvangelidis) June 19, 2026

As a result, CMF has chosen not to introduce a new smartphone in 2026.

Rising memory prices create challenges for smartphone makers

The decision highlights the growing pressure facing technology manufacturers as memory prices continue to increase across the industry. Over the past year, the cost of RAM has risen sharply due to supply constraints and increasing demand from companies investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Many memory manufacturers have shifted production capacity to meet the requirements of large-scale AI projects, reducing the supply available for consumer electronics. This has created a challenging environment for smartphone, computer and device makers seeking to maintain competitive pricing.

Industry analysts have warned that higher component costs are likely to affect a wide range of products. Major technology companies, including Apple and Samsung, have already indicated that consumers may see price increases due to rising memory costs.

Market research firm IDC has also forecast that higher hardware prices could negatively affect demand. The organisation recently predicted that global PC shipments could decline by nearly 10 per cent this year as manufacturers pass on higher costs to customers.

For brands positioned in the budget and mid-range segments, these market conditions present an even greater challenge. Companies such as CMF rely on offering strong specifications at lower prices, making it more difficult to absorb higher production costs without compromising product quality or affordability.

CMF focuses on value rather than frequent releases

CMF was created by Nothing as a more affordable alternative to its main smartphone range. Since its launch, the brand has aimed to deliver modern features and distinctive design at lower price points than flagship devices from larger competitors.

According to Evangelidis, maintaining this balance remains a priority for the company. Rather than releasing a new device with only minor upgrades, CMF has chosen to wait until it can introduce a product that offers a more substantial improvement over the current model.

The company’s most recent smartphone, the CMF Phone Pro 2, was launched in April 2025. At the time, Nothing described it as the lightest and slimmest smartphone the brand had produced. The company also promoted its battery performance, claiming the device could last up to two days on a single charge under typical use.

The Phone Pro 2 received attention for combining a minimalist design with competitive specifications while maintaining an accessible price point. It represented CMF’s effort to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive budget smartphone market.

CMF continues expansion as an independent business

Several months after the launch of the Phone Pro 2, Nothing restructured its CMF operation and established it as an independent subsidiary. The new entity is headquartered in India, a market that has become increasingly important to the company’s growth strategy.

India is considered Nothing’s strongest market and has played a major role in the success of both the Nothing and CMF brands. The move was intended to give CMF greater flexibility in developing products tailored to local and international consumer needs.

Despite the delay in releasing a new smartphone, Evangelidis’s comments suggest that development of the next CMF handset is continuing behind the scenes. The company appears to be prioritising product quality and value over an annual release cycle.

The decision may disappoint customers who were expecting a successor to the Phone Pro 2 this year. However, it also reflects a broader trend across the technology sector, where rising component costs and supply pressures are forcing manufacturers to reconsider product schedules and pricing strategies.

For now, CMF’s smartphone portfolio will continue to be led by the Phone Pro 2. At the same time, the company waits for market conditions that allow it to deliver a new device that meets both its performance goals and affordability standards.