Nothing Won’t Launch New CMF Phone This Year Due to Rising RAM Costs

Nothing will not release a new device in its budget-focused CMF Phone series in 2026, according to 9to5Google. Ben Schoon reports the company is skipping a launch this year because rising RAM prices have made the production of a third budget model financially unviable.

The decision follows the release of two previous models in the CMF line. According to Schoon, the increasing cost of materials has left the budget series “dead in the water” for the current calendar year.

Why are RAM prices stopping the CMF Phone launch?

Budget-tier smartphones operate on significantly thinner profit margins than flagship devices. Random Access Memory (RAM), the hardware that allows a phone to handle multiple active applications, is a primary cost driver in these builds.

When the cost of these components spikes, a manufacturer must either raise the retail price—potentially alienating budget-conscious consumers—or absorb the cost and lose money on every unit sold. 9to5Google indicates that for Nothing, the current market pricing for RAM has made the CMF series’ value proposition impossible to maintain in 2026.

How does this impact Nothing’s hardware strategy?

Nothing uses the CMF brand to target a lower price bracket than its primary “Phone” line. While the flagship Nothing Phone series can accommodate higher component costs through premium pricing, the CMF line is designed specifically for affordability.

This creates a strategic gap in the company’s 2026 roadmap. By pausing the CMF series, Nothing avoids releasing a budget phone that would either be overpriced for its target audience or unprofitable for the company.

Nothing’s CMF Phone series has released two models thus far and, at least for now, won’t be getting a third, as the rising cost of materials has essentially left the series dead in the water.— Ben Schoon, 9to5Google

The company has not provided a specific date for when the CMF series might resume, though the reporting suggests the hiatus is tied to the volatility of the semiconductor and memory markets.