Nothing has announced it will not release a follow-up to the CMF Phone 2 Pro in 2026 due to escalating RAM prices, marking a notable disruption in its mid-range smartphone plans.
- Rising RAM prices double component costs for Nothing smartphones.
- No new CMF Phone follow-up will launch in 2026.
- Company hints at new products and continued smartphone efforts.
What happened
Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis publicly shared that plans for a successor to the CMF Phone 2 Pro have been shelved for the remainder of 2026 due to prohibitive memory costs. The increase in RAM prices has made it unfeasible to produce a device that delivers meaningful upgrades without pricing it out of competitive reach.
CEO Carl Pei highlighted that memory expenses have surged dramatically, with costs doubling several times between the device’s initial development and launch periods. This inflation renders RAM the most expensive smartphone component, impacting Nothing’s ability to maintain affordable mid-tier phone offerings.
Why it matters
The delay of Nothing’s CMF Phone successor underscores broader industry challenges posed by volatile semiconductor prices, particularly affecting budget and mid-range smartphone segments. Rising memory costs create significant barriers to innovation and competitive pricing for emerging and established manufacturers alike.
Nothing is representative of a growing number of companies reevaluating product launches amid the ongoing supply strain. With major players like Apple also announcing price increases, this market pressure could slow the pace of new smartphone introductions and shift company strategies toward other product categories.
What to watch next
While the CMF phone line is postponed, Nothing confirms plans to introduce several new products and venture into entirely new categories within 2026. Observers should monitor announcements for potential shifts in the company's focus away from low-cost smartphones toward broader consumer electronics offerings.
Additionally, with the smartphone market facing memory shortages, price fluctuations and supply constraints, watchers should track how companies like Nothing adapt their hardware strategies and pricing models over the coming months to remain viable and competitive.