Nothing Cancels New CMF Phone Release Due to Rising RAM Prices
Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis announced on X that the successor to the CMF Phone 2 Pro will not launch in 2026 due to soaring memory costs. The impact of rising RAM prices on the entire tech industry is becoming increasingly evident.
The sharp increase in RAM prices is having a severe impact on the smartphone industry. On June 19, 2026, Nothing announced that it would not release a new device under its sub-brand “CMF” this year. The Verge reported on the development.
Background of the Decision
Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the company had been developing a successor to the CMF Phone 2 Pro. However, he explained, “Due to current memory prices, we cannot build a product for CMF that feels like a genuine advancement at a reasonable price point.” He added, “As a result, we have decided not to release a new CMF Phone this year.”
Last week, Carl Pei, Nothing’s CEO and co-founder, pointed out a similar issue concerning their mid-range device, the “Phone 4A.” Pei explained, “Memory costs have doubled between the time we decided to develop the device and its release. They have now doubled again.” He further stated, “Memory has become the most expensive component in a smartphone today.”
The Industry-Wide “RAMageddon”
The surge in RAM prices is not an issue unique to Nothing. According to The Verge, Apple CEO Tim Cook also announced a price increase earlier this week, stating that “the situation has become unsustainable.” The rising prices of DRAM and NAND flash memory are shaking the entire hardware industry, affecting everything from smartphones to PCs and servers.
This situation has been dubbed “RAMageddon,” highlighting how the supply-demand imbalance in semiconductor memory is fundamentally altering product strategies for consumer goods manufacturers. The competition in the entry-level and mid-range device market is particularly intense, making it difficult for companies to pass on increased memory costs to product prices. This structural challenge is one of the key reasons behind Nothing’s decision to abandon its new CMF Phone.
The Future of the CMF Brand
In his post, Evangelidis also mentioned that the CMF brand “plans to release several new products and entirely new categories.” This suggests that the company intends to focus on diversifying its product lineup beyond smartphones. Additionally, he hinted that “Nothing’s smartphone launch season is not over yet,” indicating that the company may continue to focus on flagship models or other price ranges.
To date, CMF has introduced affordable yet high-quality and stylish smartphones, earphones, and smartwatches. However, as the brand occupies a price-sensitive segment that is particularly vulnerable to rising RAM costs, it seems inevitable that its strategy will need to be re-evaluated moving forward.
Editorial Opinion
In the short term, the surge in RAM prices is hitting the mid-range and entry-level smartphone market particularly hard. Nothing’s decision to cancel its CMF Phone is a symbolic example, and similar moves are likely to be seen from other companies. Brands that focus on the lower price segment or are relatively new to the market may be forced to choose between raising prices, significantly cutting features, or canceling launches altogether. By late 2026, the entry-level device market is expected to shrink, which could negatively impact consumers.
In the long term, fluctuations in semiconductor memory prices could fundamentally alter the design principles of terminal products. If the perception that memory is now “the most expensive component,” as highlighted by Pei, becomes entrenched in the industry, optimizing memory capacity and advancing software-based memory management could become pivotal areas of competition. While this period can be seen as a transitional phase until memory manufacturers’ increased production investments lead to market stabilization, the trend of rising overall smartphone prices is likely to persist for the foreseeable future. The editorial team sees this as a turning point where the trajectory of RAM prices could reshape the structure of the market itself.
References
- Nothing cancels this year’s CMF phone due to RAM prices - The Verge — Published on June 19, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of products are in the Nothing CMF Phone series?
- CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing targeting the affordable segment. The CMF Phone 2 Pro, released in 2025, gained attention for its budget-friendly price and distinctive design. However, the recent announcement confirms that its successor will not be launched in 2026.
- What are the main causes of rising RAM prices?
- The sharp increase in DRAM and NAND flash memory prices is due to a combination of factors, including soaring demand from AI-focused data centers, an increase in memory capacity in smartphones and PCs, and reduced investment and production capacity by memory manufacturers. Since late 2025, this has led to a dramatic price hike. Memory is now becoming the most expensive component in smartphones, surpassing displays and SoCs.
- Does this mean Nothing will no longer release smartphones?
- The cancellation applies only to the CMF brand. Evangelidis has stated that "Nothing's smartphone launch season is not over yet," suggesting that the company is likely to continue releasing flagship and high-end models. For the CMF brand, the focus is expected to shift to launching new product categories outside of smartphones.
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