Ultra-Budget Smartphones

CMF, the Nothing sub-brand built for affordable phones, has run into the same problem now affecting much of the smartphone industry: soaring RAM prices. That pressure has forced the company to delay its planned new phone launch, including the CMF Phone 3 Pro that had been expected for the third quarter of 2026. The decision highlights how fragile the ultra-budget segment has become. In this price class, even a sharp rise in component costs can quickly erase the room manufacturers need to improve hardware without pushing retail prices beyond what buyers will accept. Why the launch was pushed back Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis confirmed that the company could no longer keep the original timeline because memory prices remain elevated. He said the jump in RAM costs makes it difficult to build a phone with meaningful spec upgrades while keeping pricing realistic. That challenge is especially severe for lower-cost devices, where product planning depends on a tight balance between performance, affordability, and component availability. When a key part such as RAM becomes more expensive, every other decision around the phone becomes harder to justify. CMF is not stopping entirely Even though the new phone has been shelved for now, CMF is still preparing other products for users. The company is reportedly working on devices that would be completely new categories for the brand. That shift suggests CMF is trying to stay active in the market without forcing a smartphone release that would clash with current cost conditions. It also shows how the brand is adjusting its roadmap while waiting for more stable component pricing. For readers, the delay matters because CMF has been positioned around aggressive value. A small increase in input costs can have an outsized impact on a brand that has little margin for absorbing expensive parts. What it means for Nothing's next moves Evangelidis also offered a cautious hint about an upcoming Nothing phone, though he did not confirm the exact model. The comment suggests the parent brand is still moving forward, even as CMF faces a pause on its own launch plans. That split approach paints a clear picture of how the RAM crisis is reshaping strategy across the company. One line is being held back by economics, while another is still being prepared for release. The situation is a reminder that the global RAM shortage is not only changing device prices. It is also forcing manufacturers to rethink when and how they bring new phones to market, with the harshest effects landing on the ultra-budget end of the industry. Source: gadgetsquad.id

CMF Pauses Its New Phone Plans as RAM Costs Keep Squeezing Ultra-Budget Models