Nothing cancels CMF Phone 3 Pro over memory prices

Key Takeaways

• Nothing has cancelled the CMF Phone 3 Pro entirely for 2025 due to surging memory prices
• Co-founder Akis Evangelidis says the company can't build a meaningful upgrade at CMF's budget price point
• Nothing plans to release other CMF products this year, including items in new categories, plus a new Nothing phone

Nothing has killed the CMF Phone 3 Pro. The ultra-budget smartphone, expected between August and September, will not launch in 2025. Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis announced the cancellation on social media, citing memory prices as the reason.

The explanation is blunt: Nothing cannot build a phone that improves on the CMF Phone 2 Pro while keeping the price where CMF buyers expect it. Memory costs have risen sharply over the past year, squeezing margins for every smartphone maker. Budget devices absorb the hit hardest because there is no cushion to absorb higher component costs.

“We can't build a phone that feels like a genuine step forward at a price that makes sense for CMF.”

— Akis Evangelidis, Co-founder at Nothing

Why memory prices forced the cancellation

DRAM and NAND flash prices have climbed 40 to 60 percent since early 2024. Production cuts by Samsung and SK Hynix, combined with surging demand from AI servers, have tightened supply across the industry. For flagship phones, manufacturers pass the cost to buyers or trim margins. For a sub-$200 device, neither option works.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro launched in April 2024 at $199 in the US and €239 in Europe. It shipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Those specs defined its value proposition: near-midrange performance at entry-level prices. Replicating that formula in 2025 with memory prices at current levels would either force a price hike that betrays the CMF brand or deliver a phone that feels like a sidegrade.

Nothing chose to wait.

What Nothing is launching instead

The CMF brand is not going dark. Evangelidis confirmed that several new CMF products are coming this year, including some in entirely new categories. CMF already sells earbuds, a smartwatch, and accessories alongside its phones. The new categories could mean power banks, chargers, or something further afield.

Separately, Evangelidis teased a new Nothing phone arriving soon. The obvious candidate is the Nothing Phone (4), the next mainline flagship. Nothing tends to update its main phone line annually, and the Phone (3) is now over a year old. A Phone (4) announcement in summer or fall 2025 fits the pattern.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro is still on sale

With no successor coming, the CMF Phone 2 Pro remains the only CMF smartphone available. Affiliate listings show it at around $328 in the US and €251 in Europe, well above its launch price. The phone runs a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 5G chip, features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display at 120Hz, and has a modular back panel that lets users swap accessories.

For buyers who want the cheapest Nothing-adjacent phone, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is it for the foreseeable future. Whether the CMF Phone 3 Pro resurfaces in 2026 depends on where memory prices land.

A warning sign for budget Android

Nothing is not alone. Every budget smartphone maker faces the same math. Memory is the single largest variable cost in a cheap phone after the display. When prices spike, brands either cut corners, raise prices, or delay products. Nothing chose delay and transparency over a compromised launch.

The decision signals discipline but also risk. CMF launched to give Nothing a presence in markets like India, where sub-$250 phones dominate. A year without a new CMF phone means ceding ground to Xiaomi, Realme, and Poco, all of which are still shipping new budget devices. Whether those competitors are eating margin losses or shipping lower specs, they are staying visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Nothing cancel the CMF Phone 3 Pro?

Rising memory prices made it impossible to build a meaningful upgrade at the sub-$200 price point CMF is known for. Nothing's co-founder said the company could not deliver a phone that felt like a genuine step forward at a price that made sense.

Will there be any CMF products in 2025?

Yes. Nothing confirmed several CMF products are coming this year, including items in entirely new categories. The phone line is on hold, but earbuds, accessories, and other devices are still planned.

Is Nothing releasing a new phone in 2025?

Nothing's co-founder teased a new Nothing phone coming soon. The most likely candidate is the Nothing Phone (4), the next flagship in the main lineup.

Can I still buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro?

Yes. The CMF Phone 2 Pro remains on sale through various retailers, though prices have risen above the original $199 launch price.

When might the CMF Phone 3 Pro launch?

Nothing has not given a timeline. A 2026 launch depends on whether memory prices stabilize or decline enough to make the economics work again.

Source: GSMArena.com / Vlad