Nothing's teaser spells out the (b) in its signature dot-matrix style. | Image by Nothing
Nothing just teased what appears to be a brand new budget phone, the Nothing Phone 4b, days after scrapping its next CMF handset over runaway RAM and storage costs. This sparked runaway speculation online over what this mysterious (b) in the new product represented, which prompted Nothing Co-founder Akis Evangelidis to respond.
A budget phone born from a canceled one
It all began when Nothing opened with a teaser on its own X account that ended on a set of sketching pencils, the "4b" one clearly marked. Due to the speculation this one tease began, Nothing Co-founder Akis Evangelidis also took to X to clear the air and explain what the "b" in Nothing's signature dot-matrix lettering stood for, and the short version is simply… Nothing.
What does (b) stand for? Nothing. It's simply a continuation of our naming system. Numbers represent generations, while letters indicate different product segments.
Akis Evangelidis, Nothing co-founder, on X, June 22, 2026
Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis explains what the (b) stands for on X. | Image by AkisEvangelidis via X
He laid out a simple hierarchy: numbers mark generations and letters mark product segments, with the new B series a step below the best-selling A line. The interesting part is that this comes days after Nothing canceled the CMF Phone 2 Pro's successor, which we reported fell due to soaring memory prices.
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However, leaker Yogesh Brar, with a solid track record on Nothing leaks, claims the canceled CMF project just moved under the main Nothing brand. If so, the 4b is simply that same budget hardware, except with a Nothing badge.
How do you feel about a Nothing Phone 4b possibly costing more than a CMF would have?
What this really means for your wallet
All considered, here is the part that matters for you: if all the rumors are true, this might just be a price increase wearing a new letter.
Evangelidis has said the canceled CMF phone at its planned specs would have cost about $317 to $370 (via direct conversion), well above CMF's sub-$250 norm and a jump of 25% to 50%. If that is the case, this means it is expected to undercut the 4a but cost more than a CMF.
That said, over on X, the reaction shows where hopes are landing, with one reply capturing a recurring wish: fans would ditch the iPhone if Nothing finally built a properly compact phone.
Fans are already hoping a Nothing Phone 4b means a compact handset. | Image by Sidharthjavvadi via X
I would not bank on a small phone here, but the appetite is real and, with my smaller hands, I would be first in line.
Eyeing a Pixel 10a or a Galaxy A instead? You are fine for now, though the same RAM squeeze is coming for those budget lines too.
Who the Phone 4b is actually for
This is for people who want the Nothing look without flagship money, the same folks who would have grabbed a CMF. That is a narrower crowd than it sounds, since CMF's whole pitch was the rock-bottom price, and a Nothing-branded phone rarely goes that low.
So the real test is whether the design and polish are worth more than a CMF asked.
Why I am quietly rooting for this one
I bought and used the original CMF Phone, and at that price I had no real grounds to gripe. We even called it a budget standout in our review.
My one issue was that it looked as cheap as it was, and the Nothing aesthetic simply does more for me. A budget phone that wears the proper Nothing design instead of a CMF badge is, to me, the smart move, higher sticker and all.
The RAM-pocalypse has been brutal, and I think salvaging a whole generation of hardware beats torching it. However, I'm hoping that this new phone actually carries that Nothing look I'm so drawn to.
Catch my hot takes and behind-the-scenes bits on X and Threads, I am @jojothetechie on both
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Johanna Romero is a Senior News Writer at PhoneArena, covering mobile technology news across Android, iOS, wearables, and the Google ecosystem she knows best. Drawing on 15 years in IT and tech support from 2007 to 2022, she brings a user-friendly eye for the practical features and lesser-known tricks readers care about. Google named her an official #TeamPixel member in 2022, and she also reviews the latest devices on her YouTube channel, JoJo the Techie.
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