No, Realme is a Chinese multinational consumer electronics manufacturer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Initially established as a sub-brand of Oppo under the ownership of BBK Electronics, Realme became an independent brand in the year 2018. Realme is basically focused on smartphones and artificial intelligence of things or AIoT products like smartwatches, earbuds, smart TVs, laptops and more.
Realme is known for its stylish, high-performance and affordable devices. In the year 2020, Realme was ranked 7th in terms of number of smartphones manufactured globally. The company’s sales of AIoT products crossed 1 million in the same year.
| Detail | Info |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Sky Li, Madhav Sheth |
| Headquarters | Shenzhen, Guangdong, China |
| CEO | Sky Li |
| Sector | Consumer electronics |
Company History
Realme was founded on 4th May 2018 as a sub-brand of Oppo under BBK Electronics. Its first smartphone named Realme 1 was launched in India in May 2018. In November 2018, Realme became an independent brand and adopted a new logo. Thereafter, the company launched Realme U1, the first smartphone to be equipped with MediaTek’s Helio P70 Chipset.
Realme quickly expanded its market presence in India and had become the fourth largest smartphone brand in India by the middle of 2019. The company entered the Chinese domestic market in May 2019 with the launch of Realme X, Realme X Lite and Realme X Master.
In February 2020, Realme launched India’s first 5G smartphone, X50 Pro 5G. Realme also expanded its AIoT portfolio with the launch of earbuds, smartwatches, and televisions. By the first quarter of 2020, Realme had reached the seventh position globally in terms of smartphone shipments.
Current Status
Realme is currently among the top 10 global smartphone brands, reaching the milestone of 300 million global users in July 2024. It is present across 61 markets with a solid traction in India, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Recent smartphone launches by Realme include Realme 15, Realme 15 Pro, and GT Series.
Realme’s AIoT portfolio has expanded to include air purifiers and electric toothbrushes, apart from laptops, earbuds, smartwatches, and televisions. The company is collaborating with e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart for launching its P and N Series smartphones.
Future Outlook
Realme is looking to streamline its smartphone ecosystem into budget-friendly N Series, performance-centric GT Series, and e-commerce-focused P Series. The company is also focusing on cutting-edge technologies like ultra fast charging, AI-driven features, 5G and more. Furthermore, Realme is expected to expand its AIoT portfolio and invest more in gaming phones.