The Chinese smartphone manufacturer realme has announced that it has shipped over 200 million phones in just over five years, making it the fifth-fastest company to reach this milestone. This achievement, revealed in the second quarter, is notable as most of the phones were sold outside China.
realme, a part of the BBK Electronics family along with OPPO and vivo, achieved this milestone according to data from Counterpoint Research. Among all smartphone makers, only vivo, HUAWEI, Samsung, and Apple reached the 200 million mark in a shorter time. In total, only 14 companies globally have shipped over 200 million phones.
realme took 3 years to reach 100 million smartphone shipments, but took just 2 more years to cross the 200 million mark.
According to Counterpoint Research, the number of phone brands has significantly decreased from over 700 in 2017 to about 250 in September. Recently, realme jumped from the number 3 position to now securing the 2nd spot among the top 10 smartphone brands in India as per IDC’s rankings for Q3 2023.
Furthermore, realme is gearing up to unveil its latest GT series smartphone, the realme GT5 Pro, on December 7th in China. Xu, the CMO at realme, has shared that the company is prepared to compete with premium phones.
The phone, developed under realme’s “No Leap, No Launch” philosophy, boasts the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, Sony’s new Lytia camera sensor, and the IMX890 super-light periscope telephoto lens. The teaser for the launch emphasizes “Capture Maximum.”
Plans for 2024
In 2024, realme plans to significantly increase its investment in research and development, boosting its technological capabilities with a planned 470% increase in R&D spending.
Continuing the mission from the beginning of the year of realme Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology, the brand said that it will focus on breakthroughs in leap-forward technologies, specializing in imaging, gaming, display, and charging.
Collaborating with over 33 leading international tech partners, realme aims to develop cutting-edge technologies. The brand will also expand its pool of tech talent, and engage in Research and technology team expansion, with an expected 400% increase in research personnel next year.
Commenting on the achievement, Xu Qi, realme’s Chief Marketing Officer, said:
We emerged in a landscape with over 700 smartphone brands globally. It’s a source of great pride for us to have consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 brands over the last five years.
Commenting on the milestone, Sky Li, Founder and CEO, realme said:
At realme, we are committed to providing innovative, leap-forward technology that caters to the evolving needs and preferences of our diverse global audience. This accomplishment reinforces our position as a key player in the industry, and we are more motivated than ever to continue pushing boundaries and setting new standards. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our customers, partners, and the media for their continuous support. This achievement is not just a number; it is a reflection of the realme spirit and the shared success of our vibrant community. As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology and exceptional experiences to our users around the world.