Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme proudly announced a significant milestone, having shipped over 200 million smartphones since its inception a little over five years ago. This remarkable achievement stands out, especially considering that the majority of these shipments were directed outside China. Data analysis reveals that Realme ranks as the fifth fastest smartphone brand to reach this remarkable milestone.
Owned by BBK Electronics, a prominent Chinese consumer hardware giant that also holds the reins of Oppo and Vivo brands, Realme unveiled its 200 million phone milestone accomplishment in the second quarter.
According to insights from Counterpoint Research, only four companies—Vivo, Huawei (HWT.UL), Samsung (005930.KS), and Apple (AAPL.O)—have managed to achieve a similar feat in a shorter time frame. Impressively, globally, a mere 14 companies have surpassed the 200 million phone shipment mark to date.
Xu Qi, Realme’s Chief Marketing Officer, expressed pride in the company’s rapid ascent. “We came into existence when there were over 700 smartphone brands in the world.” remarked Xu. “We are extremely proud that we have been able to be in the world’s top 10 brands for the past five years.”
Counterpoint Research also indicates a significant decline in the number of phone brands since 2017, dropping from over 700 brands to approximately 250 by September.
Looking ahead, Xu Qi emphasised Realme’s readiness to challenge premium smartphone segments with the forthcoming launch of the Realme GT 5 Pro. This upcoming device aims to set new benchmarks, equipped with Qualcomm’s latest high-end chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and featuring Sony’s cutting-edge Lytia camera sensor. This move underscores Realme’s ambition to compete at the highest echelons of the smartphone market.
