Yes, Realme is a Chinese company. It is a Chinese multinational consumer electronics manufacturer, headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Realme started as a sub-brand of Oppo before becoming an independent brand. However, it remains under the ownership of Oppo. Realme’s core product offerings are smartphones from budget to flagship segments. Apart from smartphones, the company also deals in smart televisions, smartwatches, laptops, earphones, power banks, and phone cases.
| Details | Info |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Sky Li and Madhav Seth |
| 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. Its first smartphone, Realme 1, was launched exclusively in India on 15th May 2018. Realme officially separated from Oppo and became an independent brand in January 2019. Thereafter, the brand entered the Chinese home market with Realme X, Realme X Lite and Realme X Master Editon models. By July 2019, Realme had entered multiple markets, including South Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.
In August 2019, Realme launched its first quad-camera phone, Realme 5 Series, in India. By the year 2020, Realme had become the fastest brand ever to reach 50 million sales globally. In the same year, Realme became the fastest-growing 5G Android brand in the world. Realme launched its flagship killer, Realme GT Series, in March 2021. It was followed by the brand’s first laptop, Realme Book, and first tablet, Realme Pad.
Realme crossed 200 million cumulative shipments in the year 2023. In April 2023, BBK Electronics, parent company of both Oppo and Realme, was dissolved. Thereafter, Realme was fully integrated as a subsidiary of Oppo, along with OnePlus.
Current Status
Realme’s primary market is India, which accounts for around 50% of its global sales. Other major markets for the brand are Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Europe. Altogether, Realme is present in over 60 markets across Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania. It is among the world’s fastest-growing 5G brands.
Realme is focusing on fast charging, AI gaming and durability across its new products. The brand’s new smartphone launches include Realme GT 8 Pro, Realme GT 8 Series, Realme P Series and Realme C85 Pro.
Future Outlook
Realme is looking to expand its active user base to 70-80 million by the year 2028 through deeper penetration in more than 100 markets. It is also targeting 10 million annual sales in Europe within this period. Furthermore, Realme aims to supply 100 million AI-integrated smartphones by 2028.
