Budget Realme phones like the INR 13,999 (US$185) Realme 8i helped the company pip Samsung to second place in the Indian market (Image source: Realme)
Realme has emerged as India’s second-largest smartphone brand, capturing 17 percent market share in October 2021, according to a Counterpoint Research report. The budget smartphone maker overtook Samsung for second place, with over 9 million phones sold, just in October 2021.
According to a report by Counterpoint Research, Realme is currently the second-largest smartphone brand in India. The budget smartphone maker currently has a 17 percent market share, bested only by Xiaomi, which has a 20 percent share. Realme is now also a larger brand in India than Samsung, having sold over 9 million units just in October.
Realme’s budget phones, typically under INR 20,000 (US$264), have immense appeal to India’s burgeoning middle class. A sub-US$300 price point and solid specs put Realme devices on the radar for price-conscious Indian buyers.
Realme has seen rapid growth over the past few years. As of 2021, the company’s sold over 100 million smartphones worldwide, with over half those shipments delivered in India. Realme does particularly well through online channels. Its online retail market share, for instance, is higher at 27 percent, with this number increasing during flash sales and special events.
Realme India CEO Madhav Seth stated that the company’s 2022 goal was to turn into India’s largest smartphone brand. With the gap with Xiaomi rapidly closing, Realme might actually reach its goal over the next several months.
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