realme Was the Fastest Growing 5G Android Smartphone Brand in 3Q21

realme Was the Fastest Growing 5G Android Smartphone Brand in 3Q21
realme

realme was the fastest-growing 5G Android smartphone brand globally in the third quarter of 2021, according to Counterpoint Research. The vendor was able to outgrow the market with its 5G smartphone sales growing 831% YoY, compared to the global 5G smartphone sales, which grew at 121% YoY. The growth helped realme retain the 6th spot in global 5G Android smartphone sales for the second consecutive quarter. Other fast-growing 5G smartphone brands include OPPO and vivo, driven by their mid-to-high-end 5G smartphones.

“5G as a tech has penetrated much faster than its predecessor. As 5G technology continues to evolve, we enter the next phase of growth supported by maturing and broadening device portfolios. OEMs have been continuously bringing 5G across price-tiers and regions, making it more accessible. Furthermore, the companies also actively pushed 5G smartphones due to the better availability of 5G components. OEMs with a more robust 5G portfolio were able to capture the growing mid-tier demand. realme, with its strong multi-channel strategy and a wide 5G portfolio across price-bands, helped it grow the fastest, followed by OPPO and vivo. Apple, the current 5G market leader, only entered the 5G smartphone market in 4Q20,“ said Tarun Pathak, Research Director at Counterpoint Research.

Much of realme’s growth came from China, India, and Europe. In India, realme’s 5G sales grew 9519% YoY, the most among all regions. This growth is especially remarkable for a country where 5G network is yet to be deployed. This was followed by China, where its 5G sales grew 830% YoY, making it one of the fastest-growing 5G smartphone brands in China. The third highest growth came from Europe. Furthermore, realme’s 5G growth in emerging markets has also positioned it well for the future, as 5G rollouts ramp up.