Realme

Realme is a Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer founded on May 4, 2018, by Sky Li, a former vice president of Oppo. The brand began as an Oppo sub-brand before spinning off independently, though it remained under the BBK Electronics umbrella alongside Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and iQOO. From the outset, Realme targeted young, value-conscious consumers with smartphones that packed high specifications into affordable price points. Its rapid growth was unusual: it became the fastest smartphone brand to ship 50 million units within two years and 100 million within three, according to Strategy Analytics. By 2021, it had risen to become the sixth-largest smartphone vendor globally. The company's native Chinese name, 真我 (Zhēn wǒ), translates to 'true self,' and its global tagline is 'Dare to Leap.'

Realme expanded its product line beyond smartphones into tablets, earphones, power banks, smart TVs, smartwatches, laptops, and AIoT devices. It operates two divisions: Realme Techlife and Realme Dizo. The brand focused on online-first sales and direct-to-consumer models, hosting unconventional launch events at school campuses and nightclubs, and running fan design competitions. By 2025, Realme reported over 300 million global users and presence in 61 markets, including India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and parts of Europe. It achieved top-five smartphone maker status in 13 markets and became the number one smartphone brand in Bangladesh during Q2 2021.

On January 7, 2026, Realme announced it was being integrated back into Oppo as a sub-brand, though it continues to operate and support its existing user base. The company employs approximately 4,100 people globally, with headquarters in Shenzhen, China, and regional offices in India, Indonesia, and Europe. Realme has not raised external funding and remains a privately held subsidiary of Oppo. [edit]