Smartphone brand realme defies supply chain disruptions to maintain high shipments to Kenya and Africa




Smartphone brand realme, currently recognised as the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brand, defied global supply chain disruptions to make it to the list of top 5 handset makers with record shipments to Africa.

While annual global smartphone shipments fell by 11 percent to 311.2 million units in the first quarter of 2022, realme was recording booming sales in Kenya and other markets on the continent.

Sky Li, the realme CEO, said high demand for its affordable flagship brands and entry-level smartphones in Kenya and other markets in the continent have helped the brand weather supply chain pressures.

“Our Solid performance was predominantly driven by our focus on introducing affordable smartphones with the latest high-end features to help youthful African consumers adopt their first handset and meet growing smartphone use cases beyond connecting with family and friends,” said Sky Li.

Sky Li added: “It is this strategy that has helped us to weather tough macro conditions as skyrocketing inflation also occasioned by the weakening of major African currencies make it difficult for consumers to make purchases.”

The realme brand recorded a strong start of the year, marked by a 550 percent growth in global sales of its premium handset range and stellar performance of its affordable super smartphone in Kenya.

GT series, the brand’s most premium phones with an average price of Kshs 40,000, drove up the company’s sales in the first quarter of 2022 to break its annual 5 million sales volume mark for the first time.

Kenya has two GT Master models – the GT Master edition Explorer and the GT Master Edition – all with huge storage capacities of up to 128 GB.

Its c25Y model is recording significant sales, a positive reception that has earned it a special position as the pioneer, affordable super smartphone in Kenya, offering users top-notch specs on a budget, and retailing at Kshs 19,000.

realme is a global emerging consumer technology company disrupting the smartphone and AIoT market by making cutting-edge technologies more accessible. It provides a range of smartphones and lifestyle technology devices with premium specs, quality, and trend-setting designs to young consumers at affordable prices.

Established by Sky Li in 2018 and driven by its “Dare to Leap” spirit, realme is the world’s 6th largest smartphone company and has become one of the top 5 smartphone players in 30 markets globally in just three years. As of the second quarter of 2021, realme has entered 61 markets worldwide, including China and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, and has a global user base of over 100 million.

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