Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

What Transsion Did in Africa’s Mobile Phone Market, Chinese Device Maker Realme is Doing in India

by Eric Olander
Chinese smartphone maker Realme has jumped to number three in India's massive and hugely competitive mobile phone market. Image via Realme.

The Chinese brand RealMe isn’t well known in China, but it managed to zoom to the number 3 position in India’s notoriously competitive mobile phone market. With a 16% market share, the company is now only behind Samsung (20%) and China’s Xiaomi (23%.)

India’s complex regulations and pressure to boost local competition have been challenging to foreign phone-makers. RealMe, which was spun off from China’s Oppo brand, has managed to stay on the good side of regulators by manufacturing within India.

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

How Transsion Hit the Mobile Jackpot in Africa

The Chinese mobile phone maker Transsion hasn’t sold a single phone in China. Yet it posted a $580 million profit last year, largely based on its success in Africa. Through its Itel, Tecno, ...

Oppo is the Latest Chinese Phone Maker to Set Its Sights on the South African Market

C Lead the Conversation on China Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to ...

Chinese Brands Take a Hit as Smartphone Sales Slump in Mideast and African Countries

First-quarter smartphone shipments to countries in the Mideast and Africa slumped to their lowest level in seven years, with some of China’s top device makers all losing share. High inflation and weak local ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe