How a Chinese Smartphone Startup Scaled to 300 Million Users in Seven Years
Realme emerged from the shadows of Oppo to become a global mobile powerhouse in record time. By prioritizing rapid growth and aggressive international expansion, the brand hit massive shipment milestones before pivoting its strategy in 2026. Discover the mechanics behind this meteoric rise and its recent corporate transformation.
Founded on May 4, 2018, as a spinoff from Oppo—a subsidiary of BBK Electronics—Realme was established to capture market share through rapid iteration. Sky Li, who announced his departure from Oppo on July 30, 2018, spearheaded the brand's independence. By August 28, 2018, the company was officially operating as an independent entity, launching its second device in India. This focus on emerging markets paid off quickly; by August 2019, the brand had already surpassed 10 million users worldwide.
The company's growth trajectory was defined by speed. In October 2020, it became the fastest brand to hit 50 million cumulative sales, and by August 2021, it reached 100 million shipments globally. This momentum continued as the brand expanded its reach, ranking among the top five smartphone vendors in 21 global markets by December 2021. By November 2023, Counterpoint Research noted that the company had maintained a top-ten global market position for five straight years, with total shipments exceeding 200 million units.
Despite this success, the brand underwent a significant structural shift in 2026. On January 7, 2026, it was announced that the company would be reintegrated into Oppo as a sub-brand. By July 2026, the company confirmed it would cease new product launches within China to concentrate exclusively on international territories. During this transition, Oppo took over warranty and sales support for existing Chinese users, while the brand's proprietary software interface began its migration to ColorOS. This move marked the end of an era for the independent entity, which had only months prior reported reaching over 300 million global users in August 2025.
Source: Realme
