realme, the Chinese smartphone maker, is officially entering the Nigerian market with two new devices: the budget-friendly realme Note 50, and the flagship realme GT 6, set to launch on Friday.
Officials of realme shared the smartphone maker’s plans for the Nigerian market during a Q&A session held on Wednesday in Lagos.
Though relatively new, realme has made waves since its founding in 2018 by Sky Li. The brand has rapidly expanded its global footprint, targeting emerging markets across Asia, Europe, and now Africa.
According to market research firm, Canalys, realme recorded an impressive 137% year-on-year growth in the African smartphone market for Q2 2024, shipping 0.9 million units and securing a 5% market share. This positions realme as a potential disruptor in a market where Transsion, owners of the Tecno, Infinix, and itel brands, currently hold a 51% share.
Canalys experts believe that realme will challenge Transsion’s place in the African smartphone market.
During the event, realme Nigeria’s digital marketer, Yusuf Adebari, emphasized the brand’s focus on youths, which he describes as “ambitious young talent.”
According to market research firm, Canalys, realme recorded an impressive 137% year-on-year growth in the African smartphone market for Q2 2024, shipping 0.9 million units and securing a 5% market share. This positions realme as a potential disruptor in a market where Transsion, owners of the Tecno, Infinix, and itel brands, currently hold a 51% share.
realme Note 50: First impressions
The realme Note 50, aimed at budget-conscious consumers, features a 6.74-inch 90Hz HD+ display, a slim 7.99mm design, and IP54 dust and water resistance.
Powered by a Unisoc T612 chipset and paired with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage (expandable up to 8GB and 128GB respectively), the Note 50 offers a balanced mix of performance and affordability.
The phone’s 5000mAh battery and 13MP rear camera make it a solid contender for everyday use.
What stood out immediately as a user was its pre-installed apps like TikTok, Netflix, Spotify, Snapchat, YouTube, among others. This already showcases realme’s youth-centric strategy, catering directly to the young, digital-savvy crowd. The device retails for ₦129,900 on Jumia.
realme GT 6: Flagship offering
realme also teased the GT 6, set to launch on Friday, positioning it as a direct competitor to other high-end models in the market.
From a user perspective, the GT 6 feels premium with a fluid touch. It is smooth with its curved screen and sharper camera compared to the Note 50.
One feature which Yusuf believes sets it apart from other flagships is its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset.
The GT 6 which has been covered in an earlier Technology Times report, comes equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. Its 6.78-inch ultra-bright display and 120W SUPERVOOC fast charging system are designed to attract premium users.
The GT 6’s camera setup includes a 50MP Sony OIS camera with advanced photography modes, 4k video shoots and image stabilisation.
Continuing on realme’s focus on Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), both realme devices promise AI-powered features aimed at enhancing the user experience.
realme’s foray into Nigeria’s smartphone sector comes at a time when demand for budget and mid-range devices is on the rise. The brand also announced plans to set up service centres in Nigeria for phone repairs and intends to collaborate with existing telcos to offer targeted packages for Nigerians.
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