Realme’s 2024 Vision: AI, Innovation, and a Monet-Inspired Flagship
Realme has been making waves in the smartphone market with a series of impressive launches in 2024, and the latest 13 Pro series is no exception. This series boasts a number of firsts for the brand, including the world’s first TUV Rheinland High-Resolution Camera Certification and an exclusive partnership with Sony for the LYT-701 OIS Camera. But what are Realme’s bigger plans for the year? Gadgets 360 sat down with Sky Li, Founder and CEO of Realme, to discuss the 13 Pro series launch, the company’s 2024 roadmap, the future of AI in smartphones, and much more.
Realme’s Plan for 2024 in India and Beyond
Realme has carved out a niche for itself with its diverse smartphone portfolio. The GT series caters to performance enthusiasts, the Number series focuses on imaging and design, and the C-series targets the mass market with essential features.
Li confirmed that Realme is aiming for a 10 percent increase in sales this year in India, and in the next five years, the brand plans to enter 100 new markets globally, demonstrating their commitment to sustained growth and international expansion.
Realme has ambitious goals for 2024, aiming to sell 10 million smartphones, with 7-8 million of those being 5G-enabled and sold through offline channels. This aggressive approach indicates Realme’s focus on reaching consumers across the spectrum.
Li further emphasized the importance of Research and Development (R&D) to Realme’s success. "We are planning a substantial 470 percent increase in R&D spending," he said, highlighting the brand’s commitment to innovation. This investment will focus on advancements in key areas like imaging, performance, displays, and charging, ensuring that Realme stays ahead of the curve technologically.
Realme’s Stand on AI: The Future of Smartphones
Realme believes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future of the smartphone industry, and they are actively integrating it into their devices. "AI is indeed a transformative force in the smartphone industry, and we firmly believe that AI is poised to be the primary driver of smartphone innovation in the years to come," said Li.
Realme’s approach to AI integration is multifaceted. They are collaborating with leading chipset manufacturers like Qualcomm and MediaTek to enhance performance and efficiency through their AI capabilities. Alongside this, a partnership with Sony for sensor technology allows for unparalleled photography experiences, including features like AI scene recognition, AI beautification, and AI portrait mode.
"AI is the future of smartphones and Realme aims to popularise it by integrating it into their devices," Li declared.
Introducing the New 13 Pro Series: A Shift in Design and Capabilities
Realme’s Number series has consistently aimed to push boundaries with innovative features. The Realme 5 Pro introduced a quad-camera setup in 2019, while the Realme 8 Pro brought the first 108-megapixel camera to the market in 2021. The Realme 11 Pro+ in 2022 was the first to offer a 200-megapixel camera, followed by the Realme 12 Pro+ in 2023, the first in its segment with a periscope lens.
The 13 Pro series continues this tradition by offering an impressive array of features. Li highlighted the dual Sony main camera system, which includes the industry-first Sony LYT-701 alongside a powerful AI photography architecture. He also emphasized the design of the Realme 13 Pro+, which draws inspiration from Monet’s depictions of nature and beauty, resulting in a unique and visually captivating device.
Realme’s Approach to Flagship Smartphones: A Focus on Young Users
Realme’s flagship strategy differs slightly from other brands. "Our strategy is built on three core pillars: popularising large memory, upgrading quality, and implementing our AI+UI popularizer strategy," Li explained. This approach directly addresses the needs and preferences of young users, a key segment for Realme.
In the coming months, Realme will standardise certain features for the Number Pro series, such as 512GB storage and IP65 water and dust resistance. These improvements are a testament to their commitment to delivering value and performance to their target audience.
Li elaborated on the AI+UI popularizer strategy, stating, "We’re actively collaborating with industry leaders on platforms, algorithms, and software to extend Next AI benefits to young users worldwide. We’re confident that as Next AI technology matures and more partners join us, Realme will deliver next-generation AI experiences to at least 100 million users within the next three years," emphasizing the ambitious scale of their vision.
Realme’s Growth in India: A Booming Market
India represents a crucial market for Realme, as reflected in their recent ranking as the fourth biggest smartphone vendor in Q2 2024 according to a Canalys report.
Li shared their plans to further solidify their position in India, saying, "We have strategic plans in place to further increase and expand our market share. This year, our focus is on becoming a tech brand that better understands young users and exceeds their expectations with every product that we bring out for them."
Li highlighted the significance of the Indian market, stating: "The Indian market has been instrumental in shaping Realme’s growth trajectory, and it continues to be a significant contributor to the company’s sales and revenues." Realme’s offline sales reached 8 million in 2023, indicating the strength of their retail channel presence.
"In 2023, Realme made its way into the top 5 brands in India with 17.4 million sales. Moreover, within just five years of our inception, we crossed a milestone of 100 million shipments in India," Li added, emphasizing Realme’s remarkable success in the Indian market.
Exclusive Partnerships for Design: A Unique Advantage
Realme has distinguished itself through unique partnerships to design its devices, a strategy not commonly employed by competitors. The Realme 13 Pro series is a prime example, with its frosted glass material, crafted using a unique flash gold method, replicating the brushstrokes of Monet through millions of shimmering particles.
Li shared insights into the partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) for the 13 Pro series design, saying, "The Museum of Fine Arts is a global pioneer in art curation and exhibition, with a collection spanning six continents and eight millennia of creative achievement. The Realme 13 Pro Series 5G takes influence from Claude Monet’s classic “Grainstack” and “Water Lilies” series."
"Realme 13 Pro 5G and Realme 13 Pro+ 5G have a Monet-inspired design. We utilized advanced crafting techniques to bring Monet’s artistic vision to life in these devices. The Miracle Shining Glass, which contains millions of shimmering particles, recreates the flowing effects of light and shadow found in Monet’s works," Li explained, revealing the intricate details of their innovative collaboration.
Realme’s commitment to innovation, AI integration, and a unique design philosophy sets them apart in the competitive smartphone market. As the company continues to expand globally and invest heavily in research and development, their ambitious vision for the future is clear: to deliver exceptional experiences for young users and shape the future of smartphone technology.
