Counterpoint: realme was the fastest-growing 5G Android smartphone brand in Q3 2021

According to Counterpoint Research's newest Market Pulse Service, realme recorded the highest growth among all 5G smartphone makers in the world.

File photo: realme GT Master Edition

realme is the fastest-growing 5G smartphone brand in the world by a MILE

In particular, the company grew by a massive 831 percent YoY. This is higher than the global 5G smartphone sales at 121 percent.

5G vendors

Counterpoint notes that this growth helped real retain its number 6 spot in the global 5G Android smartphone sales for the second consecutive quarter.

realme's strong multi-channel strategy and its wide portfolio of 5G phones across price bands helped it grow the fastest.

Commenting on the rapid growth of 5G, Research Director Tarun Pathak said, 5G as a tech has penetrated much faster than its predecessor. As 5G technology continues to evolve, we enter the next phase of growth supported by maturing and broadening device portfolios. OEMs have been continuously bringing 5G across price-tiers and regions, making it more accessible. Furthermore, the companies also actively pushed 5G smartphones due to the better availability of 5G components. OEMs with a more robust 5G portfolio were able to capture the growing mid-tier demand. realme, with its strong multi-channel strategy and a wide 5G portfolio across price-bands, helped it grow the fastest, followed by OPPO and vivo. Apple, the current 5G market leader, only entered the 5G smartphone market in Q4 2020.

Much of realme's growth came from China, India, and Europe. Commenting on the regional dynamics, Varun Mishra, Senior Analyst, noted In India, realme's 5G sales grew 9519% YoY, the most among all regions. This growth is especially remarkable for a country where 5G network is yet to be deployed. This was followed by China, where its 5G sales grew 830% YoY, making it one of the fastest-growing 5G smartphone brands in China. The third highest growth came from Europe. Furthermore, realme's 5G growth in emerging markets has also positioned it well for the future, as 5G rollouts ramp up. Affordability and accessibility will continue to be crucial for all OEMs to capitalize on the grand 5G opportunity.

Other brands that grew the fastest are OPPO and vivo. Overall, Apple is the current 5G market leader.

The independent research firm shared these OEMs that sold more than 5 million 5G smartphones globally in Q3 2021.

Source: Counterpoint