realme has had a good start in 2022 even as global supply chain shortage affected other brands. The company has revealed that it made it to the top 5 smartphone makers with record shipments in Africa.
realme says it recorded booming sales in Kenya and other markets in the continent even as the annual global smartphone shipments fell by 11% to 311.2 million units during Q1 of 2022. We have not seen the actual numbers from the company but given the fact that it is still a new brand that unveiled quite a number of devices during Q4 of 2021 and Q1 of 2022, its sales numbers should be better this year than last year.
The company says global sale grew by 550% during Q1 of 2022 and this was driven by its premium handset range and stellar performance of its Affordable super smartphone in Kenya.
realme Chief Executive Officer, said high demand for its affordable flagship brands and entry-level smartphones in Kenya and other markets in the continent have helped the brand weather supply chain pressures.
smartphone sales in Africa
“Our Solid performance was predominantly driven by our focus on introducing affordable smartphones with the latest high-end features to help youthful African consumers adopt their first handset and meet growing smartphone use cases beyond connecting with family and friends,” said realme CEO, Sky Li.
He added, “It is this strategy that has helped us to weather tough macro conditions as skyrocketing inflation also occasioned by the weakening of major African currencies make it difficult for consumers to make purchases.”
GT series –the brand’s most premium phones with an average price of Ksh 40,000 drove up the company’s sales in the first quarter of 2022 to break its annual 5 million sales volume mark for the first time.
Kenya has two GT models- the GT Master edition Explorer and the GT Master Edition all with huge storage capacities of up to 128 GB.
Its c25Y model is recording significant sales- a positive reception that has earned it a special position as the pioneer, affordable super smartphone in Kenya- offering users top-notch specs on a budget- going for Ksh 19,000.
Read: The realme 9i Powered by the Snapdragon 680 Processor Launched in Kenya starting at Ksh 21,999
