Over the last year, we've seen Realme slowly switch focus to the more higher-end segments of the smartphone market, launching a number of devices which have given premium segment phones a good run for their money. However, in doing so, it has thankfully not lost track of its core audience, and still managed to maintain a healthy share in the affordable segment.
This has been majorly down to its value for money offerings from the C series of smartphones, that has now gotten a new flag bearer in the Realme C55. At the launch of this device, we got in touch with Madhav Sheth, the CEO realme India, VP, realme and President, realme International, to understand the company's vision behind the Realme C55, expansion of service network in the country, its product strategy for the Indian market and plans for the rest of the year.
Q1: What's realme's vision for 2023?
As we embark upon the fifth year of our journey, the year 2023, we have set our sights on taking a great leap forward in all aspects of our business. In 2023, realme has already made a remarkable beginning, setting foot upon a couple of significant milestones.
We understand that our customer's satisfaction is of utmost importance, which is why we have always given great importance to their feedback. We have learned that consumers today demand products that not only boast powerful features but are also visually appealing and easy to use. To meet this demand, we are fully committed to incorporating innovative and cutting-edge technology into our products. We strive to provide our users with the latest advancements in the industry, ensuring that they stay ahead of the curve.
As this year unfolds, realme has set its sights on selling 20 million smartphones, 7 million of which will be 5G-enabled products. Our portfolio already includes 25 5G-enabled devices, with the promise of new additions to follow in due time. realme's highly anticipated "number series" will undoubtedly take center stage this year, serving as the hero series that customers have been eagerly anticipating. Furthermore, the premium flagship GT series has made an appearance at MWC 2023, featuring new capabilities, including the highly sought technology that customers have appreciated a lot. Meanwhile, the realme C series will feature cameras with higher megapixels, large storage, faster charging capabilities, and premium designs.
The company is incredibly excited about the prospect of localizing products to reach a more diverse customer base. At the core of realme's success lies its mainline strategy, which places a strong emphasis on bringing innovative and high-quality products to its customers. At present, realme has a distribution network that spans over 30,000 stores in India. However, we are determined to reach even greater heights, with the goal of expanding our distribution network to an impressive 50,000 stores by the end of 2023.
realme has always made customer experience a top priority, and this is reflected in our industry-leading NPS scores. We have achieved an overall 91%+ NPS, the highest score in the industry. We aim to maintain this momentum and ensure our customers receive the highest standard of service quality.
Our plan is to expand to more than 200 service centers this year to cover 532 cities, with 727 service centers in total. In addition, we will also link 47 exclusive service centers with sales points where customers can purchase realme products.
Q2: Tell us about realme's product strategy for 2023?
realme is poised for a great leap forward in 2023. Our unwavering commitment to listening to our customers' feedback has always been at the forefront of our product development, and we understand that consumers demand powerful, visually appealing, and user-friendly products.
Following the “Spire Strategy”, we aim to elevate each product series by incorporating one leap-forward technology that will serve as the pinnacle of our formidable realme product line. The product approach focuses on three major components: leap-forward technology, leap-forward design, and leap-forward experience.
realme is determined to include innovative and cutting-edge technology in our products, providing the latest advancements in the industry to our users. We aim to deliver premium and aesthetically pleasing designs that distinguish us from others in the industry. Moreover, we strive to provide an overall user experience that is superior in every way – upgraded, efficient, and economical.
Our brand strategy is entirely customer-centric, and our goal is to exceed their expectations by setting a new standard for the industry. With the "Spire Strategy" approach, each product series will feature a breakthrough technology that represents the pinnacle of our robust product line.
We are thrilled to share that the realme Number Series will be the hero series for this year, packed with innovative features and functionalities that cater to our customer's needs. Our team is tirelessly working around the clock to bring new breakthroughs to this series.
In addition, our premium flagship GT series will be equipped with cutting-edge capabilities that we believe will revolutionize the industry. For example, our recent product, which we showcased in MWC 2023, realme GT 3 boasts 240W charging capabilities, and we have plans to introduce even more trendsetting features in the future.
Finally, we are committed to redefining the realme C Series this year, emphasizing on premium designs and massive storage capabilities, cameras with higher megapixels, and faster charging capabilities that will set a benchmark in the industry. We are excited about the year ahead and eager to share more details with our customers in the coming months.
Q3: How does the C series of products fit into realme’s Go Premium strategy?
We are committed to providing our customers with innovative and high-quality products that cater to their evolving needs. realme C Series is an essential part of our Go Premium strategy, which aims to make great and cutting-edge features accessible to everyone. With the upcoming C Series, we are redefining the entry-level smartphone range with strategic upgrades by introducing cutting-edge technologies and features.
The realme C Series represents our belief that everyone has the chance to enjoy the champion moments in their life. We strive to inspire and support young people globally to pursue their passions and dreams. The series embodies the spirit of a champion, symbolizing being a champion, one need not seek validation from anyone, for the true essence of championing lies within oneself. It is the sheer joy and love for an activity that propels our users forward.
We are confident that the new upgrades in the C Series will meet the expectations of our customers and provide them with an exceptional user experience. Through this, we would like to encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the Champion series together and strive for excellence, pursue their dreams, and cherish their champion moment.
The new range of C Series smartphones will lead the segment with its unparalleled tech upgrades in four key areas: camera, storage, charging, and design. Our commitment to providing higher megapixel cameras, large storage capacity, faster charging capabilities, and premium designs will enhance the overall user experience.
Q4: What can we expect from the C series this year?
This year, we are thrilled to announce a strategic upgrade to our realme C series, which represents the concept of a champion, reflecting the pinnacle of excellence. We believe that everyone has the potential to be a champion in their life, and we aim to inspire and support young people globally to pursue their passions, embrace their dreams, and enjoy the journey that leads them to greatness.
The new range of C Series smartphones will lead the segment with its unparalleled tech upgrades in four key areas: camera, storage, charging, and design. The redefined C series will sport cutting-edge technology, trendsetting design, and unparalleled user experience, all united to deliver a Champion standard. –The new advancements in the realme C series are in line with our “Spire Strategy”, we will ensure that each product series in our smartphone portfolio will lead with one major leap-forward technology, which will be the spire of a robust realme product tower. We believe that high-quality products should be accessible to everyone. Our diligent efforts to create and manufacture high-quality products at reasonable prices have enabled us to offer a wide spectrum of offerings to our valued customers.
Additionally, we are pleased to share our exclusive offers for students on our realme C55. We believe every user deserves the chance to experience the best tech lifestyle, and with our new upgrades, we hope to continue to inspire and support young people in achieving their dreams.
Q5: Tell us about the key features & USP of your next big launch, the realme C55
We're excited to introduce this new benchmark of an entry-level smartphone segment to the market, and we believe it offers a range of features that will appeal to a wide range of users. First and foremost, the realme C55 is designed to deliver a premium experience at a reasonable price point.
realme C55 is the segment’s first smartphone equipped with a 64MP camera and 33W charging as a combination, it also sports a massive 5000mAh battery. realme C55 comes with the thinnest 7.89mm Ultra Slim body in the segment with an innovative Sun-shower design. realme C55 also includes a Type C charger, and from now on, all smartphones in the C series will feature a Type C charger. realme C55 is the first C-Series model to feature a 90Hz refresh rate display. In terms of its display, there’s a big upgrade from a mini drop screen to a punch-hole screen.
With this smartphone, realme has achieved a remarkable feat by introducing an innovative feature called "Mini Capsule," and is the first realme phone to feature the all-new Mini Capsule bringing innovative technology features to more consumers. This innovative functionality is designed to adapt seamlessly to the display and will be incorporated around the punch-hole camera cutout for a sleek and sophisticated look.
We believe that these features, combined with our commitment to delivering exceptional value, make the realme C55 a truly compelling option for consumers. realme C55 offers a range of advanced features and capabilities that are typically found in much more expensive devices, making it a smart choice for anyone in the market for a new smartphone.
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Sushant Talwar
Sushant Talwar is a full-time foodie who reviews cool gadgets and binges on TV shows when he is tired of playing video games. He is also in love with football and thinks Manchester United is a religion View Full Profile
