China’s Realme aims to double smartphone shipments in 2020 to 50 million units

Chinese smartphone maker Realme shipped 25 million handsets in 2019 and hopes to ship 50 million units in 2020, the company said on Tuesday at an event announcing its first 5G device.

The remarks come as the fast-growing smartphone brand, which saw strong adoption in India in 2019, steadily turns its focus towards its home market in China, as device makers hope that consumers buy new smartphones this year compatible with the country’s expanding 5G mobile infrastructure.

Realme’s X50 5G device is priced at roughly 2499 yuan (US$359.71) for the cheapest variant, marking a lower cost mid-range entry in the recent spate of 5G handsets released by Chinese Android smartphone brands.

Huawei Technologies and Oppo have each released four 5G models to date, while Xiaomi Corp has launched three models. Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s founder and chief executive, said last year that his company would aim to introduce at least 10 smartphone models in 2020.

Apple, which has seen sales in China struggle since their peak in 2015, is expected to release a 5G device later this year.

The 5G smartphone wave comes as China rapidly upgrades its telecommunications infrastructure to include 5G mobile networks. As of late November, China had 113,000 5G base stations in service, according to state media reports.