Realme built its reputation on a simple formula: offer stronger hardware than competitors at the same price. Phones such as the GT Neo series, Realme 5 Pro, and early Number Series devices often featured chipsets that outperformed rivals while undercutting them on price.
In recent years, however, a growing segment of consumers has begun questioning whether Realme still follows that strategy. Complaints about higher pricing, weaker processors in some models, software issues, and reduced value-for-money have become increasingly common across user communities.
The Core Complaint: Paying More, Getting Less
The most common criticism directed at Realme today is that some of its mid-range devices are launching with processors that fail to clearly outperform their predecessors or rival devices.
Historically, Realme often used flagship-adjacent chips such as the Snapdragon 870 and Dimensity 1200 in aggressively priced products. These devices became popular because buyers felt they were getting flagship-level performance at a mid-range price.
Today, consumers frequently compare Realme's newer devices against offerings from competitors such as Xiaomi, Nothing, iQOO, and Samsung and argue that chipset selection is no longer as aggressive. User criticism surrounding the Realme 16 Pro series became so widespread that even Realme executives publicly addressed accusations that the phones were overpriced.
To be fair, not every price increase can be blamed on Realme.
The company has repeatedly stated that component costs, memory prices, AI hardware requirements, and currency fluctuations have significantly increased smartphone production costs. Realme executives warned that smartphone prices across the industry would rise sharply in 2026 and argued that virtually all manufacturers face the same pressures.
The broader smartphone market supports this explanation:
•AI-capable chipsets are more expensive.
•Memory and storage prices have increased.
•Premium displays and camera sensors cost more.
•Global economic conditions have squeezed profit margins.
In other words, part of the pricing issue is industry-wide rather than uniquely a Realme problem.
The Chipset Question
The real issue is not simply that phones cost more.
•Consumers generally accept higher prices when performance increases accordingly.
•The criticism emerges when:
•Prices rise significantly.
•Performance gains are modest.
•Competitors offer stronger processors at similar prices.
This creates a perception that Realme is no longer prioritizing raw performance leadership in the way it once did.
Earlier Realme launches frequently generated excitement because buyers felt they were "beating the market." Today, many launches are viewed as merely competitive rather than disruptive.
Software: Realme's Biggest Weakness?
While hardware pricing receives most attention, software may be the bigger long-term concern.
•Across community discussions, recurring complaints include:
•Aggressive RAM management
•Background apps being closed
•Delayed notifications
•Camera lag
•Battery drain after updates
•Performance degradation over time
These issues appear repeatedly in user reports spanning multiple device generations. While individual experiences vary, the consistency of these complaints suggests software optimization remains one of Realme's most criticized areas.
Not all feedback is negative. Some users report good reliability and value, particularly in the budget segment, while others note that recent updates improved performance on newer devices.
Market Performance Suggests Trouble
Market data indicates Realme is no longer growing at the pace it once enjoyed.
In the Philippines, Realme's market share declined in 2024 while competitors such as Transsion brands expanded significantly. IDC data cited by local reports showed Realme experiencing negative year-over-year growth.
Industry analysts have also noted shipment declines and increasing pressure in several key markets.
This does not mean Realme is failing, but it does suggest the company is finding it harder to differentiate itself than during its rapid-growth years.
Where Realme Still Excels
Despite the criticism, Realme still does several things well:
•Strong battery technology
•Fast charging leadership
•Attractive industrial design
•Competitive displays
•Good hardware specifications in flagship GT models
For example, the GT 7 series introduced massive 7,000mAh batteries while maintaining relatively slim designs and powerful MediaTek processors.
The problem is that these strengths no longer feel unique. Competitors have largely caught up.
Final Assessment
Realme's challenge is not that its phones are bad.
The challenge is that the company built its brand around being the value champion. When a value-focused brand raises prices or becomes more conservative with chipset selection, consumers notice immediately.
•The evidence suggests that:
•Realme phones are generally more expensive than they were a few years ago.
•Industry-wide factors explain part of those increases.
•Consumer criticism about weaker value propositions is genuine and widespread.
Software optimization remains a recurring complaint among enthusiasts.
The flagship GT series remains competitive, but many buyers feel the mid-range lineup no longer delivers the "wow factor" that made Realme famous.
The biggest risk for Realme is not overpricing itself by a few dollars. It is losing the identity that originally made people choose Realme over everyone else. If consumers stop seeing Realme as the brand that offers the most performance for the money, it becomes just another smartphone manufacturer competing in an increasingly crowded market.
