New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS): In the fast-paced world of smartphones, where brands constantly strive to outdo each other with groundbreaking features and designs, realme has managed to carve its own unique niche. Born in 2018, realme embarked on a journey of innovation and evolution that has left a significant mark on the smartphone landscape.

In a saturated smartphone market dominated by industry giants, realme emerged as a formidable player, bringing fresh perspectives and products that resonated with users.

The heart and soul of realme's smartphone lineup is its iconic Number series. This series has earned a reputation as the brand's Hero range, consistently offering flagship-level experiences in the mid-range segment. With a commitment to introducing leap-forward technology and out-of-the-box innovations, the Number series has become a symbol of realme's pursuit of excellence.

Since its inception, the Number series has been the canvas upon which realme paints its most daring technological achievements. It's here that the brand has introduced several industry-first and segment-first milestones, setting new standards for the mid-range smartphone market.

In the race for high-wattage fast charging solutions, realme emerged as an industry leader. Beyond popularizing 65W fast charging, it pushed the envelope with 125W and 150W solutions.

Now, realme's pioneering spirit shines once more with the introduction of mass-produced 240W fast charging. For cameras, from modest beginnings with 8MP and 12MP cameras, it swiftly advanced to popularize 48MP, 50MP, and 64MP sensors. The pinnacle was reached with the unveiling of the groundbreaking 200MP camera, a first in the world. This innovation typifies realme's dedication to enhancing user experience and making cutting-edge charging technologies accessible to all.

The journey began with the realme 1 in 2018, introducing the brand's foray into innovative design and battery technology. The Diamond Black pattern at the back set a new standard for aesthetic appeal, while the 3410mAh battery provided a solid foundation for battery life.

The smartphone featured a 13-megapixel rear camera with single-LED flash, and an 8-megapixel front camera. It recognized 296 facial points using AI. The user-friendly camera app offered Panorama, Time-lapse, AR sticker modes, plus Pro mode for manual adjustments. The AI-powered selfie camera optimized settings based on skin tone, type, age, and gender. Despite its ergonomic build, the realme 1 didn't compromise on screen size or processing power, showcasing the brand's commitment to cutting-edge technology.

With the realme 2, the evolution became evident. The impressive 4230mAh battery provided ultra-long duration, coupled with AI Power Master that smartly suspended inactive apps and maintained high power efficiency. Equipped with a 13MP+2MP dual camera, realme 2 captured outstanding portraits with natural background effects.

Recognizing 296 facial points, the 8MP camera analyzed the user's age, gender, skin type, and skin color. The AI Beauty 2.0 technology selected from 8 million beautification options. This device bridged the gap between the brand's initial offering and the subsequent game-changing models. The increase in battery capacity demonstrated realme's responsiveness to users' demands for extended usage.

In 2019, realme introduced the realme 3, emphasizing design and battery efficiency. The Gradient Unibody Design and Helio P70 AI Processor marked steps toward aesthetics and power optimization.

The realme 3 featured a 13+2-megapixel rear camera setup. The primary sensor improved with f/1.8 aperture, while the second aided depth in Portrait mode. The ColorOS update brought new modes - Nightscape and Chroma Boost - using AI and multi-frame for better low-light shots. The 4,230mAh battery continued to cater to users' needs, with innovative power-saving features like 'Deep Power Down' and 'Sleeping Mode' enhancing efficiency and battery life.

Its successor, the realme 5, took a leap with a quad-camera setup and an exceptional 5000mAh battery, which could last for nearly a day even with gaming, entertainment and tasks.

The realme 5 was the first phone announced in India with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC. It introduced four cameras under Rs. 10,000, including a 12MP primary sensor, 8MP wide-angle, and 2MP depth and macro cameras.

This marked a significant milestone in the brand's battery innovation journey, providing users with extended usage times while maintaining the focus on design and performance.

The year 2020 marked a shift towards high refresh rates with the realme 6. Its 90Hz refresh rate and MediaTek Helio G90T SoC brought a new level of smoothness to budget smartphones.

The realme 6 had a 16MP front camera with F2.0 aperture, catering to verified selfies through smart beauty mode and Bokeh Effect. Its Pro 64MP Quad Camera System offered versatile photography with a 119 degree Ultra Wide-angle Lens, 4cm Macro Lens, and Black & White Portrait Lens. The 4300mAh battery featured enhanced charging efficiency and five-layer protection for prolonged use.

The realme 7 series continued this trend with the realme 7 offering a high-refresh-rate screen and a mirror-split design, showcasing realme's unyielding focus on visual excellence. The realme 7 featured a 5,000mAh battery that performed well even with intense use. Its 30W Dart Charge fast charging capability could fully charge the battery in approximately 65 minutes.

realme 8's design evolution was evident, emphasizing slimness and lightness while introducing AMOLED technology and an in-display fingerprint sensor. This choice represented a balance between features, showcasing the brand's responsiveness to trends.

The 5000mAh battery, maintained from previous models, continued to cater to users' desire for prolonged battery life, further enhanced by power-saving features. It charged fully in about 65 minutes with 30W fast charging and supported up to 15W USB Type-C PD fast charging. Frealme 8 featured a 64MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, 2MP macro camera, and 2MP monochrome camera, with a rich selection of shooting modes.

The realme 9 and 10 continued the brand's trajectory of evolution. The Realme 9 5G offered solid battery life, lasting a day and a half on a full charge. Its 18W charger fueled 27 per cent in 30 mins and 52 per cent in an hour.

The main camera was 48MP with f/1.8 aperture, pixel-binning to 12MP. It included black-and-white portrait and macro cameras. The selfie camera was 16MP. The camera app had diverse modes, HDR, AI scene recognition, and a high-contrast Street Mode filter.

Meanwhile, the realme 10's MediaTek Helio G99 processor demonstrated a relentless pursuit of speed and performance. The phone housed a 5,000mAh battery lasting a day and supported 33W SuperVooc fast charging, fully charging in a little over an hour.

The smartphone featured a dual-camera setup with a 50MP + 2MP B&W configuration at the back. The primary 50MP sensor had a 77-degree field-of-view and f/1.8 aperture. Images were defaultly saved in 12.5MP resolution, boasting excellent daylight shots with detailed, contrasty, and punchy colors. The HDR balanced highlights well, while the AI mode enhanced color saturation.

In 2023, The realme 11 Pro Series 5G presented a premium design from realme Design Studio in collaboration with ex-Gucci designer Matteo Menotto. The realme 11 Pro+ 5G showcases the world's first 200MP camera with 4X lossless Zoom, OIS, and SuperZoom. It features a 120Hz curved display, 100W SuperVOOC charge, 5000mAh battery, and MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G chipset. The phone empowers creative photography with various modes.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, global smartphone brand realme stands as a testament to the power of innovation, design, and youth empowerment. Guided by the principles of leap-forward technology, trendsetting design, and enriching the lives of young consumers, realme's transformative journey over the past five years has been marked by continual progress and breakthroughs with the upcoming launch of 11 Series 5G.

Throughout its five-year journey, realme has continually fortified its reputation for leap-forward performance and innovative design. Each product generation boasts at least one leap-forward technology, underpinned by realme's strategic investment in research and development.

Also, realme's Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology fuels advancements in Charging, Photography, Display, Gaming, Chipset, and Industrial Design. This commitment empowers realme to consistently deliver products that redefine benchmarks for performance, design, and user experience.

As the smartphone landscape evolves, realme's promise of exceptional value within the mid-range segment remains steadfast. With the Number series as its canvas, realme illustrates that innovation transcends limitations, reflecting its resolute commitment to empowering today's youth with cutting-edge technology, transformative design, and unparalleled experiences.