Democratising “Premium”: In conversation with Madhav Sheth – CEO realme India

Democratising “Premium”: In conversation with Madhav Sheth – CEO realme India

Recently we had been in conversation with Madhav Sheth – CEO realme India, VP, realme and President, realme International Business Group about Realme's 2023 plan and the company's key areas of focus for technological innovation. Here’s a transcript of Mr. Sheth’s interview:

What are the new mobile technological innovations realme is gunning for in 2023? 

At realme, we aim to equip young consumers with cutting-edge technology and design and keeping this objective in mind, we are investing in building our product capabilities. We have established four major design studios worldwide to accelerate innovations in smartphone design. Our dedicated R&D center called the realme Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology reflects its strategy and commitment to accelerate advancements in future product development, aligning with its mission of driving leap-forward innovations. This institute will focus on driving innovation across six key areas, including charging, photography, display, gaming, chipset, and industrial design. In addition to this, our product strategy follows the "Spire Strategy" approach, in which each product series highlights a ground-breaking technology that serves as the centerpiece of our comprehensive product range. 

Our newly launched realme GT3 will be equipped with 240W charging capabilities, and as the year progresses, we plan to introduce even more incredible features in the future. The 240W fast charging technology is one of the masterpieces developed by our team at realme Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology and the integration of our R&D resources across the globe will unlock even greater potential for future advancements in technology.

Does realme plan on entering the foldable/rollable trend and if so, how do they plan to distinguish themselves?

As we all know that the smartphone industry is evolving rapidly and the latest technologies such as foldable phones are garnering a lot of consumer interest. We understand the interest in this trend however we believe that it is necessary to take a measured approach when bringing new technology to the market, to make sure consumers enjoy the best experience.

As a tech company, we are always exploring new ideas and working round the clock to upgrade our products. However, we do not believe in rushing to release a product unless it is ready to be released commercially and meets our high standards of quality check and user experience.

Our dedicated R&D center called the realme Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology is currently concentrating on driving innovation across six key areas, including charging, photography, display, gaming, chipset, and industrial design, that we believe have a significant impact on our consumers' daily lives: fast charging, Design, and camera technology. We are proud to offer some of the fastest-charging smartphones in the market, which we believe fundamentally improves our users' efficiency. We are also actively working to enhance our camera features, as we believe that the camera is one of the most important features of a smartphone for many users.

While we are cognizant of the interest in foldable phones, we believe that it is important to stay focused on our core strengths and bring products that provide real value to our customers. We will continue to monitor the development of this technology and will introduce it to the market when we believe it’s ready and can pass our high-standard quality check.

How will mobile chipset architecture improve in the coming years? 

At realme, we believe that the next few years will see significant improvements in mobile chipset architecture, driven by technological advancements and consumer demands. Firstly, we expect to see a shift towards more efficient and powerful processors, capable of handling increasingly complex and demanding tasks. This will be achieved through the integration of advanced manufacturing processes and the use of new materials and designs.

Secondly, there will be a greater focus on AI and machine learning capabilities, which will enhance the user experience and enable smartphones to adapt and learn from user behavior. This will be made possible by the development of specialized processors and the use of advanced algorithms and software.

Lastly, we anticipate the emergence of more integrated and modular chipsets, which will enable manufacturers to create more compact and energy-efficient devices. This will also allow for greater flexibility and customization in device design, enabling manufacturers to cater to specific market segments and consumer needs.

At realme, we are committed to staying at the forefront of technological innovation and delivering exceptional mobile experiences to our customers. We are constantly exploring new avenues for improvement and investing in cutting-edge technologies to bring the best possible products to market.

AI is at the helm of mobile image processing and could be the differentiating factor between a well-exposed photo and an under/over-exposed one in 2023. Do you agree and how do you see AI image processing improving this year?

We believe that AI has a crucial role to play in enhancing the overall photography experience for users. AI-powered image processing algorithms can analyze and optimize various parameters such as exposure, white balance, color, and contrast, to deliver stunning and accurate results in different lighting conditions.

AI is poised to become the differentiating factor in mobile image processing this year and beyond. As we continue to push the boundaries of AI technology, we expect to see significant improvements in the quality and consistency of smartphone photography. With features such as scene recognition, object tracking, and portrait mode becoming increasingly sophisticated, users can expect to capture images with greater clarity, detail, and depth.

AI algorithms can also help reduce noise, enhance dynamic range, and eliminate distortion, resulting in images that are more natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing.

We are committed to leveraging the power of AI to deliver the best possible camera experience to our users. With the launch of our latest smartphones, we have introduced several cutting-edge features that utilize AI-based image processing, such as Super Nightscape, AI Beauty, and Chroma Boost.

We are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of mobile photography with AI-driven innovation, as we strive to make capturing and sharing moments a more immersive and enjoyable experience for our users.

What mobile technology trends must one look out for in 2023?

We believe that the next few years will be an exciting time for the smartphone  industry, with a number of emerging technologies and trends set to shape the way we interact with our devices.

One of the most significant trends we expect to see in 2023 is the continued growth of 5G technology. With the global rollout of 5G networks, we anticipate a significant increase in the number of 5G-capable devices in the market, which will enable faster speeds, greater bandwidth, and more reliable connections.

Another trend we see emerging in the coming years is the increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in mobile devices. With the development of more powerful processors and more sophisticated algorithms, we expect to see smartphones and other mobile devices that are capable of processing vast amounts of data and making more intelligent decisions.

Finally, we believe that sustainability will continue to be a major trend in the mobile industry in 2023 and beyond. Consumers are increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, and we expect to see more companies taking steps to reduce waste and develop more sustainable products and practices.

At realme, value-for-money devices are the norm. After adding premium specs and features to their phones such as curved displays and flagship SoCs, what is the next step in being a flagship killer? What's the main point of focus?

As a company, our focus has always been on innovation and staying ahead of the curve in terms of technology. We constantly strive to push the boundaries and exceed expectations, particularly when it comes to the flagship killer segment.

Moving forward, our main point of focus is to continue providing innovative and cutting-edge technologies that are accessible to everyone. We want to ensure that our devices not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers in terms of performance, design, and overall user experience. realme's Global Institute of Leap-forward Technology is currently concentrating on driving innovation across six key areas, including charging, photography, display, gaming, chipset, and industrial design.

To achieve this, we are constantly exploring new technologies and advancements, for example, our upcoming realme GT 3 will be equipped with 240W charging capabilities, 144Hz Ultra AMOLED Display, and Pulse Interface Smart RGB Light System to name a few. GT series being our flagship series will always be committed to bringing leap-forward design, technology, and experience to users.

We are excited about the future and are confident that our continued focus on innovation and customer satisfaction will help us to maintain our position as a leader in the flagship killer segment.

A technology product that you cannot live without, other than phones. Please elaborate.

Being a techie, it's slightly difficult to pick one technology product. There is no doubt that a smartphone is essential for me but in addition to this, I love smartwatches as well. This gadget has been my constant, right from counting my steps and monitoring my heart rate to accessing notifications easily, it does it all for me. I stay connected while doing other things and it's an extension of my smartphone for me.  

Dhriti Datta

Dhriti Datta

Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile

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