Chinese smartphone maker realme unveiled on Monday a “waterproof and shockproof” Android mobile phone, claiming it was Pakistan’s first locally assembled smartphone.
The newly launched phone ‘realme C75’ will be available from December 28 at Rs49,999 (24GB+128GB) and Rs54,999 (24GB+256GB), according to the company.
“C75 is the industry’s best and completely waterproof phone…to be made available (in the middle range price-tagged) in Pakistan from December 28, 2024,” Asma Hayat, Marketing and Communication Manager, realme, said while speaking at the launching ceremony in Karachi.
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She claimed the phone could be washed like hands on regular basis no matter switched-on or switched-off.
“It can survive for two to two-and-half hours under the water. It also holds a water drainage feature….the company gives one-year water damage warranty.
“Our global experiments and some locals’ individual experiments suggest it survived while stored under the water at freezing temperature in refrigerators for over 24-hour, meaning water (carrying the phone) transformed into the ice, recovered from the ice, and it continued to remain unaffected and operational,” Asma maintained.
The country has already launched the phone in India and Vietnam over the recent couple of weeks.
She said C75 offers water security up to IP69 level. An IP code or ingress protection code indicates how well a device is protected against water and dust.
“No company or brand is offering the IP69 waterproof feature in this price range in Pakistan at present.”
Asma claimed the screen and panels of C75 would continue to operate even it dropped from some 50-60 feet height.
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Regarding the company’s future plans, she said realme is set to expand the smartphone output at the local assembly plant by 25% to 200,000/month units in 2025 compared to 150,000/month units in 2023.
She claimed the company’s sales volume grew 540% in 2024 compared to 2023, securing the top fourth position among market leaders in the second quarter of 2024. “According to an international report, we are above Samsung and Oppo.”
“We are selling 100% locally assembled phones at present, as import of phones in parts gives tax advantages compared to import of finished (ready to use) products.
“The year 2024 has been a highly competitive year. Our market share has increased to 11% at present compared to 3% in 2023 in Pakistan,” Asma said.
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