With the festive season just around the corner, most smartphone brands are gearing up with price drops and aggressive sales campaigns. But Realme, known for blending design and innovation in the mid-range, is taking a slightly different route this time. Rather than simply relying on discounts to drive volumes, it's betting on fresh launches and AI-led differentiation to grab attention. The new Realme 15 series arrives not just as another upgrade cycle but as a signal of the brand's broader shift toward meaningful technology.
Positioned strategically for first-time buyers and younger audiences, the Realme 15 and 15x bring a mix of large batteries, AMOLED displays, and newer AI-backed enhancements. Built on the new Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 platform, the series promises a blend of intelligent performance, camera enhancements, and long-lasting power tailored for Indian users. In an exclusive conversation with MySmartPrice, Francis Wong, Chief Marketing Officer of realme India, and Sumit Sonal, Head of Marketing at Qualcomm India, break down how their partnership is pushing AI-driven innovation to meet the rising expectations of India's tech-savvy, festive-first audience.
Highlights from our conversation
It’s all about Smart Value: Smartphone makers are now moving away from specs and price wars. Realme says that it is leaning into AI-powered features like Edit Genie, GT Boost 3.0, and AI Party Mode to stand out in India's hyper-competitive mid-range market. They also believe the Realme 15 series will resonate with design-conscious, first-time buyers this festive season.
India-First Innovations for Social + Gaming Use-Cases: The realme 15 Pro seeks to deliver both performance and portability that directly respond to Indian user needs. It also has features like voice-led AI photo editing and frame-boosted gaming with real-time tactical guidance, showing a clear pivot toward everyday utility and festival-driven content creation. Vivo and iQoo are currently dominating this segment, but Realme is now looking to make its presence felt in this segment.
Mid-Range No Longer Means Compromise: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is built on 4nm, the platform brings 65% better AI processing, enabling smoother multitasking, efficient thermal control, and camera features like skin-tone optimisation and low-light stabilisation tailored for Indian users. Qualcomm and Realme's co-developed approach ensures that mid-tier buyers now get flagship-grade responsiveness.
Here are excerpts from that conversation with Francis Wong, Chief Marketing Officer of realme India
The festive season often marks a spike in smartphone upgrades. How is the realme 15 Series positioned to meet the evolving expectations of Indian consumers during this high-demand period?
The festive season in India is always a critical time, and for us, it's one of the three key focus areas in the second half of the year, alongside the GT Series and our new Number Series. The realme 15 Series is crafted exactly for this moment. With segment-first features like the 7000mAh AI long-life battery in a slim 7.69mm body, a 144Hz 4D Curve+ display, a 50MP triple camera system with 4K video recording and AI Party Mode, and AI-powered experiences like Edit Genie and Gaming Coach 2.0, the realme 15 Series delivers a flagship-grade experience at a mid-range price.
This festive season, consumers expect a device that performs across everything, whether it is shooting Diwali celebrations or intense gaming and multitasking. We've seen strong momentum in Q1, and we believe the 15 Series will play a decisive role in helping us win the Diwali season and achieve the ambitious goals we set last year.
realme has consistently aimed to bring flagship-like experiences to the mid-segment. What made the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 the right processor for the 15 Series in that context?
Our goal with the Number Series is to bring flagship experiences to the mid-range, and Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 gave us the ideal foundation. We're proud to be the first to bring it to India. Built on a 4nm process, it delivers a 27% CPU and 30% GPU boost, along with a 65% improvement in AI processing.
This enabled us to introduce features like Edit Genie, Multi-Tasker, and GT Boost 3.0, which are all optimized for real-time, intelligent performance. With an AnTuTu score crossing 1.1 million, it redefines expectations in the segment.
Indian consumers now expect their smartphones to handle everything, from gaming and content creation to day-long battery. How does the realme 15 Series address these use cases specifically for Indian users?
Indian users today expect their smartphones to do it all, from gaming and multitasking to content creation and all-day usage, and the realme 15 Pro is built to deliver across every demand. Powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the most advanced 7-series chipset yet, it brings a significant boost in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance, with an AnTuTu score of over 1.1 million, making it the segment's top performer. Whether it's lag-free gameplay, editing reels, or switching between apps, the experience is smooth, responsive, and power-efficient.
To enhance the gaming experience, we've introduced GT Boost 3.0, which optimizes power allocation frame-by-frame to enable stable 120 FPS performance on titles like Free Fire. Paired with AI Gaming Coach 2.0 and AI Ultra Touch Control, users get real-time tactical guidance and ultra-responsive touch input in critical zones, making every move faster and smarter.
On the camera front, the realme 15 Pro features a 50MP triple camera setup with 4K video recording, offering sharp, detailed photography and cinematic-quality videos. The newly introduced AI Party Mode enhances portraits in low-light social settings, applying natural skin tones, vivid color balance, and stylish watermark frames—perfect for capturing the energy of festivals, parties, or spontaneous night outs.
For editing, our AI Edit Genie allows voice-controlled enhancements, making pro-level results accessible without complexity. Backed by a 7000mAh battery and 80W fast charging, the realme 15 Pro offers intelligent performance that fits India's always-on, multitasking lifestyle.
How did your collaboration with Qualcomm influence product decisions around AI features, camera performance, and power efficiency in the 15 Series?
Our partnership with Qualcomm was instrumental in pushing the realme 15 Series to the next level. From the early stages of development, we worked closely with their engineering teams to co-optimise the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 platform for smarter AI processing, improved thermal management, and enhanced camera tuning. With a 65% improvement in AI processing power, this is the most advanced 7-series chipset yet, and it gives us the flexibility to push boundaries across multiple use cases.
realme has always been at the forefront of innovation and has been committed to premium features for its users. We introduced several industry-first AI experiences, led by innovations like AI Edit Genie, our voice-led photo editing tool that brings intuitive, pro-level edits to every user. With the strong performance support of the platform, we were able to deliver an out-of-expectation experience that's both powerful and seamless. On the multitasking front, we optimized AI Multi-Tasker to intelligently predict user behavior and ensure smooth switching across frequently used apps. When it came to imaging, Qualcomm's AI engine helped us enhance clarity, stabilization, and color accuracy, especially in challenging low-light and fast-action environments.
To support extended gaming sessions, we also collaborated on custom thermal tuning to maintain consistent frame rates and power efficiency during intense use. These enhancements weren't off-the-shelf; they were co-developed to bring a deeply optimized, flagship-grade experience to the realme 15 Series—offering users real innovation that's fast, intelligent, and ready for anything.
With festive shoppers becoming more value-conscious yet tech-savvy, what India-first innovations in the realme 15 Series do you believe will drive traction this season?
Indian consumers today are not just looking for deals. They want innovation that's meaningful. That's why the realme 15 Series brings multiple India-first and segment-first features that directly respond to evolving user needs. We're proud to be the first in India to launch a smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, which brings a 65% boost in AI performance along with significant upgrades in CPU and GPU efficiency that is perfectly suited for multitasking, gaming, and content creation.
We've introduced India-first features, such as Edit Genie (a voice-led editing tool) and AI Party Mode, which creates low-light portraits with creative effects, tailor-made for India's festive, social-first users.
The 7000mAh battery is not only the largest in its class, but is also housed in an ultra-slim 7.69mm design, which is a rare combination of power and portability. The phone also debuts a 144Hz 4D Curve+ display, delivering an immersive, fluid visual experience unmatched in this segment. With enhanced thermal control, flagship-level camera capabilities including 50MP triple camera and 4K video, and gaming-centric AI tools like GT Boost 3.0, the realme 15 Series is the kind of future-ready upgrade that meets both the performance demands and emotional aspirations of Indian users this festive season.
We also caught up with Sumit Sonal, Head of Marketing at Qualcomm India, to understand more about the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. Here are excerpts from that conversation.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 brings significant AI and performance upgrades. What key improvements can Indian users expect in day-to-day usage with the realme 15 Pro?
The realme 15 Pro is a prime example of how Snapdragon delivers real benefits in everyday use. Powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, users can expect sharper responsiveness, more stable frame rates, and elevated gaming experience adapted from the Snapdragon Elite Gaming features. What truly sets this apart is the advanced on-device AI, delivering rapid image generation, smarter voice assistants, real-time translation, and seamless content creation, for the first time on the Snapdragon 7 series. These aren't just performance gains; they're meaningful upgrades to how users engage with their devices.
This is where innovation meets impact. We're not just pushing specs, we're creating experiences that feel intuitive, intelligent, and built for the evolving expectations of Indian smartphone users.
How did Qualcomm work with realme to optimize the chipset specifically for India-centric demands, be it multilingual usage, camera tuning, or sustained performance?
At Qualcomm, our goal is to make premium experiences more accessible, without compromising on quality. With Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, we're bringing advanced features like Gen AI support, high-efficiency gaming, and powerful imaging to a broader segment, beyond just flagship devices.
What makes this meaningful is our deep collaboration with OEMs like realme. Together, we've fine-tuned the platform for India-specific use cases from multilingual voice support to camera tuning that captures natural skin tones and vivid colours across diverse lighting conditions. We've also focused on sustained performance, enabling smooth multitasking and gaming while maintaining thermal efficiency.
This is where Snapdragon shines when the platform meets purpose. It's not just about optimization, but co-creation, with the Indian consumer at the heart of every decision.
With AI becoming central to user experience, especially in photography and power management, how does Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 balance on-device intelligence and efficiency?
With Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the goal wasn't to simply add more AI, it was to embed it meaningfully across the user journey. We focused on delivering strong on-device intelligence that enhances everyday experiences like photography and power management, all within a highly efficient platform and accessible price point. Thanks to close collaboration with partners like realme, we've ensured that these AI capabilities translate into real benefits, whether it's smarter battery usage or more intuitive camera performance. What sets Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 apart is how seamlessly this intelligence integrates into the experience, enhancing it without ever interrupting it.
From Qualcomm's vantage point, how are mid-range smartphone users in India evolving, and how does the 7 Gen 4 help OEMs like realme meet those changing expectations?
Mid-range users in India today aren’t settling; they're expecting more, and rightfully so. This segment has evolved from being about compromises to one driven by aspiration. Performance, design, camera, and now AI capabilities are all expected, not optional. From Qualcomm's vantage point, that's a huge opportunity. With the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, we've worked closely with partners like realme to meet and exceed those expectations head-on.
It's about delivering a smartphone experience that feels fast, intuitive, and reliable every single time. Whether it's the responsive on-device AI, the AI-powered ISP delivering true-to-life photos effortlessly, or sustained performance that holds up over time, Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is designed to help OEMs like realme bring premium-grade experiences to the heart of the mid-range. And that's exactly what today's Indian users are looking for.
Realme is betting on the smart value narrative
India's budget smartphone market is no longer just about ticking the right spec boxes. It's a high-stakes arena where even ₹1,000 can tilt buyer decisions. As brands scramble to stay relevant amid intense competition, Realme is aiming to stand out this festive season by leaning into both timing and tech.
In a space crowded with lookalike spec sheets and interchangeable designs, Realme's festive pitch focuses on subtle but meaningful upgrades: chipset-level AI optimisation, AMOLED screens in the entry range, and a consistent push on design and battery life. The company knows it's operating in one of the most competitive segments. Still, instead of chasing the lowest price tag, Realme's strategy appears to be more about owning the "smart value" narrative—offering just enough intelligence and finesse to keep younger buyers and offline audiences hooked.
