In recent years, many smartphone manufacturers have started developing their own chipsets to reduce dependence on third-party suppliers and improve the integration of hardware and software. Realme has been expanding its device lineup but hasn’t made any official statements about its own processors. How do you assess the prospects of such a move? What advantages and risks do you see in Realme transitioning to its own SoCs? Do you think this could impact the brand’s competitiveness in the mid-range segment? Share your opinions and arguments.
The Future of Realme: Should We Expect a Shift to In-House Processors?
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When I first switched from a regular Android smartphone to the Xiaomi Mi 11 with the Snapdragon 888—and later to the Xiaomi 12 with its in-house Surge G3—I immediately noticed how crucial deep firmware optimization under the chip is. The Mi 11 worked "out of the box," but after moving to Xiaomi’s own SoC in the 12, power efficiency improved and camera feature updates sped up because the company could squeeze out maximum performance without middlemen. A real-world example of how a proprietary chipset shifts the price-to-performance balance.
For Realme, taking this step could bring similar benefits: tighter hardware/software integration, the ability to offer competitive specs in the mid-range, and less reliance on the Snapdragon supply chain, where prices keep climbing. But the risks are real—developing your own processor demands massive investment, and early versions often lag behind Qualcomm’s proven solutions in power and graphics efficiency. If Realme can close that gap quickly and deliver stable drivers, the brand gains an edge—better price-to-performance ratios and more flexible update policies. If the chip ends up being a "first attempt," though, you risk app compatibility issues and weak third-party support, which would hurt its reputation in the competitive mid-range market. So in my view, moving to in-house SoCs makes sense—but only if Realme has already built up enough experience and financial firepower to ensure reliable releases.