realme Tops Youth Smartphone Survey: 81 NPS Score, 86% Value Camera

realme has been named the most popular smartphone brand among Indian youth in the CMR Consumer Insight Survey 2026. The study found that camera quality and battery life with fast charging are the top purchase drivers for young consumers. realme achieved the highest customer satisfaction and a leading Net Promoter Score of 81, indicating strong user advocacy. The brand's association with youthfulness and performance is reinforced by high upgrade intent and the growing importance of peer reviews.

Key Points: realme Most Popular Youth Smartphone Brand, CMR Survey 2026

  • Highest Net Promoter Score of 81
  • Camera quality top purchase factor at 86%
  • 74% youth use phone 4+ hours daily
  • Strong upgrade intent within a year
3 min read

realme emerges as most popular smartphone brand among youth in 'CMR Consumer Insight Survey 2026'

realme leads in youth smartphone popularity with 81 NPS. Survey finds 86% of young buyers prioritize camera, 79% want fast-charging battery life.

realme emerges as most popular smartphone brand among youth in 'CMR Consumer Insight Survey 2026'
"The CMR survey recognising realme as the Most Popular Smartphone Brand Among Youth... validates the strong trust young consumers place in us. - Francis Wong"

New Delhi, Feb 27

realme continues to strengthen its connect with the young generation, emerging as the 'Most Popular Smartphone Brand Among Youth' driven by high user satisfaction and advocacy strength among Gen Z and Millennials, according to the CMR Consumer Insight Survey 2026 for realme.

The study reflects how today's youth seek powerful performance, reliable battery life, and design that mirrors their identity.

The survey across eight cities, highlights how deeply smartphones are embedded in the lives of the youth. With 74 per cent spending over four hours daily on their devices, performance and reliability have become non-negotiable. Camera quality (86 per cent) and battery life with fast charging (79 per cent) emerged as the most important factors influencing purchase decisions.

realme leads overall customer satisfaction among key smartphone brands and recorded the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 81, reflecting strong advocacy and recommendation intent. The study also reinforces realme's strong youth association, with consumers identifying the brand as both youthful and performance-driven.

Upgrade intent remains strong, with over half of young users planning to upgrade within the next year, largely driven by design and camera improvements. Peer recommendations and online reviews continue to play a decisive role in shaping purchase choices.

Commenting on the findings, Francis Wong, Chief Marketing Officer, realme India said, "The CMR survey recognising realme as the Most Popular Smartphone Brand Among Youth, driven by high user satisfaction and advocacy, validates the strong trust young consumers place in us. It reflects their confidence in our overall performance, innovation, camera reliability and user experience. We are encouraged to see realme strongly associated with youthfulness and trust, reinforcing our deep connect with the youth as we continue to deliver meaningful innovation."

"Today's always-on Gen Z consumers increasingly view smartphones as an extension of their personality and lifestyle, evaluating them on how seamlessly these devices integrate into their daily digital routines. As smartphone usage intensifies, design aesthetics, reliability, battery life, and imaging capabilities are emerging as baseline expectations rather than differentiators. Smartphone brands that consistently deliver a strong ownership experience are more likely to build long-term advocacy among young users. realme's popularity among youth reflects its resonance with these evolving expectations," added Prabhu Ram, VP-Industry Research Group, CMR.

Beyond smartphones, the study highlights realme's growing presence in the TWS category, where it records strong satisfaction levels, particularly around design, battery life and sound quality. The findings further underscore the importance of ownership experience, with youth engagement, seamless purchase journeys and responsive after-sales support playing a key role in strengthening loyalty.

As young consumers increasingly prioritise performance, reliability and design-led innovation, realme remains committed to delivering meaningful technology experiences that align with their evolving digital lifestyles.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Makes sense. Most of my friends in Mumbai have either a realme or a Samsung. The camera quality at that price point is hard to beat. Peer recommendation is everything – I bought mine because my cousin wouldn't stop raving about it! 😄
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Rohit P
Good for them, but I hope this popularity doesn't make them complacent. My last realme phone had software update issues after 18 months. Performance is great initially, but long-term support needs to match the hype. Just my two paise.
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Sarah B
Interesting data. The focus on battery life and fast charging is so accurate for Indian users. Power cuts and long commutes make it a top priority. Realme cracked the code by offering that without a crazy price tag.
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Vikram M
Yaar, 74% spending over 4 hours daily? That's us! Phone is everything for work, entertainment, and UPI payments. Realme's design is definitely fresh and stands out. Their 'Dare to Leap' slogan actually connects with how we use tech.
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Kavya N
As a graphic designer, I need a phone that doesn't lag with multiple apps. Switched to realme Narzo series last year and it's been smooth. The survey is right – it's about seamless integration into our digital life. Good job!

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