Xiaomi-Realme ‘copy cat’ fight is back. This is the video that triggered it – Times of India

Xiaomi-Realme’s ‘copy cat’ fight is back. This time it has been triggered by a small slip-up from Xiaomi India’s general manager, product marketing, Sumit Sonal. During the presentation for the company’s latest affordable TWS buds, Redmi Buds 3 Lite, Sonal called Redmi as Realme. “Introducing our first version in Realme/Redmi Buds category and that is Redmi Buds…” A video snippet of the same was shared by ‘Trolling is an art’ Twitter handle (@Trolling_isart) that shares tech memes and more. Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth quoted the tweet with the video and wrote, “Not just fans… but brands love realme as well.”

Xiaomi’s Sonal too was quick with a tongue in cheek reply, “What’s not to love ???? Hats off to your team for such a strong copy-cat strategy that sometimes even the OGs get confused. IYKWIM.” In the tweet, OGs means ‘Original Gangs’ and IYKWIM stands for: ‘In case You Know What I Mean’.

Xiaomi vs Realme war on Twitter goes long back
Incidentally, Xiaomi vs Realme war on Twitter is not new. The executives of the two companies have been making fun of each other’s brands for years now. Some would also say almost ever since Realme became an important contender in India’s smartphone market. Launched as Oppo’s sub-brand in 2017, Realme soon branched out on its own and has been a force to reckon with in India’s mobile market for three-plus years now. Xiaomi has been leading the market since the fourth quarter of 2017, when it first time beat Samsung as per IDC.
In January 2020, Xiaomi’s global VP and MD Manu Kumar Jain, called Realme a copycat brand when the latter introduced ads in its UI. “Funny! A copy-cat brand mocks us. Later this brand brings ads & some ppl start blaming us. Most brands push ads but only Xiaomi is bashed. Because we’ve been transparent about our business model. If any journalist wants to understand our internet business, I’m happy to talk!” Jain had tweeted.

Xiaomi’s new India head Muralikrishnan B quoted Jain’s tweet and wrote, “Say it straight and say it right!”

Post this too, there have been plenty of fireworks between the two brands on social media platforms. But then, business rivalries go ages back – in the tech industry as well as outside. To name a few : Coke vs Pepsi, Microsoft vs Apple, McDonald’s vs Burger King, Nike vs Reebok, Nintendo vs Sega …