Realme GT 9, Neo 9 series reportedly cancelled for 2026 as company reshapes strategy

Highlights
  • Realme GT 9 and Neo 9 series are reportedly not launching this year, as the brand is said to have stopped smartphone production in China.
  • The leak suggests Realme will focus on its numbered series overseas, alongside smartphones and audio products.
  • The report follows Realme’s move to ColorOS 17 and closer integration with OPPO and OnePlus.

Realme may not launch its next-generation GT and Neo series smartphones this year, according to a new leak from well-known tipster Digital Chat Station. The post, shared on Weibo, claims the company’s current smartphone lineup in China has already been discontinued, with existing inventory expected to sell out by around November.

The leak (via) comes days after Realme confirmed it is pausing new smartphone launches in China. The developments suggest the brand is shifting its focus as OPPO brings Realme and OnePlus under a more closely integrated business and software ecosystem.

Realme GT 9 and Neo 9 launch cancelled

According to Digital Chat Station, Realme has stopped production of its current smartphone lineup in China. With inventory expected to last until November, the tipster claims there are no plans to introduce the Realme GT 9 or Neo 9 series in the Chinese market this year. The same post also suggests that overseas markets will not receive GT or Neo series smartphones going forward. Instead, Realme’s numbered series is expected to take over that positioning in several regions. We speculate that may be true for India too.

Beyond smartphones, the leak points to a narrower global product portfolio. Realme is reportedly focusing only on smartphones and audio products outside China, with no tablets or laptops planned at the moment. A gaming tablet, however, is said to be under consideration for the future.

The company launched the Realme GT 8 Pro in India in November 2025 at a starting price of Rs 72,999. It packed a 200MP camera, the Snapdragon 8 Elte Gen 5 chipset and still stands out (review) as one of the few premium Android phones that hasn’t received a post-launch price hike. Earlier leaks had suggested the GT 9 series could build on that with dual 200MP cameras, but that now appears unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Realme integrated with OPPO

Earlier this month, Realme India confirmed that future smartphones will ship with ColorOS 17 instead of Realme UI, saying the transition is intended to streamline software development and simplify updates. OPPO has also unified the operations of OnePlus and Realme under a shared business ecosystem, paving the way for closer software integration across both brands. Existing devices, including the Realme GT 7 Pro, will continue receiving the company’s promised three Android OS updates and four years of security patches but with ColorOS.

The latest leak suggests there may not be a new Realme flagship to wait for this year. Those considering a premium Realme phone can continue to look at the GT 8 Pro, while users more interested in software experience may want to keep an eye on how the shift to ColorOS 17 changes future devices.