The realme 9 series is only coming in 2022 due to the chip shortage

realme usually launches two numbered series phone families each year, a tradition that dates back to its very first launches. It launched the realme 1 and 2 in 2018, the realme 3 and 5 families in 2019, and the realme 6 and 7 range last year.

It’s since launched the realme 8 series this year, and so you’d think that the realme 9 family would be on the way later in 2021. Unfortunately, realme India and Europe CEO Madhav Sheth has now told GSMArena that this will not be the case. Sheth cited the global chip shortage as being a reason for the realme 9 series being delayed.

“We have resolved this through close discussion with chipset makers and realme 9 series will come to users in 2022,” the executive was quoted as saying. Sheth has claimed, however, that all the remaining realme launches in 2021 are proceeding as planned.

Nevertheless, those in the market for solid budget phones now have one less option on the table. But there are still some good alternatives out there, such as the realme 8 series, Redmi Note 10 family, and Samsung’s Galaxy A and M series.

realme isn’t the only company to be affected by the industry-wide chip shortage though, as Samsung apparently delayed the Galaxy S21 FE’s release due to this shortfall as well. The low-cost JioPhone Next, made as part of a partnership between Google and Reliance, has also reportedly been delayed from its September 10 launch.