realme GT review
The Realme GT 5G is a true flagship killer that's now going global. This phone has stepped up its game with a impressive design, featuring a glossy and dramatic gradient called Accelerated Track. The curved back panel is made from glass, making it feel nice in the hand. One of the standout features of this phone is its display - a 6.43-inch AMOLED with a 1080p resolution and a punch hole at the top for the selfie camera. The display is plenty sharp and contrasty, thanks to OLED technology, and has HDR10+ support. The high refresh rate makes swiping through the UI and scrolling content much smoother. Under the hood, the Realme GT 5G features a Snapdragon 888 chipset, which provides stellar CPU and GPU performance. However, thermal throttling was experienced during an hour-long stress test, although this didn't affect actual game performance. The phone also has a good set of cameras, including a 64-megapixel quad main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide cam, and a 2-megapixel macro cam. Photos from the main camera are pretty good, but not flagship-grade, while portrait shots are decent with nice colors and contrast. Battery life is also impressive, with an endurance rating of 98 hours in our proprietary tests. The phone comes with a huge 65W Super Dart charger that's incredibly fast. Overall, the Realme GT 5G offers a ton of value for its price, making it worth recommending to those who don't need high-end features like high-fps gaming and flagship-grade cameras.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme GT 5G boasts an eye-catching design that's sure to turn heads. The blue color scheme features a glossy and dramatic gradient called Accelerated Track, which fades out from neon stripes in the center. This aesthetic is not only visually appealing but also gives the phone a premium feel. The curved back panel, made of glass, adds to the device's sophistication. It's lightweight and doesn't feel too slippery in the hand, making it comfortable to hold. The slightly curved plastic frame provides a nice balance of style and durability. Another design variant worth mentioning is the racing yellow version, which features a vegan leather back and prominent black stripe. This alternative design gives users more options to choose from, catering to different tastes and preferences. In terms of build quality, the Realme GT 5G feels solid and well-constructed. The materials used are premium, and the attention to detail is evident in every aspect of the phone's design. The device's overall weight distribution makes it easy to handle, and the rounded edges ensure a comfortable grip. The Realme GT 5G's display, though not the focus of this review, deserves a mention as it complements the phone's design perfectly. The AMOLED screen adds to the phone's premium feel, and its sleekness is matched by the device's overall build quality. In conclusion, the Realme GT 5G's design and build quality are among its standout features. The phone's premium materials, attention to detail, and comfortable weight make it a joy to hold and use. While it may not be the most expensive device on the market, its value for money is undeniable, making it an attractive option for those seeking a high-quality smartphone experience.
Battery Life
The Realme GT's battery life is one of its standout features. The phone packs a massive 4500mAh battery, which is complemented by a highly efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. In our tests, the Realme GT lasted an impressive 98 hours in our proprietary endurance test, making it one of the best performers in its class. One of the key factors contributing to this excellent battery life is the phone's optimized software and hardware combination. The Realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11, is fluid and responsive, with features like the smart sidebar and gamespace app that help manage power consumption. The battery itself is capable of handling demanding tasks without breaking a sweat. We were able to use it for an entire day with heavy usage, including gaming, video streaming, and social media browsing, and still had around 10% juice left by evening. Charging the phone from zero to 100% is also incredibly fast, thanks to its 65W Super Dart charger. We managed to charge the phone from 0-87% in just 30 minutes, with a full charge achieved in a mere 37 minutes. This means that you can easily top up your battery during short breaks or when you're away from home. Overall, the Realme GT's battery life is an impressive feature that sets it apart from its competitors. With such a large capacity and efficient hardware combination, it's clear that Realme has prioritized power efficiency in their design, resulting in a phone that can easily last all day with heavy usage.
Display
The Realme GT5G boasts an impressive 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and a punch hole at the top for the selfie camera. The screen is plenty sharp and contrasty, thanks to OLED technology, and offers HDR10+ support. Color accuracy is excellent, especially when tweaked through settings, and brightness is good too, measuring around 440 nits maximum with a slider that boosts to 650 nits in auto mode. One of the standout features of the display is its fast 120Hz refresh rate, which makes swiping through the UI and scrolling content much smoother. The high refresh rate also enables a responsive 360Hz touch sampling rate, making interactions feel snappy and intuitive. However, it's worth noting that the phone does not support high frame rate gaming, with none of the games tested pushing beyond 60fps. Despite this limitation, the display is still an impressive feature, offering great visuals and performance. The AMOLED panel provides deep blacks, vibrant colors, and a good level of brightness. The screen also features a fast charging system that quickly boosts the battery life when needed. Overall, the Realme GT5G's display is a strong point, offering a lot of value for its price.
Camera
The Realme GT's camera setup is an interesting aspect of the phone, boasting a quad-camera configuration with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The device also features a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. In good lighting conditions, the main camera produces decent results, with accurate colors and excellent contrast and dynamic range. Photos exhibit low noise, but fine details and textures often appear smeared due to processing. Portrait shots are average, with subject separation not being particularly impressive. However, they do offer detailed and sharp images with pleasant colors. The ultra-wide-angle lens delivers good results as well, with sufficient detail, reasonable low noise, and wide dynamic range. The color rendition is distinct from the main camera's output, featuring a reddish tint. Close-up shots taken with the 2-megapixel macro sensor are decent, showcasing good colors and details, although autofocus issues can lead to blurry photos. The front-facing camera produces average results, with just sufficient detail for a selfie camera. However, it excels in low-light conditions, where the main camera struggles. The phone's night mode feature significantly improves low-light photography, delivering brighter exposure, resolved details, and saturated colors. Video recording capabilities are satisfactory, with 4K resolution available on the main camera and electronic stabilization across all resolutions and modes at 30fps. The ultra-wide-angle lens can only record in 1080p resolution, producing average quality with limited detail, narrow dynamic range, and a noticeable reddish tint. Overall, while the Realme GT's camera setup offers some pleasing results, it falls short of expectations, especially when compared to flagship devices. With some refinement, particularly in terms of image processing, the camera could become a significant strength for this device.
Price and Value
The Realme GT5G is a true flagship killer that's now going global, and it's poised to give the likes of Xiaomi and Samsung a run for their money in the mid-range segment. One of the standout features of the Realme GT5G is its price. Despite packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, a fast 120Hz AMOLED display, and a large 4500mAh battery with 65W fast charging, the phone starts at an astonishingly low price point. This makes it a compelling option for those who want a high-end smartphone without breaking the bank. In terms of value, the Realme GT5G delivers in spades. You get a device that's on par with this year's top Android flagships, but at a fraction of the cost. The phone's performance is smooth and hiccup-free, thanks to its powerful chipset and efficient cooling system. The display is also excellent, with vibrant colors, high contrast, and a fast refresh rate. While it may not be perfect - there's no support for high FPS gaming, and thermal throttling can occur under heavy stress - the Realme GT5G is still an incredible value proposition. If you're in the market for a mid-range smartphone that offers top-tier performance and features, this phone should definitely be on your shortlist. Overall, the Realme GT5G is a true flagship killer that's now going global, and it's poised to shake up the mid-range segment with its incredible value proposition. With its impressive specs, sleek design, and affordable price point, this phone is sure to give even the most established brands a run for their money.
Performance
The Realme GT5G boasts an impressive performance that justifies its flagship killer tag. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, this phone delivers stellar CPU and GPU performance, making it capable of handling demanding Android games with ease. In our tests, the Realme GT5G consistently delivered smooth and hiccup-free performance, making it perfect for gaming, multitasking, and other resource-intensive tasks. The addition of a new stainless steel vapor cooling system helps to dissipate heat efficiently, ensuring that the phone stays cool even during prolonged usage. However, we did notice some thermal throttling when the phone was subjected to an hour-long stress test. While this didn't affect our actual gaming experience, it's worth noting for users who engage in intense gaming sessions. The Realme GT5G also boasts a robust 4500mAh battery that provides long-lasting performance. With a score of 98 hours in our endurance tests, this phone can easily last a day and a half with moderate use. Additionally, the 65W Super Dart charger quickly refills the battery, making it perfect for users who need to top up their phone on-the-go. In terms of storage, the Realme GT5G offers two options: 128GB or 256GB. Unfortunately, neither of these options is expandable, which might be a drawback for some users. Overall, the performance of the Realme GT5G is impressive, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful Android smartphone without breaking the bank. While there are some minor caveats, such as thermal throttling and lack of storage expansion, these don't detract from the overall experience.
Pros
1. The Realme GT features a flagship-grade design with a glossy and dramatic gradient color scheme that's sure to turn heads.
2. The phone has a great-looking 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, HDR10+ support, and a fast 120Hz refresh rate for seamless UI navigation and content scrolling.
3. The Realme GT is powered by the same Snapdragon 888 chipset found in top Android flagships, delivering stellar CPU and GPU performance for smooth gaming and multitasking.
4. The phone's battery life is impressive, with an endurance rating of 98 hours in our tests, and a huge 65W Super Dart charger that can fully charge the device from zero to full in just 37 minutes.
5. The Realme GT has a good set of cameras, including a 64MP quad-camera setup with a dedicated ultra-wide-angle camera, macro lens, and 16MP front-facing camera, producing great photos with accurate colors and excellent contrast.
Cons
1. Unfortunately, the Realme GT does not support high-frame-rate gaming due to its 60Hz display limitation.
2. The phone's stainless steel vapor cooling system leads to significant thermal throttling during intense stress tests, which may impact performance in demanding scenarios.
3. Audio quality is okay but not the best, with a lackluster mid-range and bass response despite having stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
4. Close-up shots from the macro camera can be challenging to capture without autofocus, resulting in soft or blurry photos.
5. Low-light photos from the ultra-wide-angle camera are subpar, requiring night mode to produce decent results.