We had the opportunity to test the Realme GT 5Ga, a new killer flagship that comes to titillate the premium smartphones of the moment at an unbeatable price. Test and opinion of a powerful and inexpensive smartphone!

In June, we told you about the Realme Narzo 30, a high-performance 5G gaming smartphone under the 150 euro mark for all video game enthusiasts. But it is not the only product of the brand to defy all competition. Indeed, Realme has decided to strike hard and has released a new killer flagship that measures up the premium smartphones of the moment at an unbeatable price: the Realme GT.

The Realme GT was officially launched in France in June 2021. Positioned as a flagship killer, this smartphone would effectively be able to compete with premium smartphones like the iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21, HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 11 or even the OnePlus 9. This smartphone actually embeds the latest high-end chip from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 888, for a price below 500 euros. But what does the Realme GT have under the shell? That's what we're going to find out in this test!

In this article :

Test summary: Pros and cons of the Realme GT 5G

A unique and original design

As soon as we discover the smartphone, we see that it is an original, especially seen from the back. Indeed, the Realme GT does not go unnoticed with its yellow vegan leather covering on the back. With its black plastic strip which extends from the lower edge of the smartphone towards the photo unit. For information, this vegetable leather is resistant to the ravages of time, which makes it a good point for the smartphone.

But that's not all. The leather is soft to the touch and the assembly is impeccable. Especially since this material makes the smartphone much less slippery than traditional glass.

Note that the Realme GT is available in three colors. The yellow version (Yellow Racing) that we were able to test, but also a blue version (Dashing blue) and another silver (Dashing silver) quite classic. So if the two-tone version isn't to your liking, you still have two other color choices.

A simple, effective and efficient screen

On the screen side, the Realme GT offers beautiful proportions but does not present any madness. We will find a 6.43-inch Amoled FHD + panel as well as a punch in which the front camera is located. The Realme GT nevertheless aligns with most premium smartphones released this year since it offers a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The fingerprint sensor under the screen is also very responsive to use.

On the display side, nothing to say. The Realme GT's display is excellent, with perfect viewing angles, shimmering colors and good brightness.

However, we note that the brightness becomes a little limited in direct sunlight. Another downside, the borders that surround the slab of the smartphone are a little thick, especially on its lower part which has a somewhat prominent chin.

Despite these small flaws, the assembly quality of the smartphone is impeccable. The smartphone has a rather contained size overall when you take it in hand. It is also quite light with only 189 grams on the scale.

On the sides of the phone, you will find the volume buttons on the left and the unlock button on the right. You will also have a speaker grille, a USB-C connector and a 3.5 mm jack on the lower part of the smartphone.

Performance that defies all premium smartphones

This is where everything happens because if Realme gave the name of a sports car to its smartphone, it was not just to look pretty. Indeed, the Realme GT packs nothing less than the most powerful processor on Android to date: the Snapdragon 888. This is Qualcomm's latest high-end SoC that rivals the Exynos 2100 from Samsung.

What does this mean for you? Total relaxation on the smartphone! Indeed, the Realme GT can support all your uses and applications, even the heaviest and most energy-intensive, without flinching. Whether you are launching several tasks at once, playing video games with full graphics or launching heavy applications, this smartphone can take it all and even promises to accompany you for many years.

Realme's latest addition is indeed compatible with 5G, which is great news for all users who want to buy a smartphone that has this feature but is still affordable. Also have no fear about the risk of overheating the smartphone. The smartphone does not heat up at all, a quality that could perhaps come from the vegan leather coating on the back or only from its high performance.

In any case, the real strong point of the Realme GT is the fact that it embeds the SoC Snapdragon 888 for a price below 500 euros! It is clearly the cheapest smartphone on the market that features the latest chip from Qualcomm. Hence its name of flagship killer! In other words, a smartphone competing with premium smartphones on the market but at a derisory price.

Storage level, it is available in 128 or 256GB version which is quite classic. However, we regret that it is not equipped with a slot for adding a Micro SD card to extend the storage capacity. Too bad but not essential with an already substantial internal space.

What about the capabilities of the smartphone in terms of photos and videos?

You're probably wondering how good the Realme GT is when it comes to photo and video. At the back of the smartphone, there are three separate sensors on the photo equipment. The first sensor is a 64 MP f/1/8 from Sony (IMX682), the second is an ultra wide-angle of 8 MP f/2.3 and the third is a macro lens of 2 MP f/2.4.

The 64 MP main sensor delivers excellent overall performance, with good sharpness, rich and true-to-life colors. The HDR is well managed and the shots are perfectly exposed. Even in low light, the Realme GT continues to hold its own well. It has an effective night mode as well as algorithms that work on it to smooth out digital noise.

As for the 8MP ultra-wide-angle, this shooting mode sacrifices sharpness a lot to capture more elements in the scene. Not to be used in low light. This shooting mode actually lacks sharpness and it is not uncommon to perceive purple fringes due to diffraction.

As for the macro sensor, it also defends itself quite well despite its low definition. In addition, note that in portrait mode, the exposure is managed quite laboriously and the colorimetry could be improved. A positive point, on the other hand, is the bokeh effect which is quite good.

When it comes to selfies, the 16 MP front sensor performs its duties wonderfully. It preserves facial details well.

Software already compatible with Android 12

On the software side, note that the smartphone runs on Android 11 but can already accommodate Android 12. It also includes Realme UI, the brand's house overlay. All of this will provide you with a smooth interface and a very pleasant user experience. There will also be many well-thought-out features with in-depth customization options.

The only problem is that several non-useful applications are already installed on the smartphone. But you can always uninstall them manually during your use. Also note that the Realme GT comes in 8 or 12 GB of LPDDR 5 RAM and 128 or 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

Correct autonomy and a quickly rechargeable battery!

Regarding the autonomy of the Realme GT, the smartphone has a 4,500 mAh battery that will allow it to last a whole day without flinching. The power of the Snapdragon 888 will actually allow the smartphone to manage the battery more intelligently. To get an idea of ​​its autonomy, know that a 15-minute game of Fortnite consumes about 6% of the battery.

But if this autonomy seems a little low to you, know that Realme has decided to satisfy those in a hurry by equipping its smartphone with SuperDart charging at 65 W! In other words, if your battery is flat, this recharge allows you to fully fill it in just 45 minutes. Similarly, if you have 10% battery left, just 30 minutes is enough to bail out your smartphone.

Small downside, it is not equipped with wireless charging which is surprising for a smartphone in 2021!

Final Notice

We are already coming to the end of this test. The least we can say is that despite its small flaws, the Realme GT lives up to its flagship killer qualification. If you want to buy a very powerful smartphone, rivaling premium smartphones, but with a reasonable budget, the Realme GT is perfect for you. It is not only the cheapest smartphone that ships the Snapdragon 888, but it also sports a very interesting autonomy as well as performances that you will not find in smartphones at the same price.

In addition, remember that the Realme GT is already compatible with the 5G network, a significant detail. Thus, Realme GT's outstanding processing power, its honorable equipment, its pleasant screen, the quality of its screen, its fast charging and, above all, its affordability in terms of price are all reasons to prefer this smartphone to a premium smartphones. You'll even save more!

Precisely, on the price side, know that the Realme GT went on sale on June 21, 2021. As for official prices, the 8/128 GB model is sold on Amazon at 472 euros while the 12/256 GB model is sold for 599 euros.