With so many Android devices filling store shelves, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. But that is exactly what the Realme brand has achieved with the launch of its new GT smartphone. How did Realme accomplish this feat? Well, the Shenzhen-based company has crammed some serious specs into its newest Android phone at a price that’s really hard to believe. At the time of writing, you can add one of these smartphones to your online shopping cart for just £ 332, which makes this real bargain.
So is the Realme GT worth considering, or has the Chinese company cut some corners in order to reach this ridiculously good price? Express.co.uk put this phone to the test and here is our full review.
There’s no denying that the Realme GT is incredible value for money. For less than half the price of a Samsung Galaxy S21, you can get a device with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor – the fastest chipset you can currently find in any Android smartphone. While it’s true that Qualcomm is about to launch its new 888+ chip, no devices currently use this slightly updated chip, so the budget Realme GT can still look forward to packing one of the best processors available.
Most of the phones with the flagship Snapdragon range cost over £ 700 and it’s incredible that Realme managed to squeeze the 888 into such a ridiculously cheap smartphone.
And it’s not just this expensive processor that makes the smartphone appear quickly and insanely underpriced. The Realme GT also has a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED display that is not only sharp and bright, but also silky smooth thanks to its fabulous refresh rate of 120 Hz. Even the £ 999 iPhone 12 Pro can’t beat that, as Apple still ships phones with a measly 60Hz refresh rate.
Underneath that sleek display is also a reliable fingerprint scanner that can unlock the device in no time. By hiding the fingerprint scanner under the glass screen, Realme can slide the screen to the very edge of the case, which means there is minimal bezel.
Elsewhere, there’s a 4,500mAh battery that only lasts about a day, but thanks to the nifty 65W SuperDart charging process, users can charge it to 100% in about 30 minutes. Realme comes with the quick charger you need, while other brands, including Apple, don’t even come with an AC charger.
Realme GT can take advantage of the latest and greatest 5G data speeds, so downloads can be transferred to the device at speeds in excess of 300Mbps. That is almost five times faster than the current average home broadband speeds in the UK.
When you flip the Realme GT there is a triple rear view camera system with lens technology from Sony. This setup includes a 64 MP main lens as well as an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a macro option for close-ups.
Overall, the photo experience is pretty good with images that look bright and detailed. There are tons of fun effects, filters, and all the usual settings like manual mode and AI scene enhancement too.
Videos can be recorded in 4K quality and the image stabilization ensures that your home videos look shaky and shake-free. It’s a solid camera, but it’s by no means the best and can have problems at times, especially when the lights get dim. In fact, during our tests, we found that night mode is pretty useless, especially when compared to more expensive competitors that can make gloomy night shots look bright as day without the flash blinding everyone in the photo.
The camera is one area that shows the Realme GT’s bargain price as it is definitely not one of its strongest points. And it’s not the only problem we have with this phone.
From head to toe, the entire case design looks pretty plastic and, unless you opt for the bright yellow model, everything looks pretty boring too.
Realme also bundles far too much bloatware on the GT, which means you’ll have to spend a fair amount of time deleting the endless selection of pointless apps that come pre-installed on your new phone during the setup process.
While the high refresh rate screen is stunning to look at, it is tarnished by an odd automatic brightness adjustment that has a strange habit of being way too dark. Additionally, there is no wireless charging, which is no surprise given the price, which some may find annoying.
If all of that doesn’t bother you, you will be seriously impressed with your new purchase … although buying the GT is a bit of a strange experience.
Right now the only place you can buy one is from a website called AliExpress, an online retail service based in China. It’s been around since 2009 and is clearly an official store, but it’s just not that easy to drop one into your Amazon basket where most other Realme phones are.
Realme GT Review: Final Verdict
TO THE: Ultimate Snapdragon 888 Performance • Great Price • Great Screen • Fast Charging
AGAINST: Difficult to buy • Camera could be better • Some models are a bit boring
There is no doubt that the Realme GT is a really impressive phone at a ridiculously low price. The fact that it ends up with a Snapdragon 888 processor, quick charge, a high refresh rate display, and a 4,500mAh battery … for less than £ 350 still amazes us.
However, as you can expect given the price, there are a few minor flaws, including the tons of bloatware preinstalled, the lack of charging, and the lackluster camera – especially at night.
We can forgive Realme for most of these issues as the GT is an incredible phone for its £ 330 price tag. And if you’re looking to upgrade to a new Android phone and don’t want to break the bank, the Realme GT is a great choice.
