The Realme GT 5G boots Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0. The latest version of the launcher offers richer customization options, more AOD themes, a couple of extra Dark Mode styles, refined floating and mini windows, and enhanced security.
The phone supports fingerprint unlock, and the optical sensor works very well - it's fast and with high accuracy. You can also add a face for an even speedier unlock - though this is not as secure.
The launcher has no-nonsense homescreens, a simplistic and clean notification/toggles area, and an easy-to-use task switcher. An App drawer is available, too, and it is as clutter-free as one could hope for. You can opt out of the app drawer if that's your thing.
Always-on screen is available, and it can show the usual content - clock, date, notifications icons, battery. The Realme UI 2.0 also brings many new AOD themes - we had a really hard time picking one.
Edge Lighting is available, too, and it's quite useful as there is no notification LED light on the Realme GT, but not everyone is keen on using the AOD screen as it impacts the battery life.
AOD • AOD • AOD • Edge Lighting • Edge Lighting
Realme UI supports different icon packs, so if you are not happy with the default one, you can opt for material style, pebbles, or you can even fully customize them by your liking. Thanks to Realme UI 2.0, you can also change the system colors, the fingerprint scanner animation, the notification drawer icons, even the system font. And there is a whole Theme Store if that's not enough for you.
Dark Mode is available, too, and it's been enhanced with Realme UI 2.0 with support for three different dark styles - black, dark gray or light gray. It can be manual or scheduled. You can also opt to force it on third-party apps, though this doesn't always end well.
There are many powerful tools within the settings menu if you want full control over your Android OS. Or you can leave everything as is and enjoy a hassle-free Android experience optimized by Realme's AI algorithms and machine learning.
You can also minimize an app to a mini-windows or a floating window from within the Task Manager. If an app is compatible, you can do either of these or use the familiar Split Screen.
Task Manager • Mini app • Floating window • Split screen
Similar to the Galaxies, the Realme UI offers a Smart Sidebar on the edge of the screen - you can customize the actions and app shortcuts that appear there.
The multimedia apps such as Gallery, Music, and Videos - are provided by Realme. There is also a redesigned File Manager and even a Phone Manager app. This completes the non-Google app list.
A Game Center app is also available for better game management and notification behavior. You can also opt for smart resolution switch and performance/balanced/energy saving modes.
Gallery • Music • Videos • Phone Manager • File Manager • Game Center
We are fond of the Realme UI, and we like the new direction. The interface is snappy, clutter-free and easy to use. Yet, it retains plenty of powerful tools should you choose to dig deeper and use them.
The Realme GT 5G is the maker's first smartphone running on the new Snapdragon 888 5G chip. The SoC is based on the 5nm manufacturing process.
The flagship SoC has an octa-core processor with a familiar core configuration 1+3+4 - 1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 Prime (Cortex-X1 derivative) & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 Gold (Cortex-A78 derivative) & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 680 Silver (Cortex-A55 derivative).
The Adreno 660 is part of the SD888 and is currently one of the best in the smartphone segment.
Realme GT is available with either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5. The storage options are 128GB and 256GB, and the storage is of the UFS 3.1 kind.
The SD888 chip supports the latest connectivity standards - dual 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band GPS.
Realme used a new multi-layer cooling system for the Realme GT in an attempt to make "the coolest Snapdragon 888". It is comprised of a copper vapor chamber surrounded by stainless steel. Then come multiple layers of graphite covering the entire chip area.
Let's run some tests now, shall we?
The Snapdragon 888 processor is the current best, and the benchmark tests confirm this. The Realme X7 Max 5G, also known as GT Neo, runs on Dimensity 1200 and its CPU performance is in line with the mid-rangers.
Higher is better
Higher is better
The Adreno 660 is also one of the most powerful GPUs on the market and will handle whatever game nicely. The GT Neo's / X7 Max 5G is also showing some real flagship potential with its 9-core Mali-G77 GPU, which is on par with the Snapdragon 865's.
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Unfortunately, no game or GPU benchmark could utilize the screen's high refresh rate. We've seen a similar thing on previous HRR-capable Realme phones, and it seems even the GT won't be the one to allow HRR gaming.
A spoiler alert of sorts - the Realme GT Neo/X7 Pro Max allows using higher refresh rates in GPU tests and hopefully in games and seems to be the one to break the mold of this restrictive pattern.
Higher is better
Higher is better
Finally, AnTuTu says the Realme GT 5G is one of the fastest phones on the market right now.
Higher is better
Higher is better
Well, the Snapdragon 888 5G chip makes the Realme GT look like an over-equipped device, especially when the maker doesn't allow HRR gaming. But having such power under the hood means a lot for the future, and the phone can surely last a long time. We experienced hiccup-free performance across the board. Hopefully, Realme will allow HRR gaming with an upcoming firmware update.
Stability and sustained performance are also important. The phone has new stainless steel (+VC copper) cooling system, providing better conductivity and heat dissipations. Well, we can confirm the phone doesn't get as hot as many other SD888-powered phones. Warm - yes, hot - no. But that's because it throttles. The Realme GT scored a 55% stability score on the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test - an uninspiring number. It also exhibited a huge drop of battery life for these 20 loops (each 1m long) - about 35%.
The nubia Red Magic 6R also relies on a passive cooling solution, but it seems it does much better. The RM6R achieved 89% stability score on the 3D Mark Stress Test, and the battery dropped 19%. While the SoC was kept relatively cool, the phone's frame got incredibly hot, and we guess that's the tradeoff for not throttling.
We've also decided to run the CPU Throttling test for an hour. The stainless steel cooling system allowed the CPU to keep just 47% of its maximum performance. For comparison, the passive cooling system of the Red Magic 6R managed to keep 83% of its CPU performance.
So, while Realme tried to make the coolest running SD888 - it came at the price of throttling. Both the Realme GT and the nubia Red Magic 6R use the same chip but different passive cooling solutions, and the Red Magic's much better even if the phone heats a lot under peak load around the frame. Maybe if Realme used a metal frame instead of plastic, things would have looked different. But it is what it is.
We want to end this chapter on a positive note, though. Few games, if any, will use 100% of the SD888 and games like Asphalt, Dead Trigger 2, Ace Force and Call of Duty ran fine for hours, and we did not notice any obvious throttling.
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