Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Realme blurs the lines between the mid-range and flagship phone segments with the Realme GT series, offering high performance, fast cable charging and stylish design at a value price. Now, the brand has launched a new entry in the GT series at MWC 2023 with the $649 Realme GT 3. But should the Realme GT 3 be considered for your next upgrade? We set out to find out.
Design: Say goodbye to fingerprints
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Unbox the Realme GT 3 and the first thing you'll notice is how light it feels (199 grams). It's not the lightest phone by any means, but it's still on par with the regular Pixel 7 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus.
It's also useful to have a back cover that folds smoothly around the sides into a plastic frame. This, combined with a relatively light and curved back, makes the phone very pleasant in the hand. Best of all, the back cover is glass (realme not specified) with a matte finish, so fingerprints aren't an issue here.
At the back, Realme channels HTC and Xiaomi by adding a fake circuit to the transparent window next to the camera body. Realme is calling it the "Deco chipset" and it's sure to be a controversial decision. You'll also see a small 'dare to jump' logo on this transparent part. Realme just had to put the tag somewhere.
Realme GT 3 is one of the most ergonomic phones on the market.
Interestingly, Realme is targeting gaming phones by adding breath-taking RGB lighting to the display to drive the fake chip. This light will alert you when charging, when the battery is low, or for calls and notifications. It's questionable for calls and notifications if you don't often leave the phone's screen off, but it's a nice touch that helps the phone stand out from others on the market.
Otherwise, the phone has a central hole, a flat screen and a triple rear camera.
Charging: Very fast
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The biggest selling point of the Realme GT3 is its 240W wired charging speed, which the company claims goes from zero to 100% charging in nine and a half minutes. The company also claims that the 4,600mAh battery can be charged up to 20% in 80 seconds.
We tested the phone by fully charging it, and never reached 20% in 80 seconds or 100% charge in less than 10 minutes. Instead, the phone took just over two minutes and just under 15 minutes to reach each milestone. It's still incredibly impressive.
Realme added that these numbers are based on ideal conditions, such as a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) and a screen as small as possible. However, the device still charges very quickly, although the charger definitely gets hotter than a typical 65W PPS charger.
Performance: Lots of power on a tight budget
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The Realme GT3 uses Qualcomm's 2021 flagship Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, which quickly overtakes the Snapdragon 870 as the preferred SoC for high-end mid-range devices. This is by no means a bad thing as the 2023 Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is still a very powerful and very efficient processor.
Fortunately, the performance remains on trial. Basic functions like browsing, multitasking, using the camera and launching apps were smooth. Gaming should be key for this device, and we've got a demanding game like Wreckfest running smoothly with some margin for better graphical fidelity (like higher frame rates).
Realme also offers a 144Hz FHD+ OLED display. We can't really tell if there's a noticeable difference compared to the 120Hz panel, but it's a smoother experience. The screen is set to automatically adjust the refresh rate out of the box depending on the situation, but you can choose between forced 60Hz or forced 144Hz. However, the phone often operates at 120 Hz. Other popular display settings include MEMC video frame interpolation, SDR to HDR technology and a choice of clear, natural or "professional" display color profiles.
Cameras: Up close and personal
The Realme GT series is not known for offering the best camera phones, and the GT 3 is no different in this regard.
The 50-megapixel main camera IMX890 is the most powerful. Image quality is very high, with rich colors and a good level of detail, although images looked a little grainy for our taste. Although the Realme GT3 can switch to night mode to improve things, predictably low-light conditions will see a big step up in detail and a big step up in noise.
If you want good cameras in a cheap smartphone, you may want to look elsewhere.
You also get a budget-grade 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens on the back, and that's a clear step up from the original shooter. You don't have to work hard to get dirty textures around the edges of some very wide shots, purple edges and reduced levels of detail are also seen here. The ultra-wide camera is smoother in low light than the main camera.
The Realme phone follows the GT 2 Pro by offering a 2-megapixel microscope camera. This camera can get much closer to your subjects than a standard macro lens, so you can see individual pixels on the screen, the texture of a napkin, and more. It's fun to get stuff under the microscope, but the low quality means you're definitely not going to use it for backgrounds. Focusing is very difficult, even small hand movements result in a very smooth shot. However, it only beats the 2-megapixel macro lens with its new feature.
Realme UI: Color OS with fake beard
Realme GT3 comes with Realme UI 4.0 on top of Android 13. But basically it is Oppo Color OS skin with some changes. That's not a bad thing, as Color OS is one of the best skins for Android in recent years.
However, the Realme GT 3's software overlay has ensured a faster and smoother experience these days. You also have many customization options, such as changing the shape of icons, changing system colors, and creating your own Always On Display.
Realme also told us that the GT 3 will receive three major OS updates and four years of security patches. Not as good as Samsung and OnePlus in 2023, but still a good upgrade policy.
However, the software is not perfect as the phone comes with a lot of malware. But at least you have a customizable experience.
Features of Realme GT 3
| Realme GT 3 | |
|---|---|
show | 6.74 inches |
Chipsets | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus 1st generation |
Graphic processor | Adran 730 |
Random Access Memory | 8/12/16 GB |
Storage | 128/256/512GB/1TB |
Micro SD | No. |
Battery | 4600 Mach |
Camera | Behind: 50MP f/1.88 Sony IMX890, optical stabilization 8 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (112 degrees) 2MP f/3.3, microscope lens with 40x magnification video (behind) in the future Video (b): |
IP level | N/A |
Audio | Dual stereo speakers |
relationship | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Security | Fingerprint sensor on the display |
Software | Android 13 |
Color | Black amplifier |
Sizes | 163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm |
Mass | 199 grams |
Realme GT3 Experience: Worth it?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
The Realme GT3 is entering the highly competitive mid-range market in Europe and India, but the phone is priced at $649. A powerful processor and a quality screen? Yes. Super fast charging? Indeed. Ergonomic design? Natural.
But if you want flagship-level power and, first of all, incredibly fast charging, the Realme GT 3 seems to suit you.
As of this writing, Realme has not confirmed the availability or retail release date of the Realme GT3. Although the price is listed in dollars, it is not expected to be released in the US either.
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