Realme GT5 Pro review

Close-ups

The GT5 Pro has somewhat unusual handling of close-up photography and its macro mode implementation doesn't follow the norm of main camera to ultrawide switching - not surprising, given its fixed-focus ultrawide that can't focus on nearby subjects.

So if you're at 1x zoom level and get too close to a subject for the main camera to acquire focus, nothing will happen other than the image in the viewfinder going blurry. On the other hand, if you're at the 3x zoom level and go beyond the telephoto's minimum focusing distance, the phone will switch to the main camera but with a field of view to match the telephoto, hence zooming in digitally to 3x. Same with 6x.

Close-up samples, 3x, Main camera at its min focusing distance

Close-up samples, 6x, Main camera at its min focusing distance

That's stretching the main camera's abilities way beyond what could be considered acceptable, we think. And it's all the more confusing why Realme adopted such an approach, given how close the GT5 Pro's telephoto camera can focus - its own native close-ups at 3x are pretty great, and the 6x results at minimum focus distance provide extra magnification with not too bad detail levels, plus there's the benefit of the relatively large working distance from your subject.

Close-up samples, 3x, Telephoto camera at its min focusing distance

For comparison, here's how the images look when captured on the main camera at 3x at around the telephoto camera's minimum focusing distance.

Close-up samples, 3x, Main camera at min focusing distance of telephoto camera

Admittedly, there's a sharpness penalty to be paid at 6x from the telephoto camera, but we'd still take those over the main camera's results, at any magnification.

Close-up samples, 6x, Telephoto camera at its min focusing distance

Portrait mode

Portrait mode on the GT5 Pro defaults to the 3x zoom level, which is being captured on the telephoto camera. The distance is comfortable for both photographer and subject, the perspective is flattering for facial features, and the quality is great. Subject detection isn't entirely flawless though.

Portrait mode samples, telephoto camera (3x)

You could skip the whole Portrait mode and just shoot regular photos at 3x - there won't be quite as much separation between subject and background, particularly with nearby backgrounds, but at least there will be no artifacts. We didn't think to shoot such samples specifically, but we did dial down the simulated aperture to the minimum f/16 in the gallery, which is the same thing, essentially.

Portrait mode samples, telephoto camera (3x), simulated aperture f/16

The main camera's results are quite soft at 2x and much better at 1x, though at 1x, you run the risk of getting distorted facial proportions if you shoot from too close.

Portrait mode samples, main camera (2x)

Portrait mode samples, main camera (1x)

Selfies

Selfies on the Realme GT5 Pro come out at the nominal 32MP resolution. They have good levels of detail across a wider range of shooting scenarios than what we're used to from other implementations of that 32MP camera, which is nice. Dynamic range is very good, but skin tones and colors, in general, are a bit lifeless.

Selfie samples