Realme GT Explorer Master review

GSMArena Team, 13 Sept 2021.

50MP main camera to explore the world

The GT Explorer Master is the camera-focused model of the whole Realme GT bunch so far. It comes with a flagship-grade 50MP primary unit on the back, flanked by a not-half-bad 16MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro. A 32MP selfie camera completes the list of image capture bits.

Realme GT Explorer Master review

The main camera is based on the Sony IMX 766 sensor, a 50MP Type 1/1.56" unit with 1.0µm pixels and a Quad Bayer color filter array. That's the same imager used in phones like the Find X3 Pro and OnePlus 9/9Pro. It features omnidirectional phase-detect autofocus. The lens in front of it has a 24mm equivalent focal length and an f/1.9 aperture, and is stabilized.

The ultrawide camera isn't quite as remarkable in the grand scheme of things, but it's still the best one on any Realme (correct us if we're wrong on this one). This one employs a 16MP Type 1/3.09" Sony IMX 481 sensor with 1.0µm pixels - in a sea of 8MP ultrawides. The lens covers a field of view of 123 degrees and has a 14mm focal length equivalent, as per the specs, though the two numbers don't quite add up, plus with the distortion correction accuracy in this respect is a far-fetched concept. There is no autofocus on the ultrawide.

The 2MP macro camera has an f/2.4 aperture lens and a fixed focus distance of 4cm.

The front-facing camera uses a 32MP Sony IMX 615 sensor. The 24-ish millimeter lens has an f/2.5 aperture and fixed focus.

Realme GT Explorer Master review

The camera app of the GT Explorer Master is very similar to other iterations we've seen on previous Realmes, with a few minor touches here or there. The overall layout is fairly simple, with menus hidden from view. A lot of the main modes are on the main rolodex, which is good, but there's a host of extra ones in the More tab.

The Street mode is the key addition, which we saw on the GT Master. We're not entirely sure we're fond of Realme's attempts to force on users by making it the mode the camera app opens to if you have the volume button shortcut enabled. In Street mode you get millimeter markings for the zoom level as opposed to the usual 'x' designation, a RAW toggle and a shortcut to enable manual focus.

The settings menu is quite straightforward. Getting to it, however, has its peculiarities. If you're in Photo mode, you tap on the cog wheel at the far end of the viewfinder, but if you're in video mode, you need to pull on the tab in the middle of the top edge of the viewfinder to expose a 'settings' button. That tab itself is a somewhat unintuitive UI element but it does only hold secondary stuff like a self timer and aspect selector, which you may never need in the first place.

Another oddity is related to Expert mode, and it's a long-standing one. Switching between cameras in Expert mode is handled in a truly bizarre way. You get the familiar 1x-2x-5x selector, but that doesn't operate the actual cameras - it's a digital zoom from whichever camera you've picked from the tree selector on the opposite end of the viewfinder. Indeed, the trees switch cameras, and once you select a module from there, no focusing distance considerations will auto-switch it - that's good. That's how Realme's been doing this and that's how it's going to do it, apparently.

In Expert mode, you get to tweak exposure (ISO in the 100-6400 range and shutter speed in the 1/8000s-32s range), white balance (by light temperature, but no presets), manual focus (in arbitrary 0 to 1 units with 0 being close focus and 1 being infinity) and exposure compensation (-2EV to +2EV in 1/6EV increments).

Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review Camera UI - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Camera UI

Daylight image quality

The GT Explorer Master's main camera photos in daylight are predictably great. Sharpness and detail are excellent, noise is minimal. Colors are pleasingly saturated - just right, we'd say, anything more would have been too much. White balance is consistently on point as well. Dynamic range is wide and the extremes are well developed.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/2654s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3312s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/4135s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3077s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3567s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 102, 1/2465s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/3784s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 536, 1/50s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/2383s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/267s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 102, 1/1138s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x) - f/1.8, ISO 104, 1/3264s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x)

Enabling the AI scene enhancement will yield the results we've come to expect - an extra level of contrast and an overall bump in saturation with particularly exaggerated deep blues.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/2654s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3312s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/4196s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/3169s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3567s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/2577s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 105, 1/3784s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on - f/1.8, ISO 520, 1/50s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x), AI scene enhancement on

We found the full-res 50MP mode not overly useful for extracting significantly more detail in real life scenes. On the other hand, it comes with a visible hike in noise. Having said that, the 50MP mode does resolve a lot more detail in our studio scene, so the right lighting and subject distance could do the trick.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/1829s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/2767s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/2386s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/3463s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP

Despite its emphasis on camera performance, the GT Explorer Master has no tele camera. There still are 2x and 5x toggles in the viewfinder, so we shot a bunch of test samples. 2x zoom shots are generally okay in terms of detail though you can tell the sensor is being stretched past its comfort zone. At 5x they look too soft at fit to screen magnification already, not to mention at 1:1.

Daylight samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/1678s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/2654s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/2323s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/2539s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (2x)

Daylight samples, main camera (5x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/1448s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (5x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/2223s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (5x) - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/1917s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, main camera (5x) - f/1.8, ISO 101, 1/2095s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, main camera (5x)

The 16MP ultrawide camera doesn't go as far as being impressive, but it's better than the 8MP ones on other Realmes, for what that's worth. We wouldn't call these images pin sharp but they do resolve a good level of detail. Noise can be seen when looking up close, and the purple fringes around contrasting edges are visible at fit to screen as well. On a positive note, dynamic range and color rendition are excellent.

Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 101, 1/1164s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/1636s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 101, 1/1474s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/1563s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 101, 1/1496s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/1349s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/1540s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 227, 1/30s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 142, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/213s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/233s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x) - f/2.2, ISO 100, 1/581s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Daylight samples, ultra wide camera (0.6x)

Low-light image quality

The GT Explorer Master puts out flagship-grade low-light photos from its main camera. Sharp and well detailed, these also have well-controlled noise. Dynamic range is nice and wide, and exposure is judged and executed correctly.

A lot of the good that we're seeing here is down to the phone's auto Night mode processing that kicks in when it sees fit - with or without AI enhancement turned on.

Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 13056, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 3715, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 5749, 1/13s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 1186, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 2378, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera - f/1.8, ISO 5810, 1/12s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera

Since the phone may not always consider a scene Night-mode-worthy, it may be wise shooting in the dedicated Night mode when you want to guarantee getting the exposure benefits. We saw improved results in roughly half the scenes shot in Night mode vs. Photo mode. Check out the better developed shadows in samples 1, 2, and 4 in particular.

Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 6400, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 6400, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 2402, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 1171, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 2295, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 3625, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera, Night mode

2x shots aren't spectacular when examined from up close and global parameters like exposure and dynamic range don't look great in Photo mode either. But if you switch to Night mode, you'll get the improved dynamic range and a boost in shadows. We'd call these easily good enough at fit to screen.

Low-light samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 2895, 1/11s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 536, 1/25s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 1303, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera (2x) - f/1.8, ISO 1771, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera (2x)

Low-light samples, main camera (2x), Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 5573, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera (2x), Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 529, 1/25s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera (2x), Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 1384, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, main camera (2x), Night mode - f/1.8, ISO 1785, 1/20s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, main camera (2x), Night mode

The ultrawide camera, left to its own devices in Photo mode, struggles with gathering enough light in dark scenes and delivers underexposed results. Images are soft and mushy, and somewhat noisy too.

Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 9120, 1/8s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 8944, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 3120, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 1600, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 2944, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera - f/2.2, ISO 5104, 1/10s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, ultra wide camera

Night mode does wonders in this case and helps a ton with exposure and makes for good looking photos where previously was an dark mess. You get improved sharpness and detail both in well lit areas but also in the shadows - you now start to see tree leaves where you could have sworn was the night sky.

Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 5120, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 7280, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 6256, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 6448, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 4496, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode - f/2.2, ISO 6976, 1/17s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Low-light samples, ultra wide camera, Night mode

Once you're done with the real world samples, head over to our Photo compare tool to see how the Realme GT Explorer Master stacks up against the competition.

Photo Compare Tool Photo Compare Tool Photo Compare Tool
Realme GT Explorer Master against the Moto G100 and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G in our Photo compare tool

Portrait mode

The GT Explorer Master captures very good portraits with excellent subject detection in the vast majority of situations. It's one of few phones that correctly blurred the wood panelling in the sixth sample, even though it did a less than perfect job with the lantern in the 4th. There were no blunders with clothes and such, nor clipped ears or jawlines. All of that comes in addition to the pleasing skin tones and wide dynamic range.

Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 102, 1/2314s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 103, 1/3716s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 234, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 429, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 448, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Portrait mode samples - f/1.8, ISO 100, 1/109s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Portrait mode samples

Macro

Finding a good word to say about the 2MP 'macro' camera isn't as easy. Detail is low, dynamic range is limited and colors are pretty drab.

Close-up samples - Realme GT Explorer Master review Close-up samples - Realme GT Explorer Master review Close-up samples - Realme GT Explorer Master review Close-up samples - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Close-up samples

Selfies

32MP sounds like a great selfie camera and we get the marketing appeal in the number, but 32MP are too much for selfies, so the option for downsampling the output from that sensor to a reasonable 12MP would have been nice. Or offering an 8MP 4-to-1 binned mode, though some people might find 8MP too little.

Those philosophical musings aside, selfies out of the GT Explorer Master are actually very nice. The focus distance is just right for arm's length shots, there's a ton of detail, and colors are likeable too. The Auto HDR may not kick in every time you want it to (it messed up the 4th shot) but when it does, you get excellent dynamic range, backlit scenes included.

Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 119, 1/50s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 531, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 776, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 776, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 100, 1/494s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples - f/2.4, ISO 147, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Selfie samples

That great performance continues into portrait selfies, where you get all that's good about regular photos, plus natural looking background blur and generally good subject separation. Unless, that is, we're dealing with messy hairstyles against a contrasting background, those can look weird.

Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 118, 1/50s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 531, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 800, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 776, 1/33s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 100, 1/499s - Realme GT Explorer Master review Selfie samples, Portrait mode - f/2.4, ISO 147, 1/100s - Realme GT Explorer Master review
Selfie samples, Portrait mode

Video recording

The GT Explorer Master records video up to 4K60 with its main camera, not just 4K30 as on lesser Realmes. Then again, the ultrawide is capped at 1080p30 and that looks like a missed opportunity - we get the 1080p limitation on the 8MP ultrawides which simply don't have the pixels for 4K, but this one does. Anyway, you can choose between the default h.264 and the h.265 codecs. Stabilization is available in all modes and can't be switched off.

4K30 videos from the main camera (50Mbps bit rate) are good for the class. We're looking at good levels of detail, with generally acceptable sharpening. Noise is present, but not really in your face. Color reproduction is pleasing, dynamic range is wide enough.

The ultrawide camera's 1080p footage (11Mbps bit rate) maintains that overall positive impression. Dynamic range is wide, particularly for a non-flagship ultrawide and colors are on point. Detail is actually pretty good, as 1080p ultrawide footage goes.

Electronic stabilization works great on the main camera in 4K. It smooths out walking-induced shake, there's no jelloing, and pans cause no abrupt motions.

All of that applies to the ultrawide camera as well, with the inherent benefit of the wide focal length making for some extra smoothness. Now if only this could have been 4K.

In typical Realme fashion, there are two Ultra Steady modes on the GT Explorer Master. First is the 'regular' one that uses the main camera and records in 1080p60 and then there's Ultra Steady Max that shoots in 1080p30 on the ultrawide.

The regular Ultra Steady mode actually looks shakier and more jittery than the footage from the main camera in plain video mode. Meanwhile, Ultra Steady Max doesn't appear to bring any benefits either, though at least it doesn't make things worse.

Here's a glimpse of how the Realme GT Explorer Master compares to rivals in our Video compare tool. Head over there for the complete picture.

Video Compare Tool Video Compare Tool Video Compare Tool
Realme GT Explorer Master against the Moto G100 and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G in our Video compare tool

Reader comments

Yeah, unfortunately Oppo/Realme and Xiaomi don't have this feature. Huawei and Honor have it built in to their own software so you don't need Google lens and it works perfectly. Vivo also have it on Origin OS but have never used their phon...

  • Ivan
  • 05 Jan 2022
  • v3B

Good battery, good screen, good camera. Im totally happy with my buy. No zoom only digital. Night shots simply amazing. Difficult situation absolutely coped with fill light and night mode. My friends got amazed with the outcome photo. To me most impo...

  • Realme Official
  • 08 Nov 2021
  • fu%

No Screen Translate tool option in the smart sidebar because it's Chinese Version. And No 3 finger translate either because you'll need a Global ROM with Google Lens. Maybe it will be released Globally but I highly doubt it.