Realme GT Explorer Master review

Competition

The European pricing for the GT Explorer Master is a bit of mystery - we have dollar numbers for a phone that won't be sold in the US, so we'll be treating them as Euro prices. That means €500 for the base 8GB/128GB version and €550 for the 12GB/256GB one.

€500 buys you an 8GB/258GB version of the brand new Galaxy A52s 5G, which we haven't had the chance to review yet. An update to the A52 5G we reviewed recently, the 's' version comes with an upgraded SD778 chipset, which is still no match for Realme's SD870 - so pick the Explorer Master for performance and gaming. We're also leaning towards the Realme for photography enthusiasts. On the other hand, the Galaxy does have niceties that the Realme doesn't, and they add up - an IP67 rating, microSD slot, headphone jack.

Motorola has the Moto G100 for Explorer Master money if you go by MSRP, but you could get one for as low as €400, though €450 is a more common number. Anyway, the Moto has the chipset to match the Realme and also uses it for its 'Ready For' PC-like functionality, so if you think the one-device life is your thing, go Moto.

The G100 also has a ring flash around its autofocusing ultrawide camera, plus two selfie cameras, including an ultrawide, making it a unique proposition in the imaging department. For more conventional picture-taking, the Realme is the better option, though. The GT EM arguably looks better on the fundamentals - superior screen, longer battery life with way faster charging, stereo speakers. The G100 counters with 3.5mm jack and memory slot.

Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G • Motorola Moto G100 • Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G • Xiaomi Mi 11i • OnePlus Nord 2 5G

€500 Xiaomis don't seem to be a thing around here. An 8GB/128GB Mi 11 Lite 5G retails for €400, and comes with IP53-rated splash resistance and a microSD slot. The Realme wins for battery life and charging and has the beefier chipset and better cameras - it's pricier, though.

On the other hand, there's the Mi 11i with a €650 list price, but widely available for €600 or a little less. That one has the SD888 inside, so it outperforms the Realme, and it outshines it (if by a little) in the display department, though it can't match it for endurance. The Mi 11i's 108MP main camera isn't necessarily better than the Explorer Master's 50MP unit, and we'd still pick the Realme for photography. A bit oddly, the GT EM is the more premium-feeling phone, too, even though the Mi boasts an IP53 rating.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G starts at €400 for an 8GB/128GB configuration, while €500 buys you the 12GB/256GB - so it's cheaper than the Realme GB for GB. That appears to be its main selling point in this bout, even if it's not far behind on the merits - slightly slower chipset, not quite as HRR display, a bit shorter battery life. The premium for the Realme does seem justified, though.

Verdict

A GT for everyone, that must have been at least part of Realme's goal. The GT Explorer Master is, at first glance, the photography-centric model of the bunch, offering a proper high-end main camera, and the best ultrawide Realme's put in a phone. The GT EM does deliver on this promise, but the list of good things about it goes on to include the beautiful AMOLED display, excellent battery life, and high-performing chipset. Add to that the eye-catching shell of the suitcase version, and there's very little missing.

What we could come up with in terms of Cons for the GT Explorer Master are hardly show-stoppers. While a couple of competitors carry IP53 ratings, and the Galaxy is even properly water resistant, the lack of ingress protection is well within reason for a midrange phone, particularly one on which you can clearly see (and appreciate) where the budget went. The lack of by now almost legacy features like a headphone jack feels more like us deliberately picking on the GT EM.

Having said all that, the Realme GT Explorer Master is still nowhere to be found on official channels in Europe. But when it does show up, we can't name a legitimate reason not to get one.

Pros

• One of a kind design (if you get one of the suitcase-like variants).
• Excellent display - AMOLED, high refresh rate, good max brightness.
• Class-leading battery life and charging speed.
• Realme UI offers a ton of personalization without getting in the way.
• The SD870 chipset is just shy of present-day flagships, possibly has better sustained performance than them.
• Flagship-grade main camera in all light conditions, good ultrawide.

Cons

• No ingress protection rating.
• No headphone jack, no microSD slot.