Realme GT Neo3 150W review

Competition

Despite the "Neo" designation in the name - a 'lite' model in Realme's parlance - this year's GT2 Neo3 is anything but a lesser phone to the GT2 and the GT2 Pro. In fact, the phone shares quite a few traits with its higher-tier siblings. The main 50MP camera, the 120Hz OLED display and the blazing-fast charging are standout features of each Realme GT this year. The 150W version even smokes the rest of the GTs with its fast charging - metaphorically speaking, of course. Realme says they've made sure no smoke will be coming out of this charger.

Additionally, the brand new Dimensity 8100 SoC proves to be a solid alternative even to the Snapdragon 888 chipset and a capable competitor to every mid-range SoC out there. However, while the 80W option can be considered a more affordable version of the other two GT phones, the GT Neo3 150W's pricing puts it on the same shelf price-wise. Sure, it only comes in 12GB/256GB flavor, but the entry barrier is still rather high. One would argue that the GT Neo3 150W is a different version of the GT2 with faster charging and a different chipset.

The GT Neo3 still isn't officially priced in Europe yet, but based on last year's GT Neo2 pricing and the current price tags in India (about INR 37,000 for the 80W option and INR 43,000 for the 150W flavor), we have a very good reason to believe that the standard Neo3's price will be in the mid-€400. The extra fast charging feature (along with 12GB/256GB memory) will set you back something along the lines of €550.

Realme GT2 • Xiaomi 11T Pro • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G • OnePlus 10R

In India, the most notable alternatives to the GT Neo3 would be the INR 33,000 Samsung Galaxy A53, the INR 42,000 Galaxy A73 and OnePlus' recently released 10R at INR 39,000. All of which undercut the GT2 Neo3 150W model.

Unfortunately, of all these three, we've had the chance to fully review only the Galaxy A53, which may look more competent in the camera department, but that alone isn't enough to overshadow the GT Neo3's key advantages. The latter offers more horsepower under the hood, somewhat similar battery life, faster charging (no matter the version), and possibly a nicer build, although that's a subjective matter.

The Samsung Galaxy A73 also promises a more potent camera setup but falls behind in the performance department and charging speed, just like the A53.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G • Samsung Galaxy A73 5G

Interestingly enough, the OnePlus 10R provides almost identical user experience judging by our impressions and specs sheet. The software and chassis design are the only things setting them apart. Two sides of the same coin, if you will.

Although a 2021 device, Xiaomi's 11T Pro remains a very competitive product in 2022. It runs a flagship SD888 chipset, impressively fast charging, a great OLED screen, a potent 108MP main camera with solid performance and good-sounding stereo speakers. Its price in Europe is around €430, which will likely undercut the Neo3's 80W model as well. In India, it will cost you INR 36,000 - right where the GT Neo3 80W model is.

Finally, we have the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE priced at €480, slotting right between the 80W and the 150W version of the Neo3. This phone aims to be everything at once without breaking the bank. And in a way, it achieves its goal. The handset is an excellent alternative to the GT2, so it can be one for the Neo3 as well. The camera experience is noticeably better with 3x optical zoom at that, performance is flagship-level, the display is what you'd expect from a 2022 flagship killer (120Hz, OLED) and dependable battery life. Charging isn't impressive, but it also supports wireless charging as well as reverse wireless charging. It's hard to beat that even with the impressive 150W charging.

Verdict

A quick look at the specs sheet and the GT Neo3's pricing suggests that it's a device easy to recommend, no matter the version you choose. It has a potent, modern chipset on board, great display, unmatched charging, dependable battery life and good main camera performance. If only it had a better auxiliary camera setup, it would have been our go-to phone in the price bracket.

And while most competitors offer comparable user experience, some excel in the camera department, while others ask a couple of bucks less. So it's hard to say whether the GT Neo3 is objectively better than the competition. The price hike from last year's Neo2 puts it in a tough spot, too. One thing is for sure, if the things it excels at strike your fancy, you would most likely like the rest of the handset as well.

Pros

• Bright AMOLED screen, 120Hz, HDR10+ support.
• The Dimensity 8100 SoC turned out to be a big upgrade.
• Dependable battery life.
• Record-breaking charging speeds (150W version).
• Good main camera performance, excellent selfies.
• Snappy and customizable Realme UI.

Cons

• Games capped at 60fps.
• No microSD card slot, no IP rating.
• We've seen better ultrawide cameras for the price.
• The main camera's exposure metering needs an update.