Realme GT2 review

Introduction and specs

Last year the original Realme GT 5G didn't get a Pro version, so the vanilla had to carry the burden of being the company's top-end smartphone. This year, however, the Pro is marketed as the brand's "most premium flagship ever" while the vanilla Realme GT2 is the flagship killer of sorts.

Most of the hardware and features from the GT2 Pro trickled down to the standard GT2 offering a similar user experience while asking €200 less. Sure, it misses the LTPO2 display and "settles" for a Snapdragon 888 SoC instead, but we would argue that Qualcomm's flagship chip for 2021 will be more than enough for the vast majority of users. The chip can handle pretty much everything you throw at it anyway.

Although the ultrawide and the macro camera are downgraded, the proper GT2 retains the excellent Sony IMX766 50MP sensor as a primary. We were more than satisfied with the picture quality of the GT2 Pro, so we already know what to expect. The selfie camera's resolution has also been reduced to 16MP but that doesn't necessarily mean quality is going to be worse.

Realme GT2 specs at a glance:

• Body: 162.9x75.8x8.6mm, 195g; Gorilla Glass 5 front, plastic frame, bio-bsed polymer or glass back.
• Display: 6.62" AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 398ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm): Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 680 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 680 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 680; Adreno 660.
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.
• OS/Software: Android 12, Realme UI 3.0.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.0µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Battery: 5000mAh; Fast charging 65W, 100% in 33 min (advertised).
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC.

Additionally, the Realme GT2 borrows the same design (the Paper color options included), storage and memory configurations, loudspeakers, battery and charging. We expect practically similar screen quality even if it's not LTPO2. The advertised 120Hz AMOLED panel with 1,300 nits of peak brightness is impressive on its own.

We refrain from forming a verdict from the very beginning, but the GT2 shapes up to be the more sensible solution of the two handsets given the similar user experience and the big price gap. That's probably true for some users, though, so keep on reading to find out what corners Realme had to cut to fit in the €550 price bracket. It may not be as much as it seems.

Unboxing the Realme GT2

The handset comes in a standard box with the usual user manuals and the appropriate 65W charger along with a USB-C to USB-A cable for data transfers and charging.

There's also a neat silicone case that feels a lot better than your ordinary transparent cases that usually OEMs ship with their devices. It's prone to smudges but feels nice and looks nice.