Realme GT5 Pro Review: Hype or High-Performance? Let’s Find Out!

Realme, a brand that initially carved its niche in the budget and mid-range segments, has gradually expanded its horizons. With the GT5 Pro, Realme isn’t just testing the waters but diving headfirst into the high-end segment, so, the Realme GT5 Pro emerges as a noteworthy contender.

Launched amidst a fiercely competitive market at the end of 2023, the GT5 Pro isn’t just another addition to the smartphone market; Realme’s official promotion of the GT5 Pro as a “dual-engine flagship” is intriguing. This tagline underscores the phone’s dual focus: impeccable performance coupled with exceptional imaging capabilities. This review aims to delve deep into every aspect of the device, from its sturdy design to its large display and commendable battery life.

Realme GT5 Pro Features

Design Material Quality:

The Realme GT5 Pro doesn’t just follow the trends, Its design is a harmonious blend of elegance and modernity. The front of the phone is dominated by a 6.78-inch curved screen that boasts ultra-narrow borders of just 1.36mm on the sides and 1.94mm at the bottom, which maximizes the screen-to-body ratio, making for an immersive viewing experience.

GT5 Pro is available in multiple color options such as Black, White, and Orange. The White and Orange variants boast technological nano-leather, which not only adds a premium feel but also provides a unique texture that’s pleasing to the touch. The Black variant, made of AG glass, exudes a sleek and polished look, appealing to those who prefer classic elegance.

The Realme GT5 Pro’s commitment to quality is evident in its choice of materials. The introduction of a super hard aluminum metal middle frame marks a significant step up from the more commonly used materials in this price range. The strength of this aluminum is superior to that of standard titanium alloys used in the industry, offering about 43% higher yield strength. This translates to an increased resistance to drops and impacts, ensuring that the phone can withstand the rigors of daily use.

Despite its robust build, the GT5 Pro doesn’t compromise on comfort. The ergonomics of the design ensure that the phone feels right at home in your hand. The transitions between the backplane and the camera module are seamless, with no sharp edges to disrupt the feel. The leather’s texture and the Seiko gear design above the lens group.

One of the most striking features of the Realme GT5 Pro is its camera module. The addition of a champagne gold aluminum alloy protective ring around the camera module elevates the overall look, imparting a sense of luxury and sophistication. Over 300 gear textures intricately designed around the lens group add a level of detail that’s rare in smartphones, making the GT5 Pro stand out in a sea of sameness.

Buttons and Ports

The power button and volume rockers, strategically placed on the right side, are easily accessible, catering to the natural grip of the hand. These buttons boast a responsive and tactile feel, offering a satisfying click without requiring excessive force. The build quality of these buttons aligns with the overall premium feel of the phone. They are sturdy and well-integrated into the phone’s frame, showing no signs of wobbling or unintended actuation.

The USB Type-C port, positioned at the bottom center, supports both fast charging and efficient data transfer. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack, following the trend of modern smartphones, nudges users towards wireless audio solutions. While this might be a setback for some, it’s a step forward in embracing wireless technology. Adjacent to the USB port are the speaker grilles, designed to minimize audio blockage.

The dual-SIM tray is easily accessible, supporting nano-SIM cards. However, the lack of microSD card support for expanding storage might disappoint users who prefer more internal storage. Despite this, the phone’s ample built-in storage should suffice for most users.

An intriguing addition to the Realme GT5 Pro is the infrared port. This feature allows the phone to function as a remote control for various home appliances.

The GT5 Pro’s IP64 rating assures resistance against dust ingress and water splashes. This feature is crucial for the durability and longevity of the device, offering peace of mind to users who are often outdoors or in environments where the phone might be exposed to such elements.

Screen Size and Quality

The Realme GT5 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch screen, striking a balance between ample viewing space and handheld comfort. This size is conducive to a range of activities, from browsing and gaming to multimedia consumption. The screen employs BOE’s new generation S1 flexible screen technology, providing a crisp and vibrant display. What sets it apart is its resolution of 2780×1264 pixels, categorized as 1.5K. This resolution ensures sharp, detailed visuals without excessively draining the battery, a common concern with higher-resolution displays.

In terms of color accuracy, the GT5 Pro doesn’t disappoint. Colors appear vibrant yet natural, making for an enjoyable viewing experience. The screen’s high color accuracy is especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution photos or videos, where every hue is rendered faithfully.

One of the most notable features of the GT5 Pro’s display is its peak brightness of 450 nits. This extraordinary level of brightness ensures excellent visibility even in the brightest outdoor conditions. The manual maximum brightness stands at 1000 nits, and the global maximum reaches 1600 nits, which is more than sufficient for indoor environments. Such high brightness levels are particularly beneficial for HDR content, bringing out more detail in both bright and dark areas of the picture.

The display supports a high refresh rate of 144Hz, a feature that’s becoming increasingly popular in modern smartphones. This high refresh rate makes for smoother scrolling and more fluid animations, providing a noticeable improvement in user experience, particularly in fast-paced gaming scenarios. Moreover, the GT5 Pro utilizes the first generation of 8T LTPO technology, allowing the screen to adaptively adjust the refresh rate from 0.5Hz to 144Hz. This adaptability is not just a boon for battery life; it also means the phone can ramp up the refresh rate for dynamic content like gaming and lower it for static images, thereby optimizing both performance and power consumption.

Eye Comfort and Protection

Realme GT5 Pro takes eye comfort seriously. It supports 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming at low brightness (70 nits), minimizing screen flicker that can lead to eye strain. At higher brightness levels, the phone switches to DC dimming, further reducing the risk of eye discomfort. Additionally, the display’s low SVM (Screen Flicker Metric) value of <0.25 at high brightness is commendable. This low value indicates reduced flicker, making the GT5 Pro a suitable choice for prolonged use, especially for users sensitive to screen flicker.

Performance and Hardware

At the heart of the Realme GT5 Pro lies Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chipset. This advanced chipset is manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process technology, which not only enhances its performance capabilities but also optimizes power efficiency. With a 30% improvement in CPU performance and a 25% enhancement in GPU capabilities compared to its predecessors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen3 positions the Realme GT5 Pro as a powerhouse in the current smartphone market and places it in the upper echelons of smartphone performance. It competes head-to-head with the likes of Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12, offering similar, if not superior, processing prowess.

The Realme GT5 Pro offers various configurations, catering to different user needs. The most robust variant boasts 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample space for apps, media, and documents. The phone employs UFS 4.0 storage, which significantly boosts read and write speeds, enhancing the overall user experience.

Benchmarking and Real Performance

Benchmark tests are crucial in evaluating a smartphone’s performance capabilities. The Realme GT5 Pro scores impressively in these tests, showcasing its prowess. In the AnTuTu benchmark, it crosses the 2 million mark, which is a testament to its formidable processing power.

In real scenarios, the phone handles demanding applications and games with ease. Users can experience fluid gameplay in graphics-intensive games like “PUBG Mobile” and “Asphalt 9,” with minimal lag and heat generation. This performance is further aided by the phone’s sophisticated cooling system, which includes a large vapor chamber and multiple layers of graphite sheets, ensuring sustained performance even during prolonged usage.

Heat Management

The Realme GT5 Pro features an innovative cooling system dubbed the “3VC Iceberg Cooling System.” This system is designed to efficiently dissipate heat from the processor and other key components. The cooling mechanism involves a larger-than-usual vapor chamber and extensive heat dissipation materials, maintaining optimal temperatures even under heavy loads. This design choice is particularly beneficial for gamers and power users who push their devices to the limit.

Camera Capabilities

The Realme GT5 Pro boasts a versatile camera array, featuring a main camera, a telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide-angle lens. The main camera, equipped with Sony’s LYT-808 sensor, has a 1/1.4-inch outsole, offering a large aperture of F/1.69. This sensor’s size and quality rival that of a 1-inch sensor, positioning it as a formidable tool in various lighting conditions.

The telephoto lens is another highlight, using the Sony IMX890 sensor. This choice is notable, as this sensor is typically reserved for flagship models in higher price ranges. It offers an equivalent focal length of 72mm and additional focal lengths up to 142mm, facilitating near-lossless zoom. This ability to switch between different focal lengths with minimal loss of image quality is a game-changer for users who enjoy capturing both landscape and detailed close-up shots.

Completing the trio is the ultra-wide-angle lens, which uses the Sony IMX355 sensor. While this sensor is slightly less powerful than its counterparts in the main and telephoto lenses, it still performs admirably in capturing expansive landscapes or large group photos.

Image Quality and Camera Features

The Realme GT5 Pro’s camera system excels in delivering high-quality images. The main camera’s larger sensor size allows for better light absorption, resulting in crisp, detailed photos even in low-light conditions. The telephoto lens impressively maintains clarity and detail, especially in medium-focus vision, which is essential for portrait photography.

The camera software, enhanced with an ultra-light and shadow engine, brings a noticeable improvement in image processing. The addition of Luchuan movie filters and practical features like instantaneous capture and targeted zoom further elevate the photographic experience.

Daytime and Nighttime Performance

During the day, the Realme GT5 Pro’s camera captures images with accurate white balance and enhanced saturation, making for vibrant and eye-catching photos. At night, the camera’s performance remains strong. The high-quality sensors ensure that photos taken in low light retain clarity and detail, with effective noise reduction.

Video Capabilities

In terms of video, the Realme GT5 Pro doesn’t disappoint. It supports 4K 60-frame shooting across all focal lengths of the main camera and telephoto lens, aligning with its dual Dolby Vision shooting capabilities. This feature is particularly appealing to video content creators and vloggers who require high-quality video recording in various scenarios.

Software and User Interface

The Realme GT5 Pro, a flagship device touted for its superior hardware capabilities, also brings with it an intriguing software experience. At its core, it runs on Realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14, and delivers a clean and user-friendly interface. It retains the core elements of Android while infusing its unique flair. The UI is characterized by smooth transitions, minimalistic design, and an emphasis on ease of navigation. One of its main attractions is its responsiveness and fluidity, making for a seamless user experience. Its additional features like fluid cloud function and efficient file transfer stations make it a strong contender against other custom UIs like MIUI and OxygenOS.

Customization and Functionality

Realme UI 5.0 offers extensive customization options. Users can personalize their devices with a variety of themes, wallpapers, and icons. The interface also provides a Smart Sidebar, a convenient tool that offers quick access to frequently used apps and functions. One of the highlights of Realme UI 5.0 is its focus on user privacy and security. It comes equipped with features like a private space, a secure payment environment, and a robust app permission system, ensuring that users’ data remains safe.

App Ecosystem and Software Stability

The Realme GT5 Pro’s software ecosystem is robust, supporting a wide array of apps available on the Google Play Store. Realme has worked to ensure that the UI is optimized for the most popular apps, offering enhanced compatibility and performance. Software stability is a strong suit of the Realme UI 5.0. The interface runs smoothly, with minimal bugs or lag, ensuring that the user experience remains consistent and reliable over time. Regular updates from Realme further enhance the stability and security of the device.

Unique Software Features

Realme UI 5.0 introduces several unique features that distinguish it from other interfaces.

• Fluid Cloud Function: This feature intuitively displays important notifications in the status bar, allowing users to access information quickly and efficiently.
• File Transfer Station and Flash Keying: These features focus on enhancing work efficiency, making it easier to share files and information across applications.
• Spatial and Holographic Audio: Enhancing the multimedia experience, these features allow the GT5 Pro to deliver a rich and immersive audio experience.

Advanced Gesture and Unlocking Features

The Realme GT5 Pro steps up its game in terms of accessibility with features like palmprint unlocking and AI gesture control. Palmprint unlocking is a novel feature that enhances security while offering an alternative to conventional unlocking methods. The AI gesture control allows users to perform various operations without touching the screen, adding a layer of convenience and futuristic interaction.

Battery Life and Charging

The Realme GT5 Pro is equipped with a substantial 5400mAh battery, positioning it as one of the more capable devices in terms of raw battery capacity. In real terms, this translates to a phone that can comfortably last a full day of intensive use. For moderate users, the GT5 Pro can even stretch to two days without needing a charge.

Accompanying the impressive battery capacity is the 100W wired fast charging technology. While it doesn’t utilize the ultra-fast 240W charging boasted by some competitors, the 100W charging is more than adequate for rapid power-ups. From our tests, the GT5 Pro can charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 32 minutes.

Moreover, the GT5 Pro supports 50W wireless fast charging, a feature that adds a layer of convenience. While wireless charging is typically slower than wired methods, the 50W speed is commendable and positions the GT5 Pro among the faster wireless charging phones in the market.

A common concern with fast charging is its potential impact on long-term battery health. Realme addresses this by implementing a charging strategy that not only focuses on speed but also ensures the longevity of the battery. The GT5 Pro is engineered to maintain 80% battery health even after 1600 charge and discharge cycles, which is a significant improvement over the industry standard.

Connectivity and Extras:

The Realme GT5 Pro shines in its network capabilities. It supports 5G, ensuring users have access to the fastest mobile data speeds currently available. This is particularly beneficial for streaming high-definition content, online gaming, and rapid file downloads. Moreover, the inclusion of 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G compatibility means the phone can effortlessly latch onto available networks, ensuring constant connectivity even in areas with limited 5G coverage.

Wi-Fi 7 support in the Realme GT5 Pro marks a significant leap in wireless internet connectivity. This means faster, more stable connections, reduced latency, and improved network efficiency, especially in crowded environments. Bluetooth 5.2 enhances the experience further, providing faster data transmission, extended range, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously without interference.

NFC is a standout feature, particularly for users who rely on their phones for contactless payments, boarding passes, or keycards. This technology transforms the Realme GT5 Pro into a digital wallet, making transactions both seamless and secure. The inclusion of an infrared blaster is a nod to practicality. It enables the GT5 Pro to function as a remote control for various infrared-enabled devices like TVs, AC units, and more. This feature, often overlooked in modern smartphones, adds a layer of convenience for everyday use.

Final Verdict of the Realme GT5 Pro

In the fiercely competitive smartphone market of 2023, Realme has made a notable entry with the GT5 Pro. Positioned in the mid to high-end segment, this device aims to disrupt the equilibrium with its compelling features. This competitive analysis delves into how the Realme GT5 Pro stacks up against its contemporaries. And is uniquely positioned in the 450 to 500$ price range, targeting those who seek high performance without breaking the bank. It competes directly with offerings from Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Samsung in this segment.

While the GT5 Pro excels in many areas, it faces stiff competition in a market where brand loyalty plays a significant role. Realme needs to leverage its USPs aggressively to carve out a significant market share. So, the Realme GT5 Pro stands as a testament to Realme’s ability to offer feature-rich smartphones at an attractive price point. It balances performance, camera prowess, and build quality in a package that’s hard to overlook. For its price range, it offers substantial value, making it a compelling option for anyone looking to upgrade to a powerful, camera-centric smartphone without breaking the bank.

Key Strengths

1. Performance Excellence: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the GT5 Pro stands out in terms of raw performance. Whether it’s multitasking, gaming, or running demanding applications, the phone handles tasks with remarkable efficiency. This performance boost, coupled with ample RAM and storage options, makes it a reliable choice for power users.
2. Impressive Camera System: The camera setup, featuring a Sony LYT-808 main sensor and a notable IMX890 telephoto lens, positions the GT5 Pro as a formidable player in mobile photography. The image quality, versatility in zoom, and low-light capabilities are commendable, catering well to both casual and serious photographers.
3. Display and Design: The 1.5K BOE-manufactured display, boasting high brightness levels and a high refresh rate, offers a visually stunning experience. The design, with its durable build and elegant color choices, adds to the phone’s overall appeal.
4. Battery Life and Charging: The 5400mAh battery ensures the phone can last through a day of intensive usage, and the inclusion of 100W fast charging is a welcome feature, significantly reducing downtime.

Areas for Improvement

1. Software Experience: While Realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14, provides a smooth and intuitive user interface, there’s room for improvement in terms of bloatware and more customization options.
2. Heat Management: Despite the efficient cooling system, under prolonged high-performance tasks, the phone tends to get warm.