In a bold move into the high-end market, realme introduces the GT5 Pro as a "dual-engine flagship," emphasising both impeccable performance and exceptional imaging capabilities. Launched on 16th December 2023, this smartphone aims to redefine realme's reputation in mid-range segments. From its robust design to impressive hardware, GT5 Pro marks realme's foray into the premium smartphone arena. This review explores every facet of the GT5 Pro.
Key Features and Specifications of realme GT5 Pro
Design
The realme GT5 Pro comes with a curved screen. The screen minimises borders (1.36mm on the sides, 1.94mm at the bottom). Weighing 218 to 224g, this device’s dimensions are 161.7mm by 7.51mm by 9.2mm.
The phone's quality is evident in its materials, featuring a super hard aluminium middle frame with 43% higher yield strength than standard titanium alloys.
The camera module features a champagne gold aluminium alloy ring. Its USB Type-C port supports fast charging. Notably, it lacks a headphone jack, embracing wireless audio trends.
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The dual-SIM tray supports nano-SIM cards, but there's no microSD card support. An infrared port enables the phone to function as a remote control. With an IP64 rating, the GT5 Pro resists dust and water splashes, enhancing durability for outdoor use.
This device is available in several colour variants, such as, Black, White, and Orange. White and Orange options feature nano-leather, while the Black variant uses AG glass for a classic look.
Display
The realme GT5 Pro boasts a 6.78-inch screen that strikes a balance between ample viewing space and handheld comfort, catering to various activities like browsing, gaming, and multimedia consumption.
The screen utilises BOE's S1 flexible screen technology, with a resolution of 2780 by 1264 pixels (1.5K), ensuring sharp and detailed visuals without excessive battery drain.
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In terms of colour accuracy, the GT5 Pro delivers quite natural colours, particularly noticeable in high-resolution photos or videos. The display's peak brightness is about 450 nits and ensures visibility in bright outdoor conditions. The manual maximum brightness is 1000 nits, with a global maximum of 1600 nits, beneficial for HDR content and detailing in various lighting conditions.
The 144Hz high refresh rate enhances user experience, especially in fast-paced gaming, with adaptive adjustment from 0.5Hz to 144Hz using 8T LTPO technology, optimising performance and power consumption.
For eye comfort, the GT5 Pro features 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming at low brightness, minimising screen flicker and eye strain. At higher brightness, it switches to DC dimming, reducing the risk of eye discomfort. The low SVM (Screen Flicker Metric) value of <0.25 at high brightness makes it suitable for prolonged use, particularly for users sensitive to screen flicker.
Cameras
The realme GT5 Pro features a versatile camera setup, including a main camera with Sony's LYT-808 50 MP sensor, boasting a large 1/1.4-inch outsole and an impressive F/1.69 aperture for excellent performance in diverse lighting conditions.
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The 50 MP (f/2.6) telephoto lens utilises the Sony IMX890 sensor, usually found in higher-end models, providing an equivalent focal length of 72mm and near-lossless zoom up to 142mm, ideal for capturing both landscapes and detailed close-ups.
The 8 MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide-angle lens, equipped with the Sony IMX355 sensor, excels in capturing expansive scenes.
The 32 MP (f/2.5) front camera doesn’t show any major or minor issues, either.
The camera system delivers high-quality images, with the main camera's larger sensor ensuring better light absorption for crisp photos even in low-light conditions. The telephoto lens maintains clarity, which is crucial for portrait photography. Enhanced by an ultra-light and shadow engine, the camera software improves image processing, offering features like Luchuan movie filters, instantaneous capture, and targeted zoom.
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In terms of video capabilities, the main sensor supports 8K footage at 24fps. Besides this, GT5 Pro supports 4K 60-frame shooting across all focal lengths of the main camera and telephoto lens, complemented by dual Dolby Vision shooting capabilities. With the front sensor, you can take 4K or 1080P footage at 30fps. These features are beneficial for video content creators and vloggers requiring high-quality video recording in diverse scenarios.
Performance and Hardware
The realme GT5 Pro is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen3 chipset, manufactured using TSMC's 4 nm process technology. With a 30% improvement in CPU performance and a 25% enhancement in GPU capabilities compared to its predecessors, it positions the phone as a powerhouse in the smartphone market, competing with flagship models like Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12.
The most robust variant of the phone features 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, utilising UFS 4.0 storage for boosted read and write speeds.
In benchmark tests, the realme GT5 Pro impressively crosses the 2 million mark in the AnTuTu benchmark. In real scenarios, the phone can smoothly run demanding applications and graphics-intensive games like "PUBG Mobile" and "Asphalt 9," thanks to its sophisticated cooling system. The "3VC Iceberg Cooling System" efficiently dissipates heat from the processor and key components, ensuring optimal temperatures even under heavy loads. This feature is particularly beneficial for gamers and power users who push their devices to the limit.
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Software
The realme GT5 Pro runs on realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14. Additional features, such as the fluid cloud function and efficient file transfer stations, position it competitively against other custom UIs like MIUI and OxygenOS.
Unique features include the Fluid Cloud Function for intuitive notifications, File Transfer Station, and Flash Keying to enhance work efficiency, and Spatial and Holographic Audio for a rich multimedia experience. Accessibility is improved with advanced features like palm-print unlocking for enhanced security and AI gesture control, enabling users to perform operations without touching the screen.
Battery and Charger
The realme GT5 Pro boasts a substantial 5400mAh battery. In practical terms, this means the phone can comfortably last a full day of intensive use and can stretch to two days for moderate users without needing a charge.
Enhancing the battery capabilities is the inclusion of 100W wired fast charging technology. While it doesn't reach the ultra-fast 240W charging of some competitors, the 100W charging is more than sufficient for rapid power-ups. In tests, the GT5 Pro demonstrated an impressive charging speed, going from 0% to 100% in approximately 32 minutes.
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Additionally, the GT5 Pro supports 50W wireless fast charging, adding a layer of convenience. While wireless charging is generally slower than wired methods, the 50W speed is commendable, positioning the GT5 Pro among the faster wireless charging phones in the market.
Pros and Cons of realme GT5 Pro
Pros
- Impeccable Performance
- Versatile Camera Setup
- High-Quality Display
- Robust Design
- Fast Charging
- Ample Storage
- Efficient Cooling System.
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Cons
- No MicroSD Card Support
- No Headphone Jack
Price of realme GT5 Pro
The realme GT5 Pro is available in different configurations with varying storage capacities. The 16GB + 1TB version is priced at CNY 4299 or BDT 66,364, offering ample storage for users with extensive needs. For those seeking a balance between performance and storage, the 16GB + 256GB version is priced at CNY 3699 or BDT 57,102. Additionally, the 16GB + 512GB version, catering to users with moderate storage requirements, comes for CNY 3999 or BDT 61,733. The conversion rate here is CNY 1 = BDT 15.44.
Conclusion
The realme GT5 Pro stands out with its powerful performance, feature-rich camera system, and premium design. While lacking a headphone jack and microSD card support, its strengths in fast charging, ample storage, and efficient cooling position it as a compelling choice for users seeking a high-end smartphone experience.
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Though a bit pricier, the overall package of realme GT5 Pro makes it a strong contender in the higher mid-range smartphone market.