Realme is set to make a significant impact in 2024 with the upcoming GT7 Pro, featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This model promises an excellent display, improved battery life, advanced AI features, and enhanced camera capabilities. The device showcases a sleek design, a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED display, and operates on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0. With impressive performance metrics, particularly for gaming, the GT7 Pro aims to deliver a top-tier smartphone experience.
Realme is undoubtedly elevating its smartphone offerings. After a subtle re-entry earlier this year with the Realme 12+ and C67, the brand made a significant impression last summer with the release of the GT6. As we approach the end of the year, Realme is gearing up to make a strong impact in 2024 with the upcoming Realme GT7 Pro, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, a chipset we’ve seen recently in the Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro.
But that’s not all—Realme is also promising an outstanding display, remarkable battery longevity, advanced AI features, and notably enhanced camera capabilities compared to the GT6, which impressed us in this domain. The real question is whether these bold claims will translate into reality. If they do, we could be looking at an exceptional device on paper.
Technical Specifications
Design: A Harmonious Blend of Classic and Contemporary
Realme opts for a timeless design that incorporates modern elements. The front features a stunning 6.78-inch display with a central punch hole, achieving a remarkable 92.8% screen-to-body ratio thanks to its gently curved edges. Thankfully, accidental touches—often an issue with curved screens—are minimal here due to the subtle curvature. The only downside is a slightly thicker chin compared to the other edges, though it remains unobtrusive.
The sides are flat and house the physical buttons on the right, which are conveniently placed for easy access without straining your thumb.
On the bottom edge, you’ll find a USB-C port along with the SIM card slot. The top edge includes an infrared port, which can come in handy.
The frosted glass back delivers a sleek matte finish, available in gray (as tested) or a vibrant orange for those who prefer a bolder look. We appreciated the soft texture, which does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints during daily use.
The camera module receives high marks for its design, featuring three lenses set against an almost invisible black backdrop, framed by a raised, beveled edge on the right. This visually appealing design showcases the attention to detail in the product’s craftsmanship.
Beyond its aesthetics, the device is crafted with precision and boasts an IP69 rating, ensuring it can withstand immersion in water for over an hour at depths of up to two meters. Plus, it comes with Gorilla Glass 7i for added durability.
With dimensions of 162.45 x 76.89 x 8.55 mm, it strikes a balanced size, while a weight of 222.8 g remains reasonable for a phone of this scale.
Display: Bright and Well-Calibrated
The Realme GT7 Pro features a 6.78-inch LTPO OLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1800 pixels, boasting a pixel density of 450 ppi for exceptional sharpness. Moreover, it supports a dynamic refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
We explored the three display modes available, focusing on the Pro mode for its natural color rendering. Using our probe along with CalMAN Ultimate software, we recorded a Delta E of 3.34 against a reference value of 3.
In terms of color temperature, we achieved 6451 K, close to the standard of 6500 K. This results in a well-calibrated display that delivers both vivid and natural color reproduction.
However, the color gamut falls slightly short compared to higher-end competitors, covering 104% of sRGB, 69% of DCI-P3, and 47% of BT.2020. Nevertheless, the display still offers a pleasing range of colors, even if it could be broader.
When it comes to brightness, we measured a peak of 2096 nits in SDR, making it comfortable to use in bright sunlight. In HDR mode, brightness reaches 2098 nits, allowing for impressive HDR content playback in dark settings, while still performing adequately in daylight.
That said, it’s wise to avoid watching HDR content with a strong light source behind you to fully appreciate the nuances. Overall, these display capabilities are commendable, particularly since it is certified for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
Software: Realme UI 6.0 with AI Capabilities
The smartphone runs on Android 15, layered with Realme UI 6.0, which provides an experience similar to Stock Android but with enhanced customization options, particularly regarding themes.
The interface includes a smart sidebar and a child mode, enriched with AI functionalities. The AI Smart Loop suggests the most relevant applications based on your selected documents, alongside Google search surround and AI-enhanced photo editing features for retouching, object removal, and a new anti-reflective function.
Additional features include translation, text summarization, and AI-assisted writing tools, all available in French, setting it apart from the latest offerings from OnePlus and Oppo.
While some bloatware exists, it’s minimal and easy to remove. Realme commits to providing five years of Android updates and security patches, which is above average, though it still doesn’t compare to the extensive support offered by Google or Samsung.
Performance: Powerhouse in Action
The Realme GT7 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the latest and most advanced SoC available. This chipset has already been tested in the Rog Phone 9 Pro.
Like its predecessor, the GT6, the GT7 Pro features a GT mode that pushes the processor for enhanced performance. While the difference is moderate, it still results in a noticeable improvement of approximately 10%.
Even without engaging GT mode, this smartphone delivers a smooth, responsive experience that rivals the best in its class. It’s a robust device that will meet your expectations with ease.
For gaming enthusiasts, every title runs seamlessly. In normal mode, we recorded 88-90 fps on Fortnite at Epic graphic settings, while Call of Duty easily runs at 120 fps in medium graphics mode. Genshin Impact achieved a framerate of 59-60 fps at maximum graphics settings. Currently, there appears to be no game demanding enough to significantly challenge this device.
The GT mode does offer a small performance enhancement. In Genshin Impact, the improvement is subtle, and in Fortnite, it results in a marginal fps increase.
However, this mode may not be necessary for everyday usage, as it can noticeably impact battery life and increase heat generation. For instance, after 20 minutes of intensive gaming, the processor temperature can rise to 50 °C, with a throttling of the SoC reaching up to 22%, but never exceeding that threshold.