Realme GT 7 Pro Review
At an expected price of ₹60,000–₹65,000, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers incredible value for power users and gamers who prioritise performance above all else. If Realme can address some of the issues through software updates and by aggressively pricing the GT 7 Pro, this phone could very well dominate the flagship-killer segment in 2024. For now, it stands as a speed demon that delivers exceptional performance but leaves room for improvement in other areas.
The Realme GT 7 Pro has stormed into the Indian market with a blazing reputation, being the first phone in India to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and an array of features that promise top-tier performance. With claims of being the “fastest phone money can buy,” it enters a fiercely competitive segment with lofty claims. However, speed alone isn’t enough to make a smartphone great. Questions about design, thermal management, camera performance, and battery life remain crucial.
The spec sheet of the Realme GT 7 Pro immediately grabs attention. From the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset built on a cutting-edge 3nm process to an LTPO AMOLED display and IP69 rating, it looks like a formidable contender. However, a closer inspection reveals some compromises, particularly in the camera department and the smaller battery capacity in the Indian variant. This in-depth review will explore whether the Realme GT 7 Pro truly lives up to its moniker as the flagship killer of 2024. We will also dive into how it compares against the fastest phones from 2024 like the iQOO 12 (review); and the OPPO Find X8 Pro (review) with the latest Dimensity 9400 chipset.
The Realme GT 7 Pro attempts to strike a balance between durability and aesthetics, but the results are somewhat underwhelming. The Mars Orange review unit I tested had a bulky square camera module paired with wave-like patterns on the back panel.
While some might find this design adventurous, it felt garish to me, more suited to a mid-range device than a premium flagship killer. The Galaxy Grey colour option fares better but leans towards a plain and uninspired look.
On the brighter side, the build quality is impressive. The aluminium frame combined with micro-curved glass on both the front and back feels premium in hand. The device also boasts an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that is not only fast but can even work underwater.
However, in my testing, I found that the ultrasonic sensor didn’t always work flawlessly underwater. The phone also comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings. The latter ensures protection against high-pressure jets of water, making it one of the most rugged phones in its class.
Other practical features include support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, but the lack of eSIM support is disappointing. Overall, while the Realme GT 7 Pro’s design may not turn heads, its build quality ensures it will withstand daily rigours with ease.
The Realme GT 7 Pro’s 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display is undoubtedly one of its standout features. Offering a 1.5K resolution, the panel delivers a pixel density of 450 PPI, ensuring sharp visuals. While a 2K resolution would have been a welcome addition, the display doesn’t leave much to be desired in terms of brightness and colour reproduction.
In our tests, the screen peaked at a staggering 1,992 nits in high brightness mode, making it one of the brightest panels available on any smartphone. Whether under direct sunlight or in dimly lit environments, the display remains vivid and legible.
The inclusion of HDR10+ and Dolby Vision ensures that streaming content looks stunning, with deep blacks, vibrant colours, and impressive dynamic range. Gaming and multimedia enthusiasts will find much to appreciate here. However, the LTPO panel, designed to switch refresh rates dynamically between 1 Hz and 120 Hz, struggled to do so efficiently in our tests.
The refresh rate often stayed at higher levels than necessary, potentially affecting battery life. Hopefully, a future OTA update will address this issue, but as it stands, this small hiccup mars an otherwise stellar display experience.
At the heart of the Realme GT 7 Pro lies the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, a 3nm powerhouse that sets new benchmarks for Android performance. During synthetic benchmark tests, the phone delivered jaw-dropping scores, including 2.7 million on AnTuTu, comfortably surpassing competitors like the Dimensity 9400-equipped OPPO Find X8 Pro. It even managed to outperform the iPhone 16 Pro Max in several tests, cementing its position as one of the fastest smartphones in the market.
The device also excelled in GPU benchmarks, showcasing excellent performance in GFXBench and 3DMark tests. Gaming on the Realme GT 7 Pro was a delight, with titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail running smoothly at high settings. The phone’s AI-enhanced gaming features, such as Frame Plus for frame interpolation and AI Super Resolution for boosted graphics worked well during my time testing the phone.
However, pushing the hardware to its limits revealed a tendency to heat up significantly during intensive tasks, with temperatures reaching 45-49 degrees Celsius during 3D Mark Wild Life stress tests. Thankfully, real-world gaming scenarios were far less taxing, with the phone only getting mildly warm after extended sessions.
The GT 7 Pro’s thermal management system, while not flawless, does a commendable job of balancing performance and heat during everyday use. The inclusion of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage ensures lightning-fast app launches and seamless multitasking. However, the choice of a USB 2.0 port feels like a glaring oversight in a device that otherwise screams cutting-edge in terms of performance.
Running on Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers a polished software experience. The UI is fluid and packed with features, and it closely resembles ColorOS in both appearance and functionality.
The company promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches, which feels underwhelming when compared to competitors offering more extended software support.
Realme has also leaned heavily into AI with this device. Features like AI Ultra Clarity, Sketch to Image, and the upcoming AI Motion Deblur don’t necessarily revolutionise how we use our phones, but they’re a good bit of fun.
In our AI benchmark tests, the phone achieved a respectable Digit AI-Q score of 65/100, indicating its capability to handle advanced AI workloads. However, while these features are impressive on paper, their real-world utility remains somewhat niche.
The Realme GT 7 Pro’s camera setup is a mixed bag. While the 50 MP primary and 3x telephoto lenses deliver commendable results in good lighting, the 8 MP ultrawide camera falls short of expectations for a phone in this price range.
Daylight shots from the primary camera exhibit vibrant colours and decent dynamic range, while the telephoto lens provides sharp and detailed zoom shots up to 6x.
Portrait photography is solid, with good subject separation, but edge detection could be more accurate. Low-light performance, however, leaves much to be desired, with noticeable noise and a decline in sharpness.
The ultrawide lens performs poorly in indoor and low-light conditions, producing lacklustre images that fail to justify its inclusion.
The 16 MP selfie camera performs adequately in well-lit environments but struggles with noise in dim lighting.
Video capabilities extend up to 8K at 24 fps, though the footage is jittery and lacks stability. Switching to 4K at 60 fps yields better results, with smoother footage and more balanced dynamic range. Overall, while the Realme GT 7 Pro’s cameras are competent, they don’t quite measure up to the standards set by its performance and display.
One of the most significant controversies surrounding the Realme GT 7 Pro’s release is its battery capacity. The Indian variant features a 5,800 mAh cell, a noticeable downgrade from the 6,500 mAh battery in the Chinese model.
Our review unit, frustratingly equipped with the 6,500 mAh battery, provided impressive endurance, lasting a day and a half of moderate usage. However, with the smaller capacity in the Indian version, users can realistically expect just about a day of usage.
Charging speeds are stellar, with the 120 W charger included in the box taking the larger 6,500 mAh battery from 0 to 100% in just 36 minutes. Unfortunately, the absence of wireless charging feels like a missed opportunity in a flagship-class device. Despite its fast-charging prowess, the reduced battery size in the Indian variant could be a dealbreaker for heavy users.
The Realme GT 7 Pro sets a high bar for performance, offering unparalleled speed and fluidity in its segment. With its cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, stunning display, and impressive gaming capabilities, it lives up to its reputation as a flagship killer. However, the compromises in design, thermal management, and camera quality prevent it from being a flawless offering. The reduced battery capacity in the Indian variant further adds to the list of concerns.
At an expected price of ₹60,000–₹65,000, the Realme GT 7 Pro offers incredible value for power users and gamers who prioritise performance above all else. If Realme can address some of the issues through software updates and by aggressively pricing the GT 7 Pro, this phone could very well dominate the flagship-killer segment in 2024. For now, it stands as a speed demon that delivers exceptional performance but leaves room for improvement in other areas.
