Realme GT Neo 3 Review: Need for Speed

Realme’s GT line takes its identify from the sector of motorsports, so it will have to come as no marvel that velocity is of the essence within the new GT Neo 3.

From the racing stripes around the again to the inclusion of the quickest stressed out charging in any phone at this time – a frankly ridiculous 150W – this phone is designed for velocity freaks.

But regardless of that, it’s additionally a pleasing, well-rounded phone that ticks numerous packing containers and simplest hardly ever slams the brakes.

Design and construct

• Glass again, plastic body
• Bold racing-stripe design
• Surprisingly slender and light-weight

The very first thing you’ll understand concerning the GT Neo 3 is almost definitely the outlandish rear design. Realme isn’t any stranger to daring aesthetics, and the racing stripe are quite restrained via the corporate’s standard requirements.

I’ve been checking out the Sprint White model of the phone, with black stripes working around the digital camera, whilst the Nitro Blue fashion sees white stripes reduce thru a military frame, harking back to a Nineteen Sixties AC Cobra. If you’d fairly have one thing somewhat extra restrained, the Asphalt Black fashion is solely that – black.

The rear of the GT Neo 3 is constructed from matt AG glass, with a calmly frosted end to cut back fingerprints. Realme has come what may made the glass really feel like plastic and, mixed with the actually-plastic body, the phone does really feel somewhat affordable within the hand. Given that tumbler brings with it glaring sturdiness downsides, if the phone goes to really feel this plasticky then it could as effectively simply be comprised of it anyway.

That slight affordable feeling is partially right down to how impressively mild the phone is. At 188g, it feels extra light-weight than you’d be expecting for a phone with a 6.7in show, and at 8.2mm thick it’s skinny and comfy within the hand too. Don’t get me fallacious, it is a giant phone, however it doesn’t at all times really feel like one.

One problem to a phone with an excellent design is that you simply’ll almost definitely finally end up masking it in a case, and that’s as true as ever right here. While Gorilla Glass 5 is located at the phone’s entrance, there’s no such coverage at the again, and no IP ranking for water and dust-resistance – so that you’ll need an additional layer to stay this protected.

Display and audio

• Large 6.7in display
• 120Hz OLED with HDR strengthen
• Stereo audio system

The GT Neo 3’s show isn’t fairly market-leading, however it’s undoubtedly no slouch. The flat 6.7in panel has a raft of spectacular specifications: OLED, 120Hz refresh fee, and HDR10+ strengthen.

In observe, it appears sharp. Colours are brilliant and punchy, viewing angles are excellent, and the 120Hz refresh fee shines thru with clean animations.

More pricey telephones be offering upgrades like curved edges, dynamic LTPO refresh charges, and advanced top brightness, however for nearly all of customers the GT Neo 3’s providing will likely be greater than sufficient.

The show right here additionally provides an in-display fingerprint scanner, which has labored and not using a hitch.

It’s a an identical tale with the phone’s stereo audio system. These is not the crispest or richest audio round, however providing any stereo strengthen is spectacular at this phone’s value. As you’d be expecting this present day, there’s no devoted headphone jack.

Specs and function

• Impressively rapid Dimensity 8100 chip
• Up to 12GB RAM and 256GB garage
• 5G strengthen

The GT Neo 3 is powered via the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset, a 5nm chip that’s designed for extra inexpensive flagships.

The phone carried out exceptionally effectively in our benchmark assessments, even beating some Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 telephones at the CPU-focussed Geekbench 5 take a look at, despite the fact that ratings are extra in step with the contest at the graphics-heavy GFXBench assessments.

That CPU benchmark flatters the phone somewhat, however it’s nonetheless undeniably nippy in observe. I’ve no longer hit any lag or stuttering in my time the use of the phone, and it’s in a position to multi-tasking conveniently and enjoying the most recent Android video games with ideal body charges.

If you favor you’ll be able to additionally allow the not obligatory ‘GT mode’, which can supposedly “considerably reinforce your phone’s efficiency.” It didn’t make a jot of distinction after I re-ran the benchmarks on the other hand, so I’m no longer positive how a lot have an effect on it in point of fact has. In any case, the phone is rapid sufficient with out that you simply needn’t fear.

My evaluation unit is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of garage – the one model to be had right here in the United Kingdom, despite the fact that in some markets you’ll discover a less expensive fashion with 8GB RAM. Note that the garage isn’t expandable, so 256GB (minus the gap for the OS) is all that you simply get.

The Dimensity 8100 brings with it strengthen for Sub6 5G – the most typical sort outdoor america. There’s additionally Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and the most recent Bluetooth 5.3 same old.

Battery and charging

• Absurdly rapid 150W charging
• Solid battery lifestyles
• Option of a model with slower charging

Let’s get the complicated bit out of the way in which first: there are two variations of the GT Neo 3, however no longer all over the place.

I’ve been reviewing a fashion with 150W charging speeds and a 4500mAh battery – the one model on sale in the United Kingdom. But in different nations, together with India and portions of Europe, there’s additionally a 2nd fashion which drops to slower 80W charging however has a larger 5000mAh battery to make up for it. I haven’t examined this model, so my feedback on battery and charging simplest follow to 150W variant.

Still, that is without a doubt the thrilling one. 150W is these days the quickest stressed out charging of any phone in the marketplace – sufficient to best the phone as much as complete in lower than quarter-hour, or hitting 50% in simply 5 mins.

That’s provided that you allow the not obligatory ‘Rapid charging’ surroundings, which Realme warns might see the phone “get somewhat hotter right through charging.” If you desire to go away it off you received’t pass over out via an excessive amount of despite the fact that – with out fast charging the phone nonetheless won 88% of price in quarter-hour in my take a look at, and used to be as much as complete effectively ahead of the 30 minutes mark.

That impressively rapid stressed out charging way Realme made up our minds to forget wi-fi charging completely, however for many I believe that’s an even trade-off.

Battery isn’t dangerous both. Even despite the fact that the 150W fashion packs a rather smaller-capacity cellular, I’ve nonetheless discovered the phone simply lasts a complete day and incessantly effectively right into a 2nd. A good ranking of somewhat over 10 hours on our PCMark battery take a look at reinforces the purpose. This isn’t the longest-lasting phone round, however it will have to closing lengthy sufficient for maximum.

Realme could also be bullish about battery well being – possibly to reassure the ones fearful that the additional rapid charging would possibly motive long-term harm. The corporate says that the phone will have to nonetheless have 80% of its authentic battery ability left after 1600 price cycles, which equates to 4 or 5 years of use.

Although I clearly can’t take a look at that myself, I will say that it’s some distance past present trade averages. That implies that despite the fact that Realme is massaging its numbers somewhat, I’d nonetheless be expecting the GT Neo 3’s battery lifestyles to be in higher form than maximum telephones after a couple of years of use.

Camera and video

• Capable major digital camera – particularly in excellent mild
• Average ultrawide
• Decent selfie digital camera

It’s truthful to mention that cameras aren’t the primary focal point of the GT Neo 3, so if it has a vulnerable spot it’s almost definitely right here. That’s to not say the digital camera setup here’s dangerous despite the fact that – it is simply restricted.

The major digital camera impresses. Using the 50Mp Sony IMX766 sensor, this optically stabilised shooter is beautiful ideal in sunlight, and also you’d be hard-pressed to drag the consequences except for flagship telephones at a look.

The OIS is helping it dangle its personal in low mild too. At night time it’s clearer that this isn’t a flagship-grade digital camera, however whether or not within the common capturing mode or the devoted night time mode, you’ll get photographs which are excellent sufficient to percentage on social media, despite the fact that they are no longer pixel-perfect.

Things drop off somewhat with the 8Mp ultrawide. This is respectable within the sunlight hours, despite the fact that there’s certainly a drop intimately from the primary digital camera, and colors have a tendency to be rather less interesting. At night time it’s simple disappointing, held again via the smaller sensor and loss of stabilisation – do not use this in low mild until you in point of fact must.

Finally, the 3rd rear lens is an inexpensive 2Mp macro digital camera. These are actually a commonplace manner of creating up the numbers on inexpensive Android telephones, and that is no other. Shots are wonderful so long as the sunshine is brilliant, however focal point is hard to deal with, and you’ll be able to normally get simply as excellent effects – if no longer higher – from the primary lens anyway.

Fortunately, the selfie digital camera fares higher. At 16Mp it’s no marvel this isn’t fairly as sharp as the primary rear digital camera, however element and dynamic differ are each excellent, and the digital camera handles pores and skin tones in point of fact effectively. The portrait mode bokeh is somewhat competitive – word how a lot it’s blurred my hair – however effects are sexy as long as you don’t glance too carefully.

The rear digital camera can shoot video at as much as 4K and 60fps, and the OIS is helping stay photos great and solid. Front-facing video is restricted to 1080p, and lacks that stabilisation on the other hand.

Software and updates

• Runs Android 12 out of the field
• Realme UI is simple to make use of, however there’s bloatware
• Two Android updates promised

The GT Neo 3 ships with Android 12 out of the field, with Realme UI 3.0 on best.

Realme UI is based totally closely on guardian corporate Oppo’s ColorOS, so in case you’ve ever used an Oppo phone it’s going to really feel acquainted.

That’s no dangerous factor, as a result of ColorOS – and via extension Realme UI – is without doubt one of the higher Android skins available in the market. The tool is deeply customisable, with an enormous quantity of suppleness in how your phone appears and feels.

For instance, Realme has at all times allowed customers to tweak the entirety from the form and dimension in their app icons to the animation utilized by the fingerprint sensor. This has now been strengthened via the addition of the Android 12-powered solution to alternate the colors of the system-wide interface in keeping with your wallpaper – despite the fact that that may prohibit you to the use of static, fairly than dynamic, wallpapers.

The simplest actual problem to the day by day tool revel in here’s that Realme has integrated a couple of pre-installed apps you most likely don’t need. The maximum egregious are a suite of video games – Block Puzzle, Tile Master three-D, and the ever-curious Solitaire Fish World – however you’ll even have to place up with quite a lot of Oppo’s in-house apps for the entirety from transcription to report sharing.

The different factor is updates. Realme guarantees that the GT Neo 3 will obtain two Android model updates – so Android 13 and 14 – after which an additional 3rd 12 months of safety patches.

This isn’t a nasty dedication, however it does lag in the back of the likes of Google and Samsung. Android producers are slowly transferring to reinforce long-term tool strengthen, and at this time Realme is lagging rather in the back of the pack.

Price and availability

The Realme GT Neo 3 is out now in Asia – together with China and India – and is going on sale throughout Europe and the United Kingdom on 15 June. You shouldn’t be expecting it to ever release in america.

Pricing varies slightly on account of the quite a lot of variations. The 150W charging fashion I’ve reviewed, with 12GB RAM and 256GB garage, prices £599 in the United Kingdom and ₹42,999 in India.

The slower charging 80W model is less expensive, ranging from ₹36,999 in India, however this fashion isn’t launching in the United Kingdom – despite the fact that will likely be on sale in some portions of Europe.

The pricing places the GT Neo 3 firmly on the upper-end of the mid-range marketplace, and honestly dearer than the £499/€549/₹34,999 Realme GT 2. If you’d fairly pass less expensive nonetheless, the Realme GT Neo 3T stocks numerous the Neo 3’s specifications, losing to 80W charging and the older Snapdragon 870 chip, and prices simply £369.

Outside of Realme’s line, the phone’s most powerful pageant in the United Kingdom and Europe is the considerably less expensive OnePlus Nord 2T. At £369/€399 this phone packs an simplest rather slower chipset, still-excellent 80W charging, and necessarily the similar digital camera because the GT Neo 3. The Realme phone is certainly sooner, however is it £230 sooner?

Check out our information to the most productive mid-range telephones for extra choices, or the most productive Realme telephones to peer how the remainder of the line-up compares.

Verdict

While the GT Neo 3’s advertising is also all about velocity, that is an swiftly well-rounded providing.

Sure, it’s rapid – with 150W charging and a flagship chipset that are supposed to come as no marvel. But with a tight show, snazzy design, and succesful major digital camera it has extra to supply than that.

It’s no longer supreme after all. While the phone appears great it does really feel somewhat affordable, and the primary digital camera is let down via disappointing further lenses. Bits of bloatware frustrate somewhat too, and at this value there will have to in point of fact be a minimum of yet another Android model replace down the road.

But none of those flaws will have to be deal-breakers, and in case you just like the racing stripe glance and need to get a complete price within the time it takes you to bathe each morning, the GT Neo 3 is a superb possibility.

Specs

Realme GT Neo 3: Specs

• Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0
• 6.62in Full HD+ AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+
• MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset
• 8/12GB RAM
• 256GB inside garage (UFS 3.1)
• 50Mp, f/1.9 major digital camera with OIS
• 8Mp, f/2.3 ultrawide
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro
• 16Mp, f/2.5 selfie digital camera
• Stereo audio system
• Fingerprint scanner (in-screen)
• Wi-Fi 6
• Bluetooth 5.3
• GPS
• NFC
• 5G
• Dual-nano SIM
• USB-C
• 4500/5000mAh non-removable battery
• 80/150W stressed out charging
• 163.3 x 75.6 x 8.2mm
• 188g