- Colors: Pulse White and Booster Black
- RGB Lighting on Camera Module
- No Headphone Jack
The Realme GT 3’s design leans towards a sporty look, moving away from the bold branding of earlier models. Available in two colors, Pulse White and Booster Black, it has a matte finish that feels sleek, with a minimal Realme logo on the back’s lower left corner. The camera module takes up the top third of the rear, adding to the phone’s bold appearance.
A unique design touch is the RGB light around the camera module, which pulses different colors depending on notifications—green for new messages and red when charging is needed. While this feature is eye-catching, it does impact battery life, so there’s an option to disable it. The GT 3’s plastic body makes it lightweight (199g) and slim (8.9mm), and it’s less prone to damage from drops than phones with glass backs. It’s also IPX4 water-resistant, making it safe against light splashes.
You’ll find a USB-C port for charging, but no headphone jack; wired audio requires a USB-C adapter. The model I reviewed had a single SIM tray, though dual-SIM variants are available in some regions.
Screen & Speakers
- 6.74-inch AMOLED Display
- 144Hz Refresh Rate
- Punchy Stereo Speakers
The GT 3 boasts a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772 x 1250, offering higher clarity than many similarly priced rivals. Brightness peaks at an impressive 1400 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in various lighting conditions. You can adjust the refresh rate, with options of 60Hz, 144Hz, or an adaptive mode that varies between 60Hz and 144Hz to optimize performance and battery life.
It also has a 360Hz touch sampling rate, making responses extremely fluid, ideal for scrolling and swiping. The under-display fingerprint sensor is reliable, though face recognition is an additional, albeit less secure, option. Stereo speakers produce loud, clear audio, though bass may lack depth.
Specs & Performance
- Processor: Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Memory Options: Up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB storage
- Wi-Fi 5 Support
Powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the GT 3 provides strong performance for everyday tasks and social media scrolling. With up to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage options (although availability varies by region), performance is impressive, though storage isn’t expandable.
Casual gaming is smooth on this phone, and even more intensive titles like Genshin Impact play well on medium settings, though the device does warm up during extended gameplay. For connectivity, the GT 3 supports Wi-Fi 5, though Wi-Fi 6 would have been preferable.
Cameras
- Main Camera: 50MP Sony IMX890 Sensor
- Secondary Cameras: 8MP Ultra-Wide, 2MP Microscope
- Front Camera: 16MP
The GT 3’s camera setup features a 50MP main shooter that performs best in bright light but is capable in dimmer conditions as well. Photos are vivid and detailed, though Realme’s AI tends to oversaturate colors, which may be less appealing for those preferring a natural look.
The 8MP ultra-wide camera provides decent results, though image clarity drops compared to the main camera. The 2MP microscope camera, as with similar setups on other phones, is difficult to use effectively, and macro shots are clearer when taken with the main lens. Selfies are generally sharp, though portrait mode can struggle with edge detection. Video capture is smooth, thanks to optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main lens, and offers 4K recording with decent audio quality.
Battery Life & Charging
- Battery: 4600mAh
- 240W Fast Charging
Realme sets a new benchmark with the GT 3’s 240W fast charging capability. Using the included GaN charger and a custom cable, the phone can charge fully in around 11 minutes. However, the phone and charger do heat up during this process, which can be concerning.
Battery life itself is modest, lasting about a day under regular use. If you enable a lower refresh rate and avoid power-hungry apps, you might stretch it longer, but overall, battery life isn’t the GT 3’s standout feature.
Software & Apps
- Operating System: Realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13
- Update Support: Two OS updates, three years of security patches
Realme UI 4.0 offers a highly customizable interface similar to Oppo’s ColorOS, allowing users to tweak icons, themes, and layouts. Unfortunately, bloatware is abundant, with pre-installed games and duplicate apps cluttering the device. Some apps cannot be removed, which can detract from the overall experience. Realme promises two major OS updates and three years of security patches, which is standard for its range but less generous than some competitors.
Price & Availability
The Realme GT 3 was announced at MWC 2023, with prices starting at $649, making it competitive against mid-range devices like the Pixel 7 and OnePlus 10T, but undercutting premium options from Samsung and Xiaomi.
Verdict
The Realme GT 3 excels in charging speed, offering the fastest charging available. Combined with its high-quality display, capable main camera, and solid performance, it makes a strong mid-range option. However, oversaturated images, bloatware, and middling battery life might make other phones, like the Google Pixel 7, more appealing for those prioritizing software experience and camera quality.
