Coming up for review today is the Realme GT Neo 3 (150W), an unlocked phone packed with impressive top-end hardware. I’ve had this for about 10 days now and have been using it as a second phone.
This review will be updated over the next few weeks as I get a chance to dig deeper into the experience, but I’m ready to share my early impressions.
I quickly fell in love with the Realme brand as each of the phones have incredibly solid build quality with hardware that rivals their more expensive counterparts.
While the company appears to be releasing a steady stream of models, not all of them are available globally. Although, things are looking up for the brand as it looks to take its place as one of the best handset makers in the world.
About the real GT Neo 3
Similar to the ‘GT’ category cars, the phone sports a sporty look with a pair of racing lines running vertically at the rear. The white lines look sharp against the blue and definitely catch the eye.
The screen size is 6.7 inches with a hole-punch camera at the top center; It has a resolution of 1080 x 2412 pixels, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Under the hood is a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. This puts it at the top of the line in terms of performance. With eight cores (four Cortex-A78 CPU cores clocked at 2.85GHz and four Cortex-A55 CPU cores clocked at 2.0GHz0), it’s more than enough to leave a lot in the tank for work and gaming.
Design
My review unit was Nitro Blue but it is also available in Sprint White and Asphalt Black colors. I really like the look of this and was pleased to find that the included protective cover is transparent. Few things are sillier than buying a phone with a unique design or finish and then hiding it under a case.
I found the GT Neo 3 to be a smidge thinner in my hand than my original phone, the Google Pixel 6. I appreciate every little millimeter I get when it comes to one-handed use. Between that and the overall slim design that’s barely noticeable, I like how this feels.
The fingerprint reader is located under the display and feels a little closer to the bottom than other phones I’ve used. This doesn’t change anything, but it may take some getting used to for some.
The two steps run down the left half of the phone directly through the center of the camera module. The larger main sensor sits at the top while the flash rests snugly between the two other cameras. I love the symmetry here; It seems deliberate and deliberate.
Software
Realme GT Neo 3 runs Android 12 based Realme UI 3 which looks mostly stock experience. If you’ve used a phone from Google, Motorola or BLU in the past few years, things will be pretty similar.
There are enough customization features and “extras” to make the phone experience feel unique to you, but I suspect most users will just take the default settings and go with them.
My review unit had several additional apps preloaded, including Amazon, Booking.com, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Additionally, I noticed a few apps that duplicated some of the Google titles or were otherwise considered “bloatware” by some.
I’ve definitely seen the worst offenders here, and I understand that some of these partnerships help keep phone prices in line. It’s important to note that you still don’t get a clean OS-only installation.
Camera
As far as cameras go, the phone has a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor with optical image stabilization, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. There is a 16-megapixel camera on the front.
I wish I could talk more about the results and provide an in-depth look here. To be honest, I haven’t had enough spare time in the last week or so. I enjoyed the few shots I took around the house and office.
Everything I’ve taken so far is sharp and detailed, and especially active. White balance is correct, especially for daylight. In these early days, lower light settings don’t seem like much of a problem to me.
There are many modes and options in the app to keep me and many others happy. Switching between different cameras is as easy as pulling live filters and converting them to video.
Performance
I have a love/hate relationship with setting up a new phone. On the one hand, it’s a pain to install apps, log into things, adjust my security settings on Google, etc. In the early days, I’m often picky about what I install because I’m not sure. How often do I use the phone as my primary device? On the other hand, when I’m getting ready to settle in, I like starting with a blank canvas and customizing the new phone.
I’m still at a point where all my apps and games won’t install on my Realme GT Neo 3. Having said that, I am confident that it will handle multi-tasking, gaming and syncing accounts flawlessly. Problem
I’m using the international version of the phone with a T-Mobile SIM and I find the 5G connection to be the same as my Pixel 6. Speeds in the Akron, OH area are typically around 35Mbps down and 8Mbps up easily. I want or want.
Having a high refresh rate is one of the features we’ve been living without for years. We’re only starting to see the last generation or two and it’s still not really important. But if you’re a gamer, you’ll want your phone to have that 120Hz (or higher) refresh.
While I can do it at 90Hz or something lower, I don’t want to do it anymore. I’m happy to see 120Hz stuff in select games I’ve installed. Smooth, silky graphics and animations for victory!
Perhaps the real kicker for the GT Neo 3 is that it supports UltraDart 150W charging, a 150W charger included in the box. According to Realme, it only takes five minutes on the charger to get 50% battery. In fact, this is the fastest charging in a smartphone to date. If you’re worried that the 4,500mAh battery is inferior to the competition, think about how much time you’ll spend charging it.
My international unit doesn’t have a US standard plug so I couldn’t test the 150W stuff. That being said, I can attest that it still only takes a few minutes to see the phone’s battery make a noticeable difference. I didn’t have to worry about charging because even a 10-minute commute was enough to push me through the rest of the day.
I really like the fingerprint reader on Realme GT Neo 3 as it is easy to set up and very fast to read. Accuracy is very high and feels faster than what I experienced with my Pixel 6.
Separation thoughts
Priced at roughly $550 USD, this is a hell of a phone for the money. It has great color and design and feels great in the hand. The display is plenty big and bright, and the graphics and animations look buttery.
I’m digging the phone so far and think it’s something I’d recommend to others. One of the occasional problems with 5G mobile phones is the lack of support for US bands. This global model has performed admirably with T-Mobile in my hometown and on general trips, and I get 5G connectivity everywhere I expect it.
Performance, in general, is fine though as I have yet to notice any stuttering, lags or hangs. The battery life is incredible and the charging speed is as advertised.
I love the customization features the handset allows, such as unlocking from the smart sidebar, switching to split screen, quick launching selected apps from the lock screen, and edge lighting for notifications.
You can find out more about the Realme GT Neo 3 on the phone maker’s website (varies by region) as it is available for purchase in select markets. The 8G+128G variant is offered in India, for example, with a starting price of INR 36999 (approx. $480). However, it has an 80W charger. Realme GT NEO 3 150W (12G+256G) starts at INR 42999 ($550) in India.
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